Barossa


Yalumba Old Bush Vine Grenache 2014, Barossa, Australia (£11-14 Morrisons, Co-op, Tesco, Flagship Wines) Pale but interesting, with light mint and herb notes pepping up sprightly red berry flavours, and with a savoury edge to its juicy, friendly finish. S(-) Wirra Wirra The Absconder Grenache 2014, McLaren Vale, Australia (~£40) […]

Two South Australian Grenaches


Barossa Valley Estate GSM 2014, Barossa Valley, Australia (£13.49 Wine Rack, Sainsbury’s) Juicy, gentle style, very supple – you could lightly chill this in summer – with clove and liquorice notes adding character to the gentle red berry fruit. Good honest glug, stays the right side of jammy. B+ McGuigan […]

Two Australian GSM Blends




Another of the catch-up-on-tasting-notes posts (see intro HERE if that doesn’t make sense) Tyrrell’s Rufus Stone Heathcote Shiraz 2010, Australia (£17.99, John Kelly Wines, Hailsham, Lewis and Cooper, Harrods, Polygon Wines) Has that peppery savoury style, cool but rich in flavour, with a primitive earthy feel to it, like it’s been […]

Three big (and beautiful) Australian reds


An excellent trio… Landhaus Mayer Riesling 2013, Lower Austria (£13.99 Naked Wines) Clean and brisk like a mountain stream, with a stony note alongside the tangy, herb-scented lime and lemon flavours, just a hint of jelly-like confection, but overall, this is light in body, full in flavour and very tasty. […]

Rieslings from Austria, Australia & Alsace


You know those Tom & Jerry cartoons when Tom has an angel on one shoulder whispering something in one ear and a demon on the other telling him the opposite? That’s how I used to feel about wine and Christmas. Yes, I know it’s the season of peace on earth […]

Three wines for Christmas