Category Archives: McLaren Vale

2010 Kangarilla Road Black St Peters Zinfandel

Geez, three Australian wines with at least some Zinfandel/Primitivo in them tasted so far this month. It’s thrown me for a loop let me tell you. Black St Peters was the name given to Zinfandel during the mid-1800s in the … Continue reading

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2011 Inkwell Road to Joy Shiraz Primitivo

Dudley Brown’s Inkwell Vineyard in Tatachilla appears to have fared astonishingly well in a tough year. Forget generalisations about 2011 or you’ll miss out on a bargain…and a damn fine wine. A blend of 86% Shiraz and 14% Primitivo/Zinfandel. Has … Continue reading

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2011 Oliver’s Taranga Small Batch Grenache

2011 – a year of victories and defeats for vignerons across most of South East Australia. There are many things to like about this Grenache from Oliver’s Taranga. It’s medium bodied with fresh red berried fruits, baking spice, ferrous traits and florals. … Continue reading

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2011 Inkwell The Infidel Primitivo

Another success story from the maligned 2011 vintage in South Australia. McLaren Vale has produced its fair share. You don’t see a lot of Primitivo/Zinfandel in this country but I’ve got plenty of time for this take on it. It … Continue reading

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2011 Chapel Hill Bush Vine Grenache

Chapel Hill have managed to make very impressive reds from the cool, wet 2011 vintage. Is it the vineyards? Is it viticulturist Rachel Steer? Is it the winemaking team of Michael Fragos and Bryn Richards? I’ll ask next I catch … Continue reading

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2012 Inkwell Blonde on Blonde Viognier

“Well, I see you got your brand new leopard-skin pill-box hat Yes, I see you got your brand new leopard-skin pill-box hat Well, you must tell me, baby How your head feels under somethin’ like that” – Bob Dylan Viognier … Continue reading

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2010 d’Arenberg The Wild Pixie Shiraz Roussanne

If you don’t like white grapes in red wine then look away now. Or keep reading; you may be surprised. This a blend of Shiraz co-fermented with 5% Roussanne. It’s a better wine than the d’Arenberg Laughing Magpie Shiraz Viognier … Continue reading

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2010 d’Arenberg The Love Grass Shiraz

A fun wine if not overly complex or deep. It highlights the vibrant, juicy fruit of the vintage. Luminescent raspberry, plums, vanilla, red strap licorice, earthy spice and assertive chalky tannin. Not that much over medium bodied and gluggable if slightly rough … Continue reading

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Serafino The Goose Island Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir NV

Jacob’s Creek rules the roost when it comes to sub $15 Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir from Australia, but this effort from Serafino in McLaren Vale surprises with its quaffabilty. It’s by no means complex or fine but the flavours are … Continue reading

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2010 d’Arenberg d’Arry’s Original Shiraz Grenache

d’Arenberg’s d’Arry’s Original Shiraz Grenache has a proud history of ageing well in good vintages and I’d say you can pop a few bottles of the 2010 away with confidence. Juicy fruit. Fresh raspberry and blackberry, scorched earth, ironstone and … Continue reading

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