Category Archives: South Australia

Petaluma Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay 2004

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. … Continue reading

Posted in Adelaide Hills, Australia, Chardonnay, Piccadilly Valley, South Australia | Tagged | Leave a comment

Shoofly Chardonnay 2008

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 … Continue reading

Posted in Adelaide Hills, Australia, Chardonnay, South Australia | Tagged | Leave a comment

Pirramimma Shiraz 2005

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

Posted in Australia, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Syrah | Leave a comment

d’Arenberg Hermit Crab 2008

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 … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Marsanne, McLaren Vale, Rhone Blend, South Australia, Viognier | 2 Comments

Robert Oatley Pinot Grigio 2008

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 … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Pinot Gris and Grigio, South Australia | Leave a comment

Yalumba Bush Vine Grenache 2007

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 … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Barossa, Grenache, South Australia | Leave a comment

Grosset Polish Hill 2008

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 … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Clare Valley, Riesling, South Australia | Leave a comment

d’Arenberg Dead Arm 2006

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 … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Syrah | Leave a comment

5 Bordeaux grapes and 3 continents

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 … Continue reading

Posted in Alexander Valley, Australia, Bordeaux Style Blends, Guenoc Valley, Idaho, Lake County, McLaren Vale, Meritage, Merlot, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, South Australia | Leave a comment

Back to the land down under

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 … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Barossa Valley, Grenache, South Australia, Syrah | Leave a comment