Penley Estate Chertsey Coonawarra

One of the best Chertsey’s yet, there’s a newfound elegance to this wine in 2010, more fragrant and enticing than ever, laced into a seamless whole of impressively persistent concentration and vibrant poise. It’s a co-fermented blend of almost equal shares of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc, without any suggestion of the slightest separation […]

Yalumba The Menzies Coonawarra Cabernet

A great Menzies of well-defined fruit and enduring potential, paying tribute to exacting attention to ever finer details of production in the vineyard and winery. It’s not due to land until November, but it needs at least another five years and preferably ten to really show at its best. Right now it takes some time […]

Retailer Rage

This week Woolworths announced profit rises of 24% off the back of its growing supermarket, liquor store and fuel empire. Estimates suggest that Dan Murphys and BWS stores now sell something approaching 50% of packaged wine in Australia. Yesterday I was privileged to an insight into Woolworths liquor during a day tasting a selection of […]

Freeman Rondo Rondinella Rosé

An understated rosé of pretty pale salmon-copper hue, alluring restraint, savoury character and lingering persistence. Notes of tomato and watermelon are underlined by finely textured mouth feel and lively high altitude acidity. A well-crafted and food-friendly style. $20 at Oak Barrel and Wine Odyssey.