Barossa

The sun’s just come out in Adelaide and I’m readying myself for a day of jollity in the Barossa Valley. Got myself into the zone last night with one of the best young Australian reds I’ve ever had. I was with about 15 others in Goodlife Pizza on Hutt Street, […]

Torbreck Natural Wine Project

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Been in France for most of the last fortnight, but managed to find time last week to host a tasting of Henschke wines for the enterprising West London Wine School. Afterwards I sat down with proprietor and professional hat-wearer Jimmy Smith to talk about what we’d been tasting. First three […]

A range from Henschke with West London Wine School

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Kuentz-Bas Riesling Tradition 2008, Alsace, France (£9.50 The Wine Society) Clean and fresh, yet quite full, lots of green apple and citrus tang plus an undercurrent of spicy minerality, full but dry finish. S- Crossroads Medway Vineyard Riesling 2009, Marlborough, New Zealand (£9.50 Mentzendorff) Just too simple, with lemon & […]

Riesling from Alsace, Australia & New Zealand

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McHenry Hohnen Cabernet/Merlot 2008, Margaret River (£9.99 Majestic) Surprisingly forward, rounded wine, showing just the right amount of leafy mint and eucalyptus character alongside juicy plummy fruit, hints of leather and tobacco and smooth ripe tannins. B+ Averys Pioneer Barossa Shiraz 2007 – made by Yalumba (£8.99 Averys) A lovely […]

Three Australian Shirazes + a Margaret River blend

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Australia Day + 1, so a few hangers-on from the haggis adventure, plus a moody but not all that magnificent Italian… Jacobs Creek Grenache Shiraz 2008, South Eastern Australia (£5.99 Tesco, Asda, Ocado) Quite light, almost refreshing, sweet raspberry aroma and flavour, slightly jammy, but then the more earthy gravitas […]

More Aussie reds + a Brunello wannabe

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Leaping Lizard Cabernet Merlot 2007, Western Australia (£7.99-£8.50 Seckford Agencies) Vibrant, crunchy blackcurrant nose, then slightly pippy blackberry flavours, with a tar-like streak, easy fleshy wine, quite powerful and ripe but finishes dry. B Ferngrove ‘Symbols’ Cabernet Merlot 2008, Frankland River, Australia (£8.99-£9.50 Seckford Agencies) Fresher and tangier than the […]

Aussie Cabernet, with a Chilean interloper

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