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Bordeaux Grapes in the New World

by Ray Johnson | Dec 7, 2007 | Australia, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Margaret River, Merlot, New Zealand, Petit Verdot, South Australia, Western Australia

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...

Serious Syrah II

by Ray Johnson | Dec 3, 2007 | Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Syrah

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...

GSMPS

by Ray Johnson | Dec 3, 2007 | Australia, Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Petite Sirah, Rhone Blend, South Australia

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,...

Barossa Refreshers

by Ray Johnson | Dec 3, 2007 | Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley, Eden Valley, Grenache, Riesling, Rosé, South Australia

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...

Serious Syrah

by Ray Johnson | Nov 30, 2007 | Australia, Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Syrah

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...

Animals on the Rhone

by Ray Johnson | Nov 30, 2007 | Australia, Barossa Valley, Grenache, McLaren Vale, Rhone Blend, South Australia

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...
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Wine Regions & Grapes

Sampling of Wineries

Acorn Allegrini Atlas Peak Balletto Blandy's Blue Wing Cafe Bodega Navarro Correas Bollinger Bonterra Burgans Cantina Terlano d'Arenberg Domaine Carneros Domaine de la Mordoree Dow's Dr. Loosen Elena Walch Famega Fonseca Foppiano Foxen Glen Ellen Innocent Bystander J. Keverson Korbel Madeira Wine Company Martin Codax Masi Merryvale Mulderbosch Navarro Vineyards Noceto Plantagenet Redwood Creek Reynoso Roederer Estate Sbragia Shed Horn Shooting Star Sonoma State Wine Business Institute St. James Trione Vietti Wildhurst William Fevre