- Subscribe
-
Recent Posts
For Your Pleasure
"For your pleasure
In our present state
Part false part true
Like anything
We present ourselvesThe words we use tumble
All over your shoulder
Gravel hard and looseThere all night lying
With your dark horse hiding
Abhorring such extremes" - Bryan FerryCategories
Archives
Category Archives: Adelaide Hills
2009 Longview Devil’s Elbow Cabernet Sauvignon
Four and a half stars from whoever was judging the WineState magazine (May/June 2012) bracket that day. I struggle to see the appeal myself. The wine just feels unconvincing and wishy-washy. It’s ripe and varietal but also has an almost dilute character. … Continue reading
2012 Hahndorf Hill ‘Gru’ Grüner Veltliner
This is the second Australian Grüner that I’ve tasted, the other being the excellent Lark Hill from Canberra. Both wineries champion the variety and do it well, although they are quite different expressions. This has the hallmark white pepper, apple and … Continue reading
2012 Shaw + Smith Sauvignon Blanc
Is Shaw + Smith’s Sauvignon Blanc the most popular premium Australian expression in this country? I have no statistics but I suspect so. This one’s from a good vintage and it’s a succesful wine. Not really my sort of thing … Continue reading
2010 Shaw + Smith Shiraz
I’ve been drinking Shaw + Smith Shiraz since 2006 and I reckon this is the best release I’ve ever tasted. Amazing to see the price remain relatively stable across that period too. Kudos. Initially, this was so tightly shaped and … Continue reading
2011 Wirra Wirra The 12th Man Chardonnay
I tasted this on release and thought it needed a little more time. Fast forward to August and I purchased one to try again. The extremely friendly folk at Wirra Wirra would have no doubt sent me another bottle if … Continue reading
2010 Faux Pas Adelaide Hills Tempranillo
Liam Van Pelt works at the ‘Chapel Hill’ winery in McLaren Vale but in his spare time he’s got his own little venture – Faux Pas Wines. It’s a collaborative effort involving with two friends hailing from the Clare Valley and the Adelaide Hills. Colin McBryde and … Continue reading
The Red Stripe Comes of Age: d’Arenberg’s 100th Birthday Lunch
And it’s Time, Time, Time… Chester Osborn, who began his tenure as chief winemaker at d’Arenberg in 1984, was limping ever so slightly as he came to greet me. We were at Urbane for what turned out to be an … Continue reading
2011 Arete The Road Less Travelled Woodside Sauvignon Blanc
Tasted this once as a younger wine and “let it through to the keeper”. Fared better this time round. A couple of questions remained though. With all this winemaker input is it a touch ‘contrived’ and secondly, do those techniques … Continue reading
2010 Longview Shiraz Cabernet
A pleasant surprise. A wine of some depth and complexity at around $15, one that evolves over three days of tasting and doesn’t play solely to commercial interests and tastes. I’m tired of the dumbing down of wine – how … Continue reading
2012 Wirra Wirra The Lost Watch Riesling
The name stems from Wirra Wirra founder Greg Trott’s lack of punctuality, attributed to losing a watch that his Father gave him. Apparently he never wore another one after that. I’ve haven’t worn a watch for over a decade myself. These … Continue reading