Wine lovers musings, amusings and news

[qaz]

The top Australian wines to try before you die

The brief was to pick just half a dozen of this country's wines for a tasting bucket list, so I'm risking provoking outrage to nominate my best of the best.

www.afr.com

• Seppelt Show Sparkling Burgundy/Shiraz [Great Western]
• Noon Winery High Noon Rosé [McLaren Vale]
• Best’s Old Vine Pinot Meunier [Great Western]
• Mount Pleasant Maurice O’Shea Shiraz [Hunter Valley]
• Wendouree Cabernet Malbec [Clare Valley]
• Seppeltsfield 100 Year Old Para Vintage Tawny [Barossa Valley]

The Top 12 Australian Wines of 2020 - Tyson Stelzer

My Top 12 Australian Wines of 2020 is not a curated list, but simply the pinnacle of my top-scoring wines of the year. The final line up provides a fascinating insight into Australia’s benchmark styles on the world stage right now: four cabernet blends, four shiraz, two chardonnay, one riesling...

www.tysonstelzer.com

Anniversary Wines For A Big Celebration: What To Drink When The Year Is More Important More Than The Price - Quill & Pad

Wine can be so much more than just an enjoyable drink. It can link us to times, people, and places. A traditional concept for so-called anniversary wines is to celebrate a milestone, perhaps a birthday or wedding or even anniversary, with a fine bottle from the vintage of the birthyear or...

quillandpad.com

How to Think About Wine Vintages (Published 2021)

Conventional wisdom can often lead consumers away from delicious wines. Better to think of individual years in terms of character than of quality.

www.nytimes.com

Victoria’s Hidden Wine Gems with Amanda Yallop

Victoria has a vast array of producers: over 800 wineries throughout 20 wine regions with a wide range of styles and quality to enjoy. It’s a small state with a lot to say. Join us and discover the hidden wine gems of Victoria.

www.therealreview.com

Wynns Black Label Hits Purple Patch - Stunning Wines & Amazing Deals

Penfolds Bin 60A 1962: Australia’s Greatest Wine Ever (Or Certainly A Serious Contender) - Quill & Pad

Best Australian wine of all time? There are a few options, but for Ken Gargett there's a clear winner: Penfolds Bin 60A 1962, a wine that was never commercially released. And whether the Bin 60A 1962 is indeed the GOAT of Australian wine hardly matters. He does suggest, though, that if the...

quillandpad.com

Clare versus Eden Valley riesling

If someone put two glasses of riesling in front of you, one each from the Clare and Eden valleys, would you be able to pick the difference? #AdelaideHills #ChaffeyBrosWineCoTripelpunktRiesling2019 #clarevalley

www.therealreview.com

Freak of a riesling

The wine in the spotlight this week is Rieslingfreak. Yes, that is its name. #BaronsofBarossa

www.therealreview.com

How Heathcote’s vineyards are adapting to climate change

Altered conditions have spurred winemakers in the region famous for its shiraz to plant new grape varieties, adapt their viticulture and tweak production techniques.

www.afr.com

No country for old shiraz

A changing climate and evolving winemaking styles only serve to stoke the debate about what a typical Heathcote version of this drink should be.

www.afr.com

Wine Life: Why you should break this wine pairing rule

It's worth breaking the rules every now and then, writes Max Allen.

www.goodfood.com.au

Serving order of wine

The general convention for the serving order of wine is dry before sweet, ordinary before fine, and young before old. #drywine #oldwine #redwine

www.therealreview.com

When is a wine corked?

There are nagging issues that even seasoned wine drinkers aren’t sure about. Such as cork taint. #corktaint #GoodWeekendMagazine #servingwine

www.therealreview.com

Wine on the level

Whenever you buy a bottle of wine that is sealed with a cork it is important to stand the bottle upright and check the distance between the cork and the wine level. #Ullagelevel #winebuying #winecorks

www.therealreview.com

Wine and cheese might be good for us

A study by Iowa State University suggests cheese and red wine may be good for us. #AurielWillette #BrandonKlinedinst #Cheese

www.therealreview.com

Should wine critics be declaring ratings from samples taken with Coravin, or from small bottles? – wineanorak.com

Best Wines Of The World Competition Winners – And How They Are Judged - Quill & Pad

Anyone seriously interested will have some fun poking around all the results of the Best Wine of the World competition. Here Ken Gargett explains a bit about different methods of judging wine (surprise, he thinks the Aussie way is best), talks some anecdotal background, and reveals a gaggle of...

quillandpad.com

Honouring Tony Bilson

Some friends and admirers of Tony Bilson recently staged a special dinner as a tribute. #Amuseboucheofoysterterrine #AndréPerretCondrieuCôteaudeCheryVendangesTardives1990 #CarruadesdeChâteauLafite2005

www.therealreview.com

When Wine Is More Than Just a Drink (Published 2020)

The winemaker Taras Ochota, who died in October, created unique wines that were a touchstone for our Australia critic.

www.nytimes.com

'I don’t think it’s hit me': A rock’n’roll winemaker’s legacy

Taras Ochota made attention-grabbing wines with the energy and edginess of the punk music he loved to play. But then tragedy struck.

www.afr.com

 

[Jczer000]

For all wine lovers this is an absolute must (for a laugh at least).

麒麟和貔貅是谁的儿子-淄博市珠林矿山网

麒麟和貔貅是谁的儿子?貔貅是龙的儿子,龙生九子它是其一麒麟而是大地间的神灵,貔貅是中国古代神话传说中的一种神兽,龙头、马身、麟脚,形似狮子,毛色灰白,会飞。貔貅凶猛威。传说中的“龙生九子”是哪九子?貔

premiumwinecard.com

 

[TheRealTMA]

For all wine lovers this is an absolute must (for a laugh at least).

麒麟和貔貅是谁的儿子-淄博市珠林矿山网

麒麟和貔貅是谁的儿子?貔貅是龙的儿子,龙生九子它是其一麒麟而是大地间的神灵,貔貅是中国古代神话传说中的一种神兽,龙头、马身、麟脚,形似狮子,毛色灰白,会飞。貔貅凶猛威。传说中的“龙生九子”是哪九子?貔

premiumwinecard.com

Brilliant! A must buy for xmas presents!

Interesting that all the testimonials are from QLD!

 

[boomy]

Interesting collaboration between Daniel Ricciardo and St Hugo to launch his new label - DR3.

DR3 x ST HUGO FAQS

DR3 x ST HUGO FAQS | Daniel Ricciardo. We all know the name of the Australian Formula 1® driver, whose character, passion and intuition see him perform at the top of his game. Discover how the collaboration came about.

www.sthugo.com

Such a nice guy, had no idea he’s into wine.

 

[qaz]

Interesting collaboration between Daniel Ricciardo and St Hugo to launch his new label - DR3.

DR3 x ST HUGO FAQS

DR3 x ST HUGO FAQS | Daniel Ricciardo. We all know the name of the Australian Formula 1® driver, whose character, passion and intuition see him perform at the top of his game. Discover how the collaboration came about.

www.sthugo.com

Such a nice guy, had no idea he’s into wine.

Formula 1 Driver Daniel Ricciardo Launches DR3 St Hugo Wine Range

Australian Formula 1 superstar Daniel Ricciardo has partnered with one of Australia’s most- celebrated wine brands, St Hugo, to co-create DR3 x St

winepilot.com

 

[Buzzard]

Interesting collaboration between Daniel Ricciardo and St Hugo to launch his new label - DR3.

DR3 x ST HUGO FAQS

DR3 x ST HUGO FAQS | Daniel Ricciardo. We all know the name of the Australian Formula 1® driver, whose character, passion and intuition see him perform at the top of his game. Discover how the collaboration came about.

www.sthugo.com

Such a nice guy, had no idea he’s into wine.

I'd probably sooner Dan's wine than Kylie Minogue's "Summer in a Bottle" Rose.
Kylie is apparently working on expanding her wine line to include whites and sparkling. I think I'll give them a miss.

 

[qaz]

There’s nothing woolly about the winemaker behind Mammoth

Time is gold for Michael Glover, whose no-compromise approach is producing some of the best drops in Australia for his Mornington Peninsula label.

www.afr.com

Why you’re probably talking about wine the wrong way

A new series of awards from Young Gun of Wine aims to shift the focus of conversation from how the drinks are made to how they’re grown.

www.afr.com

Skin contact of the amber kind

Whilst amber wines have been around since the dawn of wine, a recent renaissance has brought them back into the spotlight. #Amberwines #BrokenwoodWines #CullenWines

www.therealreview.com

How About a Wine Pairing Tonight? | PUNCH

In an era of dining defined by bucking the norm, the traditional pairing is striving to find its place.

punchdrink.com

Can you create an "icon" wine from a standing start?

The wine world is being shaken up by newcomers making bottles that command huge sums. Roger Morris looks at the rise of aspiring icon wines

cluboenologique.com

#TasteWithKaren LIVE: Penfolds - The California Collection
today @ 11am AEDT

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: #TasteWithKaren LIVE: Penfolds—The California Collection. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

Join Karen MacNeil, author of US best-selling "The Wine Bible," and Penfolds winemaker Stephanie Dutton for a super exciting #TasteWithKaren LIVE virtual tasting. More than twenty years ago, Penfolds winemakers first imported vine cuttings from esteemed South Australian vineyards and planted...

us02web.zoom.us

The Penfolds California Collection Story

#TasteWithKaren LIVE: Penfolds—The California Collection | LIVE now with Penfolds winemaker Stephanie Dutton to talk about the groundbreaking California Collection. These wines were 20 years in the making, and... | By Karen MacNeil | Facebook

LIVE now with Penfolds winemaker Stephanie Dutton to talk about the groundbreaking California Collection. These wines were 20 years in the making, and...

www.facebook.com

Penfolds California Collection – a tale of two countries

The new Penfolds California Collection features two cross-country blends – is this the shape of things to come, wonders Adam Lechmere

cluboenologique.com

 

[billbro]

Penfolds California Collection – a tale of two countries | Club Oenologique

Reads quite differently to the JO article, which from memory I interpreted as the wines feeling quite forced - Penfolds not understanding the Napa tannins and forcing the Penfolds mantra into everything.

 

[qaz]

Life Lessons with Robert Hill-Smith of Yalumba

Robert Hill-Smith of Yalumba discusses his love of cricket, choc ices and fishing, but is convinced golf-course designers have it in for him…

cluboenologique.com

Bruce Schoenfeld was always a hoarder. In lockdown, he’s had to change tack

Our US columnist wrote this piece in the new year. ‘Little did I know then that I wouldn’t be ordering wine in restaurants for months,’ he says.

cluboenologique.com

'It’s time we judged Italian wine on its own terms'

MW Sarah Heller says appreciation of Italian wines should no longer be based on Bordeaux or Burgundy in her column for Club Oenologique.

cluboenologique.com

Why It’s Time to Stop Fetishizing Wine Expertise

The top Australian wines to try before you die

The brief was to pick just half a dozen of this country's wines for a tasting bucket list, so I'm risking provoking outrage to nominate my best of the best.

www.afr.com

• Seppelt Show Sparkling Burgundy/Shiraz [Great Western]
• Noon Winery High Noon Rosé [McLaren Vale]
• Best’s Old Vine Pinot Meunier [Great Western]
• Mount Pleasant Maurice O’Shea Shiraz [Hunter Valley]
• Wendouree Cabernet Malbec [Clare Valley]
• Seppeltsfield 100 Year Old Para Vintage Tawny [Barossa Valley]

My Top 10 Australian Wine Brands Over The Last Ten Years

1) Penfolds Grange 2) Henschke Hill Of Grace 3) Bass Phillip Reserve Pinot Noir 4) Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay 5) Clarendon Hills A...

australianwinereviews.blogspot.com

What's in Your Cellar? - Wine Focus

Times may have changed, but that’s no reason to stop drinking great wine. We gave five leading wine industry figures a certain budget to see how they’d top up their cellars – with Australian and New Zealand wines only.

app.gourmettravellerwine.com

The Real Review LIVE: Investment Wines with Huon Hooke

Collecting wine is a great hobby, but a risky business. Or at least, it’s a business fraught with pitfalls. However, some wines have a strong reputation for increasing in value with time, and these are the wines we’ll focus on, including ultimate collectable, Penfolds Grange.

www.therealreview.com

The great collectable wines of Australia

From Grange to Wendouree, Hill of Grace to Grosset, Huon Hooke lists his 15 most collectable Australian wines. Discover collectable wine here

cluboenologique.com

Australia's other great wines: Life beyond Grange

The great names in Australian wine have long been chased by collectors, but have you thought about casting your net beyond Grange and its peers?

cluboenologique.com

The story of Australian Shiraz: The oldest vines on the oldest soils

In 1996, Richard Lindner of Langmeil Winery discovered the oldest Shiraz vines not only in Australia but very possibly the world.

cluboenologique.com

 

[qaz]

So You Think You Are a Wine Baller?

Anyone who thinks their expensive wine drinking makes them look cool hasn't seen how François Audouze drinks. His "empties shelf" is bigger than my house.

www.vinography.com

Such a nice guy, had no idea he’s into wine.

Mr Ponting was lucky to receive 41 bottles of Penfolds Grange upon his retirement from Cricket Australia, representing a bottle for every test match century he made during his career, of that vintage, so in 1998 he scored 600 so received six bottles of ‘98; then scored 500 in ‘99 so received five bottles, and so on.

Ricky who?

Some eighty odd years ago, my grandfather, armed with only his cricket bat, snuck into the change-rooms at the Adelaide oval at the close of play on the

winepilot.com

Ponting Wines: First taste of Ricky Ponting’s new release wines

My expectations for cricket legend Ricky Ponting’s new Ponting Wines were very low. That’s a hangover from years of experience with consistently coughhouse celebrity ‘collaboration wine’ – like the middling Greg Norman range, Shane Warne’s forgettable ‘Shane Warne Collection’ or […]

www.ozwinereview.com

Ricky Ponting’s wines: are they any good? - Cellardoor Challenge

Facebook0LinkedIn0Tweet0 I am a cricket tragic with a 70-year obsession fed by a fascination with continuous and ingenious coverage via drones, cameras and microphones in cricket stumps, and ever more sophisticated reviews of decisions by umpires. Geoff Merrill is a very good winemaker, a...

cellardoorchallenge.com

 

[qaz]

Who Makes My Wine?

In the belief that wine drinkers should know who owns which brand, the website www.whomakesmywine.com.au was set up some years ago. However, the website’s owner took it down as she was unable to continue maintaining it by herself. With her approval, I have decided to host this information here...

www.therealreview.com

Musical chairs in the wine world

Rumours are flying around the wine business at the moment regarding possible acquisitions. The biggest is the rumour that Treasury Wine Group is in play, and Pernod Ricard is likely to make a bid. #AccoladeWines #BayOfFires #BeringerWines

www.therealreview.com

Woolworths chairman needs no introduction to Oakridge owner

Australia’s directors club really is a small place.

www.afr.com

 

[qaz]

The most exclusive wineries in Victoria are ready for you

Here’s your chance to have an intimate tasting and a yarn with the winemakers ... but only if you call ahead.

www.afr.com

a staggered five-day road trip targeting more than a dozen of Victoria’s premium appointment-only wineries, across several key wine-growing regions:

Beechworth

• Giaconda
• Savaterre
• Castagna
• Golden Ball

Heathcote

• Wild Duck Creek Estate
• Jasper Hill

Bannockburn

Mornington Peninsula

• Principia
• Staindl Wines
• Portsea Estate

Yarra Valley

• Mayer
• Luke Lambert
• Yeringberg

 

[qaz]

How to Buy Wine: Five Questions to Ask (Published 2020)

You don’t have to be an expert to drink well. But it helps to be honest with yourself about goals, taste and budget, and to know how to ask for help.

www.nytimes.com

How to Drink Wine

Wine is pleasure and conviviality, it is culture and it makes food taste better. But wine can also be intimidating. This guide takes the anxiety out of shopping, buying and drinking wine. You will learn the basics, from how to open a bottle to pairing it with food, along with the best language...

cooking.nytimes.com

 

[qaz]

besides Mornington Peninsula: Australia’s Pinot Coast,

Global Cabernet Sauvignon Comparative Tasting
Webinar: Thursday 13th May @ 1-2am AEST / Friday 14th May @ 12noon-1pm AEST

• Wynns ‘Black Label’ Coonawarra 2015
• Balnaves of Coonawarra ‘The Tally’ Coonawarra 2015
• Yarra Yering ‘Dry Red Wine No. 1’ Yarra Valley 2015
• Mount Mary ‘Quintet’ Yarra Valley 2015
• Cullen Wines ‘Diana Madeline’ Margaret River 2015
• Vasse Felix ‘Tom Cullity’ Margaret River 2015
• Henschke ‘Cyril Henschke’ Eden Valley 2015

Global Comparative Tasting: Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine Australia organises and hosts over 150 activities yearly ranging from key trade shows to regional and varietal masterclasses in over 17 global markets.

www.wineaustralia.com

Barolo 2000-2020 vintage chart by Giuseppe Vajra via Winefront:

So just how good is 2016 Henschke Hill of Grace?

Tyrrell's Sacred Sites 2019 - A Legendary Vintage

Iconic wines from Australia’s first wine region, the Hunter Valley, and arguably one of its premier estates, Tyrrell’s. They are also crafted

winepilot.com

A multi-tractorial wine producer

Ten Minutes by Tractor is a winery name that lodges in the memory. It has a resonance with vineyards, where much of the work among the vines is done with the aid of a tractor. #AdamSanderson #AllisChalmerstractor #AndrewMcCutcheon

www.therealreview.com

Introduction to Mornington Peninsula

The Mornington Peninsula is a privileged piece of Australia’s viticultural landscape. Expensive real estate, it was historically the playground of Melbourne’s wealthy—their cool-climate and water-side playground. #Balnarring #chardonnay #Jackalopeluxuryhotel

www.therealreview.com

Mornington’s rich wine history

Iain Seabrook reflects on the early days of vineyards and wine in the Mornington Peninsula. #AndrewCaillardMW #Australianwinehistory #CabernetSauvignon

www.therealreview.com

 

[qaz]

BNE: apparently on tasting today/tomorrow @ Wineaway:

NEBBIOLO STUNNERS

NEBBIOLO STUNNERS - NEBBIOLO STUNNERS

www.wineaway.com.au

A multi-tractorial wine producer

Ten Minutes by Tractor is a winery name that lodges in the memory. It has a resonance with vineyards, where much of the work among the vines is done with the aid of a tractor. #AdamSanderson #AllisChalmerstractor #AndrewMcCutcheon

www.therealreview.com

Introduction to Mornington Peninsula

The Mornington Peninsula is a privileged piece of Australia’s viticultural landscape. Expensive real estate, it was historically the playground of Melbourne’s wealthy—their cool-climate and water-side playground. #Balnarring #chardonnay #Jackalopeluxuryhotel

www.therealreview.com

Mornington’s rich wine history

Iain Seabrook reflects on the early days of vineyards and wine in the Mornington Peninsula. #AndrewCaillardMW #Australianwinehistory #CabernetSauvignon

www.therealreview.com

Getting by with a little help from his friends

Mornington Peninsula winemaker David Lloyd has been battling cancer in recent years and found himself in hospital at the most critical time of year: the 2020 harvest. #AndrewMurch #DavidLloyd

www.therealreview.com

 

[qaz]

Chenin Blanc - Variety Spotlight

It’s not easy making new friends, but some local winemakers are extending the welcome mat to an oft-dismissed French variety.

app.gourmettravellerwine.com

Australia's Best Chenin Blanc - Young Gun of Wine

Three years after our inaugural Deep Dive into chenin blanc, it’s an apt time to again cast our eyes across the Australian chenin blanc landscape. With a new wave of Australian producers dedicated to elevating the grape, a Deep Dive was called for, so we gathered as many bottlings as we could...

younggunofwine.com

Clare versus Eden Valley riesling

If someone put two glasses of riesling in front of you, one each from the Clare and Eden valleys, would you be able to pick the difference? #AdelaideHills #ChaffeyBrosWineCoTripelpunktRiesling2019 #clarevalley

www.therealreview.com

Freak of a riesling

The wine in the spotlight this week is Rieslingfreak. Yes, that is its name. #BaronsofBarossa

www.therealreview.com

Great Value Wines: 8 Great Australian Dry Rieslings under $25 - JamesSuckling.com

Wine reports from the internationally acclaimed wine critic and journalist

www.jamessuckling.com

 

[qaz]

besides Aussie Chardy Party (PER),

3x 750ml Tasting Pack - $98.84 delivered - 1 left

Discover Sangiovese [ONLINE]

Get tickets on Humanitix - Discover Sangiovese [ONLINE] hosted by Sommeliers Australia Ltd. Online. Monday 31st May 2021. Find event information.

events.humanitix.com

 

[Jczer000]

Wine Australia are launching a connect platform for international trade. The launch webinar was just uploaded, hosted by Mike Bennie. Seems to have quite a few names onboard. Have not seen it yet but it may be worth a watch

Launch Event

Watch the launch of Australian Wine CONNECT, this new dynamic, always-on, virtual platform bringing the global wine community together to discover and connect with Australian wines like never before. CONNECT is a go-to resource for Australian wine with business-to-business matching services...

www.bigmarker.com

 

[qaz]

Barolo 2000-2020 vintage chart by Giuseppe Vajra via Winefront:

Nebbiolo nirvana

This is Nebbiolo Prima, one of the most important wine tasting events in Italy, showcasing the new releases of the region. #Albeisa #AlbinoRoccaRiservaRonchi2016 #Barbaresco

www.therealreview.com

via Another great vintage from Borgogno! Introducing the 'Classico' Barolo 2016... A cellar must-have.

So just how good is 2016 Henschke Hill of Grace?

Tasting Some Of The Sensational Latest Releases Of Australian Superstar Winery Henschke - Quill & Pad

One of the problems with having an iconic wine among your offerings is that other, equally worthy wines are often overlooked or diminished in the eyes of wine lovers. But such is life. With its latest releases, Australian superstar winery Henschke has moved to align the vintages of several of...

quillandpad.com

Henschke Hill of Grace 2016 released

One of Australia’s most outstanding wines, Henschke Hill of Grace, has been released. #DrinksInternational #edenvalley #HenschkeWines

www.therealreview.com

 

[qaz]

BNE: apparently on tasting today/tomorrow @ Wineaway:

NEBBIOLO STUNNERS

NEBBIOLO STUNNERS - NEBBIOLO STUNNERS

www.wineaway.com.au

Pierro on tasting today since 3pm and tomorrow 10am-1pm:

PIERRO

PIERRO - PIERRO

www.wineaway.com.au