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May
28

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Teusner Joshua Grenache Mataro Shiraz 2012

Category: Barossa Valley, bold reds, Red Wine Tags: , , , Leave a Comment

This is one for those who are not oak-lovers – in red or in white wines. Joshua is a wine with an incredibly vibrant fruitiness. The generous raspberry fruit is enhanced with pepper, perfumed floral notes and dried herbs.

Juicy, ripe soft fruit aside, there is a slight bite of acid on the back of the palate that will be tamed somewhat with food.  The combination of generosity of fruit with the lack of oak makes this wine a good candidate for food with a spicy bent.

Date: March 2013   Price:  $29   Value: $$   Drink:  Now  – 3 years

 

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May
8

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A new look at Barossa Shiraz

Category: Barossa Valley, bold reds, Features Tags: , Leave a Comment

This week I found myself consoling a friend of mine about their continued love of bold Barossan Shiraz in the face of a changing tide – particularly stateside where he lives.  I have long been an advocate for standing strong for your wine choices, they are your own and no one should take them away. Of course, you should never stop trying something new and widely sampling different wines.

The good news for my friend is that there are some young guns striving to make us take a fresh look at Barossa Valley shiraz. Get set to see wines more elegantly structured and purer in fruit coming from producers such as the Kalleske family, Kym Teusner and St Hallett’s, Toby Barlow. Each with a different story to tell but they come together in creating a fresher Read More

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May
3

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Next Generation: De iuliis LDR Shiraz 2011

Category: elegant reds, Hunter Valley, Red Wine Tags: , Leave a Comment

Here is a feature wine from Mike De Iuliis, one of the Hunter Valley’s Next Gen winemakers that you can catch on their 2013 Caravan of Courage tour at a location near you:

 

Lovedale Road = LDR.  A bright and vibrant red from the winery with the tongue twister name – try pronouncing it after your brain has started to relax for the day.  It is a name well worth learning given the range of fresh and very drinkable wines they have on offer.

This shiraz is tight on opening at the moment, so let it get some space and air to flesh out. Then the black cherry, cloves and earth aromas loosen up to take on a more floral violet and pepper nuance.  The palate plumps up generously with plenty of fruit and the acid leaves the palate fresh and ready for more without needing an alcoholic lift. The long length finishes with just a hint of sweet garden herbs and fruit. This is not a wine that requires food but is certainly up to the task.

Date: 28th April 2013   Price:  $40    Value: $$$  Drink:  Now  – 7+ years

Read more about Mike and the other Next Gen winemakers here.

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May
3

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Next Generation: Thomas Sweetwater Shiraz 2011

Category: bold reds, Hunter Valley, Red Wine Tags: , Leave a Comment

Here is a feature wine from Andrew Thomas, one of the Hunter Valley’s Next Gen winemakers that you can catch on their 2013 Caravan of Courage tour at a location near you:


According to his website, Andrew Thomas is a ‘specialist in Shiraz and Semillon from the Hunter Valley’. This is perhaps an understatement. Andrew’s Braemore Semillon is one of the modern benchmarks for the varietal similar to his shiraz wines which have his personality stamped all over them.

The Sweetwater is sourced from, funnily enough, Sweetwater Ridge. It is rich with mulberry and plum fruit, earth and cinnamon.   The juicy fruit and supple tannin stride along the palate. The finish is rich but this poised and balanced shiraz is bold but not blocky. It is moreish and cheekily encourages you to refill the glass.

Date: 28th April 2013   Price:  $35    Value: $$$  Drink:  Now  – 4+ years

Read more about Andrew and the other Next Gen winemakers here.

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Apr
18

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Earthworks Shiraz 2011

Category: Barossa Valley, bold reds, Red Wine Tags: , Leave a Comment

A hard to resist juicy fruity red and even if you find someone who can resist, they won’t resist the price.  The vibrancy of the purple hues in the glass continues throughout the nose and palate. The aromas of lifted pepper, blueberry, cherry fairly bounce out of the glass and into the mouth.

The soft mid palate has fine acid and the fruit weight is fleshed out with judicious use of oak and if you give it some air it will reward. Bright and fresh, enjoy this wine a venison sausage with roasted beetroot.

Date: February 2013   Price:  $17    Value:  $$     Drink: Now – 5 years

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