From the category archives:

Australia

McGuigan Bin No.578 Merlot 2010

July 4, 2011
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For all the ease of use and endless pondering the internet has bought to wine buying, sometimes (all too often?) the purchase of a bottle can come down to what looks best out of the discounted bottles at the nearest supermarket. It’s fair enough – modern life is often complicated enough without turning the purchase [...]

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Devil’s Corner 2009 Tasmania Pinot Noir

June 17, 2011
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Tasmania may be part of Australian – a state, in fact – but its cool temperate climate and relatively remote location set it apart somewhat. Most of it comprises the actual island of Tasmania: the V-shaped mass of land to the South of Victoria. (The 26th largest island in the world, fact fans.) I suppose it makes [...]

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Furious Knives Of Wine Battle Island Shiraz Cabernet 2009

June 15, 2011
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The Furious Knives of Wine is some sort of off-shoot of Some Young Punks, the much-talked-about Aussie producers whose pulp and fantasy labels are almost embarrassingly cool in the sometimes fusty (but more often just bland) world of wine marketing. It’s fortunate their wines are worthy of comment as well as their artwork – otherwise they’d be [...]

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McGuigan Shortlist GSM 2009

May 31, 2011
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McGuigan Estate is one of the biggest wineries in Australia but that doesn’t mean they don’t produce wines of excellent quality. Their wines are such excellent value for money that Majestic has just taken on the entire UK order of their new range, The Shortlist for all their shops in the UK. I was able [...]

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Peter Lehmann Back To Back Barossa Valley Grenache 2006

May 9, 2011
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Some of the best wines I’ve had in the past year have been related to the Grenache grape, and some less tenuously than others. I’ve had a growing fondness for Rhône blends for some time, many of which comprise Grenache along with Shiraz and other varietals, usually in lesser quantities. I’m still finding its versatility to [...]

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2006 Shelmerdine Cabernet Sauvignon

November 9, 2010
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A wine that does everything you’d require it to, Shelmerdine‘s Cabernet Sauvignon is a formidable beast worthy of the name Cab Sav and living up to all the expectations of strength and structure you’d have for such a wine from Australia – a land where they certainly know how to breed a hearty red. A [...]

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Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2008

October 9, 2010
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Wine blending is an art. Successfully harmonising two different grape varieties into one wine can produce fantastic tastes that trade off the positive characteristics of each and tone down any negatives. Equally possible is an uninspiring blend either completely dominated by one of its constituent grapes, or, worse, an ill-judged marriage that brings out the [...]

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Brewery Hill Shiraz 2008

February 3, 2010
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My husband and I tried this wine over a couple of nights with curry and spag bol, I have to say it wasn’t a great food/wine match with either. Therefore the best match in my opinion would be a good old steak on the BBQ. When I put my nose into the glass and breathed [...]

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Greedy Sheep Cabernet Merlot 2007

December 21, 2009
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Colour: Lovely velvety deep purple-red. Scents: Rose, aniseed, smoke and a hint of acidic grass. Taste: Very robust, though tannony and slightly sour. The aftertaste of plum and nectarine is exactly what you’d expect of a good Cab-Merlot. ABV: 14% Cost: £9.99

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Blackwood Ridge Pinot Noir 2008

November 26, 2009
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Colour: Plum red, with some transparency. Scents: Mild spice with blackcurrant and cherry, a very typical pinot noir. Taste: Fleshy, juicy plum and hints of rose. The wine is rather lacking in depth of flavour considering its tempting bouquet. ABV: 16% (Late Harvest)

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Blackwood Ridge Shiraz 2007

November 18, 2009
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Colour: Fresh, transparent blood red. Scents: Juicy dark plum, spice and dark berry. Taste: Hints of spice, plum and cherry. ABV: 14% (Late Harvest)

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