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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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This flight follows-up on last week’s. We repeat the d’Arenberg Dead Arm (see previous notes) with two other heavy weights in the Shiraz kingdom.
Clarendon Hills Clarendon Liandra Vineyard Syrah 2002
This wine sports an outlandish amount of fruit, mixing the fresh with the raisins. Smells of coffee and smoky oak add complexity and the acid provides [...]

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Spinifex Barossa Valley Esprit 2004
There is sweet black fruit and tar in the nose. The mouth shows a soft structure that is lush. The in-mouth flavors are very fruity in a candied way. This GSM blend is 36% Grenache, 34% Shiraz, 20% Mourvedre and 10% Cinsault, sourced from six vineyards in the Barossa and Eden [...]

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Henschke Eden Valley Julius Riesling 2006
Full-on aromas of lime are enhanced by high acidity in the mouth and long-lasting flavor. Of course the fame for Henschke is with their red wines based on Shiraz. What delighted me most when I visited, however, was the care put into their white wines as well. This wine is [...]

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d’Arenberg McLaren Vale The Dead Arm Shiraz 2005
In the nose there is vibrant fruit enhanced by earth and complementary oak. There’s a mouthful of dense fruit as well to keep up with a big structure in this youthful Shiraz – deliciously chewy. Aged in new and one use French and US oak for 22 months. [...]

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Clarendon Hills Clarendon Kangarilla Grenache 2004
Vibrant black fruit, actually liquer-like in the nose. The palate is spiritous, ripe, framed with acidity around a vast expanse of fruitiness. Sourced from old Grenache vines in the Kangarilla Vineyard. P&B in Blewitt Springs 14.5% $55.99 at Bottle Barn Clarendon Hills
Turkey Flat Barossa Valley Butchers Block 2005
A complex medley [...]

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Though we often associate Verdelho with the volcanic island of Madeira, there is also a following for this grape in Australia. It makes up less than 5% of the total white grape harvest but still out paces ever fashionable Viognier.

Mollydooker South Australia Verdelho The Violinist 2007
Owners and winemakers Sarah and Sparky Marquis. P&B [...]

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Penfolds South Australia Club Tawny Port nv
The last bottle tasted was maple syrup personified with completely integrated alcohol. Made from Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvedre and matured in small oak in Kalimna 18% $10.99 at Traverso’s Penfolds
Grant Burge Barossa 10 year old Port nv
The grapes that made this port-style of wine are Grenache, Mourvedre and [...]

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In this latest taste-off, we look at a Kiwi Chardonnay alongside the Giaconda.
Babich Hawke’s Bay Unoaked Chardonnay 2006
This wine is all stainless steel. P&B in Henderson 13.5% $10.99 at K&L Babich
Two delicious wines, two very different interpretations of one grape.
Yangarra McLaren Vale Un-Oaked Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2007
Full of a bevy of fruits with built up [...]

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Two Hands Barossa Valley Brilliant Disguise Moscato 2006
This wine shows like Moscato d’Asti, not to the same level of fresh orange blossom as the best from Piedmont, but still in a similar vein. Made from White Frontignac or Muscat Frontignan by Two Hands in Marananga 6.5% $16.49 (500ml) at Bottle Barn Two Hands
Chambers Rosewood [...]

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Both wines in this flight display deep concentration and a tannic backbone. The difference in style comes in the use of oak and the display of acidity. The Thorn-Clarke exudes oak while the d’Arenberg Magpie is enhanced by acidity to make it a gem with food.
Thorn-Clarke Barossa Shotfire Shiraz 2006
Sourced from the family’s Kabiningie [...]

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This flight illustrates the divide between European and New World approaches. The Pesquera has complementary brett that works but offends some. The Yalumba is ripe and supple.
Pesquera Ribera del Duero DO Reserva 2001
100% Tempranillo. P&B by Alejandro Fernandez in Pesquera in Valladolid 13.5% $34.89 at Bottle Barn Pesquera
Yalumba Barossa Hand Picked TGV 2005
Ripe [...]

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Their is ample acidity in both wines in this flight. The WW adds a slight richness whereas the Sauvignon Republic pulls no punches with its intense honoring of Sauvignon’s grassy side.
Woop Woop South Australia Verdelho 2006
Winemaker Ben Riggs. Produced in McLaren Vale 13.5% $10.99 at Bottle Barn Woop Woop
Sauvignon Republic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007
This [...]

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