d’Arenberg, McLaren Vale, The Footbolt, Shiraz 2005 The nose features liquer-like character, a concentration of candied black fruit, a hint of eucalyptus and some subtle volatility. In the mouth the fruit is in force, the feel is silky and a thread of acidity provides structure – long and nice.
During fermentation the wine is given gentle [...]

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Petaluma, Piccadilly Valley, Chardonnay 2004 The nose offers toastiness, freshly split oak and vanilla with a sense of ripe, tropical fruit. In the mouth the viscosity is matched by steely acidity, combining the best of Burgundian austerity and Australian flamboyance.
I’ve been a fan of Petaluma since Brian Croser paid a visit to our class at [...]

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Innocent Bystander, Victoria, Shiraz-Viognier 2006 It’s very neat how you get the ripeness of Shiraz, the black fruits that we love, with the cooler climate marker of black pepper, all in one bottle. This is a great walk down the middle of Syrah/Shiraz paradigms. In the mouth it is soft and ripe with a nice [...]

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Shoofly, Adelaide Hills, Chook Raffle, Chardonnay 2008 Give this wine a bit of air to blow off the initial matchstick character. Then you’ll find a medley of green apples, peaches and minerality. In the mouth it is crisp and driven by the fruit, a refreshing Chardonnay that will pair well with rich dishes when you [...]

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hazard hill, Western Australia, semillon sauvignon Blanc 2008 Breezy and fresh, this wine shows grass and citrus in the nose. In the mouth it is crisp and clean, with concentrated flavors of lime and lime zest and a little petilance for lift – very nice.
The grapes behind this wine are 51% Semillon and 49% Sauvignon [...]

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Pirramimma, McLaren Vale, Shiraz 2005 There’s a heavy heft of oak in this wine, from the beginning to the end with a dark chocolate character as well. Winemaker Geoff Johnston GP&B in McLaren Vale 14% $18.79 at Bottle Barn Pirramimma

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d’Arenberg, McLaren Vale, The Hermit Crab 2008 The nose features a combo of the herbaceousness that we can find with Marsanne and the overt peaches that we often see with Viognier. The mouth shows us an oily richness overtop of peaches – thick and mouthfilling. This vintage is composed of 72% Viognier and 28% Marsanne. Grown, vinified [...]

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Brokenwood, Hunter Valley, Semillon 2008 This Semillon is crisp and lean, with flavors of lemon and green apple. The experience is amplified by a bit of petillance.
The Hunter is famous for producing lowish alcohol wines from early picked Semillon that develop honeyed character with bottle age.
True to form this wine is all stainless and not [...]

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McWilliam’s Hanwood Estate, South Eastern Australia, Chardonnay 2007 In the nose there is plenty of fruit, from pear to tropicals like papaya. In the mouth the freshness of the fruit is front and center, accentuated by just enough acidity, with a little warmth and oaky richness as well as a roundness to the mouthfeel -very [...]

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Chambers Rosewood Vineyards, Rutherglen, Muscat nv The nose smells of oranges and brown spices, as if wound into a custard. In the mouth the wine is rich, very complex, soft and luxurious. This wine and others like it from Rutherglen are a great value, giving you a great sense of complexity for the price. Lot [...]

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McWilliam’s Hanwood Estate, South Eastern Australia, Riesling 2007
Lime and petrol combine in the nose with a bit of fresh, sweet flowers. In the mouth there is a nice sweetart character; this light-bodied Riesling is clean and refreshing. The RS is 6 grams per litre with plenty of acidity for balance. V&B in New South [...]

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Robert Oatley, South Australia, Pinot Grigio 2008
This is 100% Pinot Grigio; most of the grapes were sourced from Currency Creek, south of my alma mater Adelaide and a bit came in from the Alpine Valleys of Victoria. Production was all stainless, the final RS is 4 g/l and the wine is bottled under the upscale [...]

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Yalumba, Barossa, Bush Vine, Grenache 2007 The nose features red fruit, fresh and dried with herbs and brambles. In the mouth the wine is soft, fruity and very light-bodied. The vines that produced this wine are 30 to 70 years old. Produced in Angaston 14.5% $11.99 at Bottle Barn Yalumba

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Clarendon Hills, Clarendon, Piggott Range, Syrah 2005 Unfortunately corked. 100% Syrah sourced from the Piggott Range Vineyard, planted in the 1960s on a hillside adjacent to the Onkaparinga Valley. Owner and Winemaker Roman Bratasiuk. Produced in Blewitt Springs in the McLaren Vale 14.5% a gift Clarendon Hills

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Grosset, Clare Valley, Polish Hill, Riesling 2008 As in the past, lots of lime that goes a long time! Tasted again in January ‘10, the classic petrol notes are coming out. Grosset always captures the notion of concentrated wine and here in a very dry, austere wine – awesome! Sourced from the Polish Hill vineyard [...]

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Lindemans, South Eastern Australia, Bin 50 Shiraz 2008 In the nose there is a light level of black fruits and oaky essence. The wine is very light-bodied with sweet black fruit, a little low-level RS and a touch of grippiness. P&B in Red Cliffs, Victoria 13.5% $6.47 at WalMart Lindemans

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d’Arenberg, McLaren Vale, The Dead Arm, Shiraz 2006
This wine is dense all around, from the color to the palate. Black fruits combine with hints of eucalyptus. The mouth is taught, just a baby yet the tannins are ripe with no astringency. Aged in new and one use French and US oak for 22 months. Grown, [...]

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Innocent Bystander, Victoria, Pinot Noir 2007
This is one of those Pinots that has the smoky character of an ashtray. In the mouth, there are green characters and astringency – a disappointment from this producer. The grapes are sourced from vineyards in Sexton, Quarry Ridge and Tarraford. Produced in Healesville 13.5% $15.99 at K&L Innocent Bystander

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Plantagenet, Western Australia, Omrah, Pinot Noir 2007 The wine smells of earth and cherries. In the mouth, the smells repeat with a touch of the richness of oak. This is a good value Pinot. The grapes are from vineyards in the Great Southern region of WA, in particular from Mount Barker and Denmark. Omrah is [...]

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Clarendon Hills Clarendon Brookman Merlot 2005
Roman Bratasiuk pulls no punches with his opulent wines. This Merlot features ripe fruit and the cigar box characters we often associate with Bordeaux. The texture is oh so plush. P&B in Blewitt Springs 14.5% $60 suggested retail in the United States Clarendon Hills
Geyser Peak Alexander Valley Reserve Alexandre Meritage [...]

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d’Arenberg McLaren Vale The Custodian Grenache 2005
Juicy warm fruit and earthy notes in a supple package. Grown, produced and bottled in McLaren Vale 14.5% $14.79 at Bottle Barn d’Arenberg
Torbreck Barossa Valley Woodcutter’s Shiraz 2006
The reductive notes of Northern Rhone Syrah with a core of fruit and some tannic grip. Grown and made in Naramanga 14.5% [...]

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Harvest Moon Russian River Valley Dry Gewurztraminer 2007
Estate grown fruit and some oak treatment. G, P&B in Santa Rosa. 12.5% $?? at the winery, winery sample Harvest Moon
Rosemount Estate South Eastern Australia Traminer Riesling 2005
65% Gewurz and 35% Riesling. P&B in Denman in New South Wales. 11.5% $4.99 at Bottle Barn Rosemount

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Innocent Bystander Victoria Moscato 2007
This wine is so pretty – it has the essence of Muscat’s perfume in a light-bodied format. It would be perfect with a light dessert of fresh berries in the summer. Produced in Healesville 5.5% $8.99 (375ml) at K&L Innocent Bystander

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d’Arenberg Mclaren Vale The Peppermint Paddock Sparkling Red Chambourcin
Loads of overt fruit mark this a fun quaffer. Grown, produced and bottled in McLaren Vale 14.5% $$17.99 at K&L d’Arenberg
Charles Melton Sparkling Red
This is amazingly delicious with complexity, length and the supple texture that one desires in Sparkling Shiraz. Produced in Tanunda and bottled n [...]

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Taltarni Victoria & Tasmania Brut Tache Rose
52% Chardonnay, 41% Pinot Noir and 7% Pinot Meunier. A bit of red wine is added at disgorging. P&B in Moonambel in Victoria 13% $13.99 at K&L Taltarni
Taltarni Tasmania Clover Hill Brut Sparkling Wine 2003
Clover Hill is a single vineyard selection from the vineyard of the same name in [...]

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Yalumba Coonawarra The Menzies Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
The 2002 smelled of cigar box, tobacco, light green pepper and a hint of pickle. In the mouth there was ample acidity which carriesd the juicy red flavors for a long time. Sourced from their Menzies Vineyard. Aged in French and US oak. Winemaker Peter Gambetta 13.5% $32.49 at [...]

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Mollydooker South Australia Merlot 2006
Sourced from Padthaway and McLaren Vale 15.5% $18.99 at Bottle Barn Mollydooker

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Pepper Tree Hunter Valley Semillon 2005
This baby is screaming with acidity – very green and right on target. Put it to bed for the long haul and enjoy it when it matures. 100% Semillon fermented in stainless. Winemaker Chris Cameron. Produced in Pokolbin 11.5% $15.99 at Traverso’s  Pepper Tree

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Margan Hunter Valley Botrytis Semillon 2005
This wines has tropical fruit and the volatility that accompanies many botrytis wines. The palate is very thick and the acidity seems shy though the stats say otherwise at 10 g/L. RS 12.7%, alcohol 10.5% $25 (375ml) at Traverso’s Margan
Peter Lehmann Barossa Botrytis Semillon 2001
There’s wet straw and caramel in [...]

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Wynns Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Mild green elements add a nice complexity to the cherry fruit. This is a light-bodied Cabernet with a complementary level of acidity. All Cabernet aged in new and used French and US oak. Winemaker Sue Hodder 13.5% $12.99 at K&L Wynns
Pirramimma McLaren Vale Petit Verdot 2003
This wine is quite refined, showing [...]

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