Conquest Shiraz 2010 Barossa Valley. This wine is packaged in a stylish bottle which looks a little different to the usual Shiraz bottle and has a nice elegant label. Of course this matters little if the wine is crap.

In the glass it is very dark and inky and I can smell loads of pepper, sharp blackberries and liquorice. I will emphasise the sharpness, it is very powerful but not juicy fruity in the nose, it is a big young wine.

The first taste is very square and full, it does not roll around the mouth easily at all but it does provide you with many eye raising tastes rolling around the edges. The tannins in this wine are strong and structured which keeps all the tastes entwined together tightly, it also ensures that this wine will live a long time in … Read More »

McWilliams Classic 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, This wine hails from the Hunter Valley.

This Cab Sav is blood ink in the glass, it looks very intense and deep.

The nose is quite earthy with blobs of ripe berries bubbling from it. The first thing you notice about this wine in the mouth is that it is quite tight, the tannins are really holding it together well.

Pouring from around the edges I am getting earthy notes along with some really intense nicely ripe plum and also some. It is not as heavy as it looks in the glass, instead it is a big wine treading lightly on its feet, quite agile.

The more I drink of this the more I am noticing redcurrant escaping with a pow!

The perfect spot for drinking this earthy curranty wine would be a big … Read More »

Chandon Brut is a wine from Domaine Chandon in Victoria’s Yarra Valley which makes it’s sparkling wines in the traditional method.

The wine itself looks appetising, it is dark straw and bright.

The nose is quite subtle with some peach and nectarine hints wafting out of the glass.

The wine itself tastes quite sharp with some sweetness and also some enjoyable bitterness on the sides. I am picking up is five star fruit, not as dense as a melon and also lighter than a lot of stone fruits.

It is a very very easy wine to drink, nice and fresh. The acid is always there just pinching the bottom of my cheeks but unfortunately it is not enough, would like a little more. I guess I am greedy.

I would recommend that you buy this baby, my wife found … Read More »

Michael Hope Signature Series Shiraz 2011

This wine is blood red in the glass and offers some exquisite smells. Amongs them are Plum, Sawdust, Rich Black Earth and Oak. It is amazing!!!!!

The tannins on this wine are absolutely fine, and the fruit is not sweet but very savoury and rich which almost gives a hint of sweetness. The winner for me though is the earthy woody goodness that just flows through this wine which would easily be the best I have tasted so far this year!

There are so many levels at play in this young wine it is mind blowing.

For your info, I write these reviews as I drink so things evolve as I go and I do often get different flavours jumping out as the wine becomes more open along with my palate. The treat … Read More »