GOLD BOOK UNEARTHS REAL GEMS

wine with david ellis

WE’ve long considered one of the most valuable assets in the cellar to be Australian Wine Vintages – truly “the Gold Book” for the true wine enthusiast.

And the latest edition reflects the first change in authorship in the book’s 29 year history, with Master of Wine, Robert Geddes joining original creator, Robin Bradley for the 2009 edition – Robin’s last before he retires in 2010.

Australian Wine Vintages provides buffs and collectors with a unique, easy to understand data base about the quality, value and “use-by” potential of the best wines from Australia’s top 350 producers – with Robert this year undertaking an enormous 18,000 data searches to create a realistic snapshot of current values and prices through retail outlets and at auction.

Since first appearing in 1979, the “Gold Book” has sold over 900,000 copies and provided enormous assistance both to the trade and sophisticated wine drinkers and collectors: one Sydney man has built-up a $100,000 cellar based purely on the book’s recommendations, and two others have used it to amass over 650 bottles each including rare vintages dating back to 1976.

The 2009 edition of this must-have book for true wine aficionados is priced at $34.99 and will be on sale in time for Father’s Day… if you can take the hint.

ONE FOR LUNCH: IF ever a wine has “special event” written over it, it’s Lindemans 2005 Coonawarra Pyrus – a classic Bordeaux style blend with a backbone of 81 per cent old vine Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and a touch of Malbec.

This is a wine whose rich and supple palate has intense sweet berry fruit flavours, pluminess from the Merlot component, and spicy and earthy notes from the small 2% Malbec contribution.

Pay $54.99 for that special-occasion and share with a hearty Beef Wellington.

(Need a drink? We’re archived on http://vintnews.com

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PHOTO CAPTIONS:

. A MUST-have for those who take their wine seriously.