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...
