NICE drop to take along toyour favourite Chinese BYO. Wc07Nov11 David Ellis WHILE few had anything positive to say about the 2011 harvest in the Clare Valley – and most of the rest of a very sodden South-Eastern Australia for that matter – Koonowla winemaker Andrew Michael says it was one of those times when […]
Wc26Sep11 BOTTLING-up history – and adelight with most Asian cuisines. David Ellis CLARE Valley makers Tim Adams and Pam Goldsack have launched an interesting new label they call Mr Mick after Tim’s friend and mentor, the legendary Mick Knappstein. And their idea is to emulate Mick’s philosophy of making wines for everyone to enjoy, with […]
Wc08Aug11 VERY special occasion– you’ll certainly not be disappointed. David Ellis WHILE wine has been flowing in the Clare Valley since 1851, just two years after the first settlers arrived there from Ireland in 1849, production from the region is still just 1.5% of Australia’s total wine output. But what wines some of these are, […]
DIVINE: extraordinary resultfrom a heatwave vintage– try this with lamb shanks baked inthyme or a winter’s rabbit stew. Wc27Jun11 David Ellis BOUTIQUE Clare Valley maker Julie Barry has come up with a stunner of a 2008 Shiraz under her quirkily-named Good Catholic Girl label, a wine that could possibly have had some Divine intervention as […]
Wc30May11 David Ellis DON’T give up on Riesling, its great withspicy Asian and Mexican dishesor with Beurre blanc Morton Bay Bugs. RIESLING has dropped off the twig as a wine of preference for many these days, which truly is a shame because it can be a delightful choice with dishes ranging from spicy Asian and […]
FOR something differenttry this with oxtail beef raguand gnocchi. Wc18Apr11 David Ellis BACK in the early 1970s Leasingham in the Clare Valley produced a Cabernet Malbec blend under a Bin 65 label, a wine that was recognised at the time as one of Australia’s greatest reds. It was the creation of the late and extraordinarily […]
A NEW addition to Penfolds’ ever-popular Bins range. Wc14Mar11 David Ellis PENFOLDS’ always-anticipated annual Bin releases are particularly interesting this year, not just because of the strength of these from the contrary 2008 vintage in South Australia, but because of a new addition to the Bins and the 50th release of that old favourite, Bin […]
Wc24Jan11 A NICE one to enjoy withgamey meats, duck or lamb. David Ellis BACK in 1993 when Clare Valley winemakers were suffering a desperate shortage of Shiraz and Cabernet grapes, Tim Adams Wines convinced a neighbour, Fergus Mahon to sell them his entire Grenache crop so they could create a blend that would see them […]
NICE drop with Thaiand spicy Asian foods Wc06Dec10 David Ellis BOUTIQUE cool-climate maker Shaw Vineyard Estate between Canberra and Yass has released a well-priced Winemakers Selection 2009 Riesling that’s a great drop with Thai and other spicy Asian dishes. Made from entirely estate-grown fruit, the crisp citrus-dominated palate makes it ideal with those Asian foods, […]
Wc11Oct10 FISH favourite – or with a simpleroast chicken if you’re not into fish David Ellis TIM Adams Wines have released a ripper 2009 Semillon from their Clare Valley heartland, a wine that’s what Clare Semillon is all about. Somewhat different to Semillons from such major growing areas as NSW’s Hunter Valley, Clare Valley Semillon […]