September 2012
1 post
16 tags
Spring Has Sprung!
It’s that time of year again! Sun, BBQ’s, Swimming and of course… White wine!
To kick off this great weather I opted to push the weekday wallet and picked up a $19 bottle of Pinot Gris. Grant Burge - hailing from Adelaide Hills - has family roots in wine making dating back to 1855! Grant, starting the Grant Burge label with wife Helen back in 1988 always runs with a family first...
July 2012
3 posts
17 tags
A Leg Up
It is yet another cold winter night so I have opted for yet another heavy, mixed variety red. Fifth Leg (named after an archaeological site where remains of a Tasmainian tiger, along with an extra leg, were found) has been in the wine game since 1996. Their fun and energetic way of approaching wine is something easily conveyed with a quick visit to their web page. Lets hope it translates to the...
15 tags
Beauty, Skin Deep
The Schild family first moved to the Barossa Valley from Lameroo in the Murray Mallee in 1952. Upon the sudden death of Ben Schild in 1956 the family business was left in the hands of the only son still living at home - Ed - aged just 16. From then onwards the winery saw steady growth encapsulating over 400 acres and in 1998 the Schild Estate label was born.
Schild Estate ‘GMS’...
11 tags
Kangathrilla
Kangarilla Road winery was established in 1997 by Helen and Kevin O’Brien. At a relativity young age it has already proven itself as producer of quality products and has been well received by the wine world, notably scoring a 5 Star Winery rating by James Halliday (Wine Companion 2010).
Kangarilla Road (South Australia/McLaren Vale)
Primitivo
2009
14.5%
750ml (Screw Top)
I paid:...
June 2012
4 posts
15 tags
This Little Piggy
The Barry family has been in the wine game since 1944 and in 1959 purchased their first vineyard in Clare Valley. The business has been growing and expanding ever since, instilling the motto ‘from vine to wine’ they take pride in overseeing the entire wine making process. I have before me their ‘Three Little Pigs’ mixed variety, sporting a neat label design.
Jim...
11 tags
Lets Dance
Malbec is a wine variety synonymous with Argentina, as is the meaning of ‘Lo Tengo’ or in translation ‘The Tango’. This wine was picked under recommendation but does it live up to expectations..?
Lo Tengo (Argentina)
Malbec
2011
13.5%
750ml (Screw Top)
I paid: $10
The smell of this wine is big, cluttered and nutty. Along with the nuts I get soil, light mint...
13 tags
Beauty, Inside & Out
In need of a quick in and out grab for the night ahead I found myself faced quickly with a gorgeous bottle, parented by one of Australia’s biggest wine regions. Coming in at a healthy $16 I couldn’t pass this one up… Even given the temperamental monster Pinot can be.
The Maîtresse (Australia/Yarra Valley)
Pinot Noir
2011
13%
750ml (Screw Top)
I paid: $16
This wine...
14 tags
Duck Duck...
I’ve had sparkling Shiraz on a number of occasions and have always found it to be somewhat of a grey area in respect to performance… Produced typically in the same fashion as Champagne they have a tendency to be very syrup like and over-run by sweet fruits, resulting in a taste reminiscent of the original ‘Mother’ energy drinks. So can this mold be broken? And furthermore,...
May 2012
9 posts
11 tags
Red in Right Hand
I picked this bottle simply for the label design (consumer whore, I know…) after seeing it floating around a few stores, it piqued my interest but always exceeding my $20 limit by a few dollars or so. Luckily I located a bottle for $19 and was excited to give it a shot!
Vinaceous (South Australia/McLaren Vale)
Shiraz, Grenache & Tempranillo
2010
14.5%
750ml (Screw Top)
I paid:...
12 tags
Behind the Wheel
The Water Wheel vineyard was planted in 1970 and in 1989 was purchased by the Cumming family including the surrounding 20 acres. Since then the vineyard has expanded to over 300 acres. The Water Wheel Shiraz is a wine I’ve had on 1 or 2 occasions and thought I would share my opinion.
Water Wheel (Australia/Victoria/Bendigo)
Shiraz
2009
14%
750ml (Screw Top)
I paid: $17
Great...
11 tags
Enjoying the View
Wolf Blass is a label that had to make an appearance on the site sooner or later. Being one of Australia’s most well known (and well rewarded) wine companies with prices on every end of the spectrum and available almost everywhere, It was simply a matter of time before a bottle found its way to the blog… And it won’t be the last.
Wolf Blass (Australia/Multi-regional)
Shiraz...
11 tags
Into Temptation
“Crowded House is a cheeky, younger sibling of Catalina Sounds. These are fresh, easy drinking, unpretentious wines with clean, crisp aromatics.” -crowded-house.co.nz/wines/
The bottle I have before me comes from one of my first recommendations for the site. It is a well received wine by critics, winning the Blue Gold award at the Sydney International Wine Competition (2012)....
13 tags
Anticlimax
E. Guigal, founded in 1946 by Etienne Guigal, is a family operated business (as you can probably guess by the name) now in its third generation. The purchasing of new French estates has seen the brand grow to where it is today, showing off 3 hectares of cellars and galleries which house barrels, tanks and vats.
E. Guigal (France, Côte-Rôtie)
Côtes du Rhône
2009
14%
750ml (Cork)
I paid:...
12 tags
Fit For A King
The second purchase from my weekend trip to the King Valley was a ‘Dal Zotto’ Riesling. After tasting a number of the white they had on offer this one really won me over with its smooth drinking, and at $18 I couldn’t go past it. The birth of Dal Zotto wines took place in 1987, 20 years after Otto and Elena (The founders) had migrated from italy to Australia.
Dalz Otto...
13 tags
King of the Valley?
A beautiful weekend trip to the King Valley saw me bring back - among my small selection - a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon from the ‘Gracebrook Vineyards’ cellar door. The sales staff explained that this Cabernet is a new introduction to their lineup and was (for the price) one of my favorite tastings of the bunch. The Gracebrook vineyards have been in existence since the 1880’s...
13 tags
Plenty of Latitude
Spencer Hill Estate is the brain child of Philip and Sheryl Jones who released their first wine to the world in 1994. Since then they have parented additional vineyards resulting in multiple brands that all add to an impressive wine empire, both in size and reputation. The Latitude 41 range is a blend of both Nelson and Marlborough (New Zealand) grapes. In the words of the creators “We...
12 tags
Tolley in the Trolley
Surprisingly, Tolley is a hard winery to find much information about. The limited information contained on this bottle claims they’ve had an “Enviable reputation for quality in Australia since 1892”. I have heard the name Tolley before but am yet to experience any of their wines.
Tolley ‘Watercolour’ (South Australia)
Cabernet Sauvignon
2009
14%
750ml (Screw...
April 2012
12 posts
13 tags
Hogging a Hoggie
Hoggies Estate is one of Australia’s premier producers of boutique wines. You won’t find them in your supermarkets or major liquor outlets. But if my relatively limited experience of their wines is anything to go on they’re worth seeking out (I found mine from a local boutique wine shop).
Hoggies Estate (South Australia/Coonawarra)
Chardonnay
2006
13.5%
750ml (Cork)
I...
13 tags
'Bird in Hand' in hand
The Bird in Hand vineyard was conceived in 1997 when Andrew Nugent planted seeds across 100 acres in the Adelaide Hills. This vineyard has gone on to accomplish great things since its birth including multiple awards and high praise from world wine critics. The 2010 Shiraz I’m reviewing today was awarded the ‘World’s Best Value Shiraz by Decanter World Wine Awards’
Bird...
13 tags
Mike's my kind of guy.
“Our philosophy is still the same, we want to deliver a really great wine to our customers at a price they can afford to drink it every day.” -Mike Press Wines
After 42 years making wine for the big boys such as Penfolds, Seppelts, Krondorf and as Chief Winemaker for Mildara Blass, Mike and his wife Judy decided they would leave the corporate side of the wine business and get in...
12 tags
No Bull.
is a joint partnership between Jorge Garcia Cuenca from Castilla la Mancha and Javier Murua of Rioja with the aim of creating affordable Spanish wines of true Spanish character. Named in honor of a famous bull that achieved a unique feat of twice receiving pardon for exceptional bravery, their wines aim to ‘embody Spanish passion and spirit’.
Elefante (Spain/Vino de la Tierra de...
17 tags
Getting Blind! Part One: Merlot
‘Getting Blind!’ Is a post I hope to do at least once a month. In short, it is 3 wines of the same variety, set within a certain budget, easily available and all tasted and reviewed blind. This means I won’t know what wine I’m drinking until after I have enlisted my opinion. The wines will be selected by me but poured without my knowing which glass contains which wine.
The...
10 tags
When life gives you lemons... Make wine?
Peter Lehmann wines is one of Australia’s most well known wine producers and one which I have experienced, happily, on many occasions. They produce a wide range of varieties and cater for every end of the price spectrum. Whether I was sipping on a $100 bottle of Stonewell Shiraz or polishing off a $15 Cabernet, they have always presented consistently smooth and unoffensive flavors which...
13 tags
Nice Kitty
From first sight this bottle ticks all the right boxes. A cute label, good shape and wonderful cap all combine to make this wines packaging one of the best I’ve encountered.
Le Chat Noir is a product produced from the Hautes Vallées/Pyrenees region in France. With an altitude rising to 400 meters, the low yielding vineyards are cooled by refreshing winds and chilly nights. They like to...
13 tags
Disclaimer 'I've had this wine before'
Which is exactly why I had to share it! I first tried it in mid 2011 when it was reduced from $10 to $9 (give me a break I’m the budget wine guy, remember?). Needless to say it wasn’t love at first sight… But what this humble red from Portugal lacked with its unassuming label (its grown on me) it made up for in the glass.
Bons Ventos (Portugal/Casa Santos Lima)
Tinto
2008
...
12 tags
An Australian Classic
Established in 1836 Houghton is one of Australia’s oldest and most well known wineries. One of their most renowned wines produced is a white burgundy first created in 1937 under the guidance of Jack Mann. 75 years on and renamed the ‘Houghton White Classic’ it is still selling strong and available in nearly every major liquor outlet.
Houghton White Classic (Western Australia/Swan...
13 tags
It Brings The Gravy
Sandro Audino, the mind behind Argyle wines, wanted to create a brand that could compete with the newer labels released today, whilst also making it affordable for the everyday wino. This single vineyard release has been seen in many Italian restaurants around Melbourne… and with good reason.
Argyle Wines (Victoria/Heathcote)
Merlot
2009
14%
750ml (Screw Top)
I paid: $13
With a...
17 tags
Red & White?
..Or Black & Gold?
Craftsman wines are one of the many ‘privately labeled’ wines around today. Owned by Woolworths they’re not something I would usually intentionally purchase, but being the budget wine reviewer I am I thought I would throw some in the mix to distinguish the quality to price ratio expected.
Craftsman (South Australia/Coonawarra)
Cabernet Sauvignon
2010
13.5%
...
11 tags
"All The Land Around"
Or “Yalumba” In Aboriginal terminology, have been a winery I have admired since my first budget purchases and foray in to the wine market back in 2008. With consistently smooth wines across the board I found them a go to choice whenever I was indecisive.
Yalumba (South Australia)
Y Series
Sauvignon Blanc
2011
11.0%
750ml (Screw Top)
I paid: $13
The scent begins with a...
