Wine Regions & Grapes
Sampling of Wineries
- Acorn
- Allegrini
- Andrea Oberto
- Atlas Peak
- Balletto
- Blandy's
- Blue Wing Cafe
- Bodega Navarro Correas
- Bollinger
- Bonterra
- Brassfield
- Burgans
- Cantina Terlano
- d'Arenberg
- Domaine Carneros
- Domaine de la Mordoree
- Dow's
- Dr. Loosen
- Famega
- Fonseca
- Foppiano
- Foxen
- Glen Ellen
- Innocent Bystander
- J. Keverson
- Korbel
- Madeira Wine Company
- Martin Codax
- Masi
- Merryvale
- Mulderbosch
- Navarro Vineyards
- Noceto
- Pahlmeyer
- Plantagenet
- Redwood Creek
- Reynoso
- Roederer Estate
- Sbragia
- Shed Horn
- Sonoma State Wine Business Institute
- St. James
- Vietti
- Wildhurst
- William Fevre
Category Archives: Australia
d’Arenberg The Custodian Grenache 2007
d’Arenberg, McLaren Vale, The Custodian, Grenache 2007 The ’07 shows an encore to the theme tasted with the ’05 vintage: juicy warm fruit and earthy notes in a supple package. I would also add a nice touch of tangy acidity … Continue reading
Plantagenet Chardonnay 2007
This wines sport a nose brimming with freshly toasted bread and brown spices. In the mouth the ripeness of tropical fruit is matched by the richness of an oak accent – nice. The grapes were grown around Mount Barker in … Continue reading
Posted in Australia, Chardonnay, Great Southern, Western Australia
Tagged Plantagenet
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Clarendon Hills Piggot Range Syrah 2005
Clarendon Hills, Clarendon, Piggot Range, Syrah 2005 The nose shows smoky oak and sweet black fruit. In the mouth the fruit is quite expressive and ripe, with an extremely silky texture and great length. It’s a treat to taste a … Continue reading
Mollydooker Goose Bumps 2006
Mollydooker, South Australia, Goose Bumps, Sparkling Shiraz 2006 In the nose the oak makes a statement with sweet black fruit. The texture in the mouth is masterful, actually velvety displaying the flavors of blackberry, coffee and freshly-split oak. Proprietors Sarah … Continue reading
Posted in Australia, South Australia, Sparkling Dry, Syrah
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New World Pinot Noir
All three of the wines in this flight were bottled under screwcap closures. I made my notes after lecturing a bit so they sat in the glasses for about 40 minutes before I started typing. Innocent Bystander, Victoria, Pinot Noir … Continue reading
Posted in Australia, Pinot Noir, Victoria
Tagged Amisfield, Innocent Bystander, Oyster Bay
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Innocent Bystander Pinot Noir 2009
Innocent Bystander, Victoria, Pinot Noir 2009 There are lively black fruits in the nose, especially after 30 minutes. Add to that brown spices, a hint of thyme, spearmint and bubble gum sweetness. In the mouth this light-bodied Pinot delivers on … Continue reading
Heartland Viognier Pinot Gris 2006
Heartland, South Australia, Viognier, Pinot Gris 2006 The nose features fresh peaches, candied tropical fruits and spicy flowers. On the palate this wine is quite broad, lowish in acidity, conveying a richness yet emphasizing the vineyard over the winemaking. The … Continue reading
Posted in Australia, Langhorne Creek, Pinot Gris and Grigio, South Australia, Viognier
Tagged Heartland
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Penfolds Club Reserve Aged Tawny
Penfolds, South Australia, Club Reserve, Aged Tawny nv In the nose you’ll find raisins and butterscotch with a sense of the spirit in the background. This all carries on in the mouth with nuttiness, sweetness and well-integrated alcohol. Like the value-oriented … Continue reading
Posted in Australia, Fortified dessert, Grenache, Mourvedre, Port, South Australia, Syrah, Tawny Port
Tagged Penfolds
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Brokenwood Semillon 2004
Brokenwood, Hunter Valley, Oakey Creek Vineyard, Semillon 2004 Give this just 10 minutes in the glass to blow off a bit of sulfur. Then the toasty character comes on, quite a complex wine with nuttiness and a bit of spicy … Continue reading