Media Release: Tonight was a big night for the New Generation Hunter Valley winemakers, with the 2011 Citibank NSW Wine of the Year and Trophy for Best Young Chardonnay going to Mistletoe Wines 2009 Reserve Chardonnay ($40), made by Nick “Doggy” Paterson – one of the 6 not-so-usual suspects! Andrew “Thommo” Thomas was not far […]
Wc10Oct11 SNAP-up this WA beauty with pan-friedbaby snapper and baked eggplant. David Ellis WESTERN Australia’s Capel Vale has come a long way since Perth medico, Dr Peter Pratten and his wife Elizabeth were the first to recognise the potential of the quiet banks of the Capel River for cool-climate viticulture, planting their first vineyards there […]
Media Release Lovers of food, wine, culture and nature can indulge in the Granite Belt this spring. The 2011 Primavera Festival program offers 90 days of cultural, nature-based and gastronomic experiences. Meet the winemakers, providores and artisans; and celebrate with more than 55 events, festivities, workshops and master classes from September to November. From seven […]
SOMETHING new to enjoy withpan-fried whiting – and just $12.99. Wc18Jul11 David Ellis THE Hunter Valley’s Neil McGuigan is without doubt Australia’s master-craftsman when it comes to Semillon, and he’s now both surprised and delighted his legions of fans by coming up with a virtually total new style that he’s labelled The Semillon Blanc. Because […]
Wc04Jul11 David Ellis IRREVERENT – made by a Frenchman to gowith traditional Coq au Vin. IF you like celebrating all things French, then July’s the month to do it, with the Tour de France running to the 24th and Bastille Day on the 14th. And a couple of French wines to help you along are […]
Wc20Jun11 COOL: careful blending has made thisone a great match with seafoods. David Ellis LILIAN Carter wasted no time in making her presence known as Stills Winemaker when she joined Victoria’s Domaine Chandon at the beginning of 2010 after a six-year stint working in South Australia. Her 2010 Domaine Chandon Chardonnay that’s just been released […]
FLAVOUR-packed to enjoy withsweet and spicy beef short ribs. Wc13Jun11 David Ellis WHEN you get hot, dry drought conditions in the Hunter Valley, you can bet you are going to get low-yielding, wonderfully-flavoursome fruit from the Shiraz vines there at simply thrive under these harsh circumstances. And such was the 2007 vintage, giving Tintilla Estate’s […]
IDEAL with roast lamband fresh home-mademint sauce. Wc25Apr11 David Ellis EVANS & Tate’s Redbrook label wines are made only when vintages are at their best, and their 2008 Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine from one of those best-vintages – as winemaker, Matt Byrne says “one that was a once in a decade.” Good […]
NICE match with roast porkor pan-fried Atlantic salmon. Wc11Apr11 David Ellis LAPSED devotees of Chardonnay looking for an enticement back to the fold, should look to Katnook’s just-released 2009 Founder’s Block as good reason to once more take up a glass of what was once Australia’s favourite varietal. Because this is a Coonawarra wine that […]
Wc28Feb11 A GREAT $10 match with Hoisin sauce-bastedbarbecued pork chops and salads. David Ellis WE’re never averse to dabbling with $10 and under wines, particularly with a large tribe of grown-ups who like to drop around for weekend barbecues – and Deakin Estate had us dabbling marvellously a couple of weekends back with their just-released […]