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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
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Category Archives: Hunter Valley
2012 Thomas Wines The O.C. Semillon
“We’ve been on the run Driving in the sun Looking out for number one California here we come Right back where we started from” The manner in which popular culture infiltrates our brains is so insidious. I’ve never watched an … Continue reading
2012 Thomas Wines Braemore Semillon
Ken Bray’s Braemore Vineyard in the Hunter Valley is a distinguished site if ever there was one. The fruit grown from its sandy soils has been the source of Pepper Tree’s Alluvius Semillon and in 2009, Meerea Park’s Hell Hole Semillon. But perhaps the … Continue reading
2011 Oakvale Single Vineyard Shiraz
Lots of good Shiraz made from the 2011 vintage in the Hunter Valley. This isn’t one of them. French vanilla and clove oak. Plenty of it. Blankets the fruit. Take a look under the hood and you’ll find cherry and … Continue reading
2011 Oakvale Limited Release Reserve Chardonnay
Fitting name for the winery judging from the two releases I’ve just sampled. And, look, ‘Limited Release Reserve’…I mean c’mon; enough with the overkill already. I was ready to cane this after the first night of tasting then it showed a … Continue reading
2012 De Iuliis Semillon
Mike De Iuliis has made some fine Hunter Semillons. I remember scoffing down about six bottles of the 2002 over the course of a few weeks in 2010. Gorgeous wines, ridiculously priced and with plenty of life left in them. I’m … Continue reading
2011 De Iuliis Shiraz
Something of a beginner’s Hunter Shiraz but a fine example of that. Might ease a few consumers into the region’s style. It’s medium bodied with an acid backbone and some latent earth. The fruit is a touch sweet and confected … Continue reading
2011 De Iuliis LDR Vineyard Shiraz
I’m loving the exploration of individual sites within the Hunter Valley. Wine geek heaven and very illuminating for the region as it moves forward too. This Shiraz is sourced from the 22 year old LDR vineyard which was planted on … Continue reading
2011 De Iuliis Steven Vineyard Shiraz
With the Len Evan’s Tutorial reunion currently underway and the main topic of discussion being the future of wine shows, it’s worth noting that sometimes ‘they’ do get it right. This was awarded the trophy for the best dry red … Continue reading
2010 Thomas Wines Kiss Shiraz
I guess you’d call this the Thomas Wines’ flagship Shiraz – but after tasting all four of the 2010 releases I think the difference lies more in the realm of style rather than quality. If you’re looking at wines for … Continue reading
2010 Thomas Wines Sweetwater Shiraz
Last year’s release of this picked up plenty of praise and accolades. I only tried it briefly at the New Generation Hunter Valley pop up bar…which happens to be heading Brisbane way again shortly. A big recommendation from me to … Continue reading