Bollinger, Champagne, Special Cuvee Brut nv This wine is typically quite complex with earthy notes that are not always embraced by those who favor more fruit-forward styles of sparkling. While I'm a fan of fruit too, I love the multitude of flavors...
Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte 2004 The previous bottle of 2004 tasted earlier in the year was full of toasty oak with brett complexity. The brett was a nice touch but too much for some. Also the mouth was laced with velvety tannins. Though obviously...
Blandy's Madeira 10 Years Old Rich Malmsey nv Last tasting notes show great complexity though the 5 year is a pretty good value. Again the wine is complex, nutty and shaped by the acidity that we expect from Madeira. A little spiritous to smell but...
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...
Penfolds South Australia Club Tawny (no longer called 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. The wine was...
On a later date we tasted the substantial Pinot from Amisfield alongside this gem from Australia. Kooyong Mornington Peninsula Haven Pinot Noir 2004 This is one of the single vineyard bottlings from Kooyong. Tasted a year later in December '08,...
De Bortoli Yarra Valley Estate Grown Shiraz Viognier 2005 Smells of sweet cherry pie, oak and a hint of eucalyptus. This dense Shiraz shows how good it can be when there's a good heft of acidity to balance the taste profile. Grown at the winery's...
Wild Rock Central Otago Rose 2006 Fresh strawberries and perfume to smell and a clean, dry, fruity palate with some creamy texture. Vin Gris from Pinot Noir, P&B in Hastings, Hawkes Bay 14% $9.99 at Bottle Barn Wild Rock
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...
Kendall-Jackson Arroyo Seco Late Harvest Chardonnay 2005 We're featuring the wines of France tonight. As we don't have a bottle of the Thevenet's Late Harvest wine from the Macon, I thought we would taste one of the few late harvest Chardonnays...