Moppity Vineyards, Hilltops NSW

If you're in the wine industry, you know the story of Jason Brown. You've already stocked up on the Lock & Key and stashed away more of the reserve than your wife would allow you to, if only she knew.The wines that Mr. Brown and wife Alecia have been making for the world, are not only beautiful wines to drink but are incredibly well-priced as well. I've tasted, so far, the Shiraz, Cabernet Merlot and the Sav Blanc. There's so much I'd like to say using beautiful, colourful language, but the easiest way of putting it in writing would be describe them as 'kick-ass'. These wines, from the time they're opened, to the time they're all gone, literally, kick ass. Try them today - Lock & Key range would be the perfect start. 

Another beauty by Ben Glaetzer

Bishop, by Ben Glaetzer. 2009 Shiraz. It's so much more than what it seems like when you first open it. It evolves into something much larger, much more lovable overnight. Beautiful shiraz. Available for around $30 AU, this is a great wine to stock up on.
Great on its own. Medium-bodied, gentle spices and mesmerising aroma. Berries are evident and the palate is full. All of that aside, it has that something special about it. Something that makes it a love t first sip.
It's no secret that Ben Glaetzer has been changing the way wine is produced and made in the Barossa. For a few years, he's been busy belting out wines that are more elegant than in your face. Lot gentler than what most people expect from the Barossa. Wines that are thoroughly enjoyable. This is a fine example of all that class and elegance that Ben has added to Australian wine.

Clonakilla Hilltops Shiraz

What a beauty! This is the kind of wine that you could take to a dinner and instantly become a star. I'm not entirely sure but this could have come from the vineyard planted by Dr. John Kirk of the CSIRO in the Hilltops region. 
Amazing wine. Subtle, yet full of flavour. Slightly spicy, holds beautifully and goes great with food. I tried it with roast chicken and it was a great experience. I had a glass of it before food, on its own and it was a treat. All in all, a great wine. Get as many as you can, it'll only go up in price like its sister wines - the shiraz viognier 2008.

Price - $30


Origin - Hilltops region NSW


Alcohol - 14%

Angove Family Vineyards - Cab Sav 2008

This is a steal. Not a deal, a steal. At around $10, this is a great wine. Cabernet factor is very obvious, those who love cabernet will like it very much. Here's an idea, get a dozen of these and chuck them in the cellar - not to age but to drink when you feel like a good wine - this way your other stuff in the cellar (not ready to drink) is saved. Use this as an alternative to that expensive Coonawara cabernet that you've got in the cellar. Or just grab one before a dinner at the local Thai restaurant!


Price: $10-$12


Origin: South Australia


Alcohol: 14%

St Hallett 2008 Shiraz, Barossa Valley, SA

St Hallet is one of those wines that has Barossa written all over it. It's not subtle. It's not subdued. It can't be had on its own. You need food to enjoy this wine (as most shiraz'). The taste is bold, strong shiraz. Strong after-taste. No need to decant this one. 


Price - around $12-$15


Alcohol - 14%

Origin - Barossa Valley, South Australia

Once again - what a beautiful wine!

Maglieri Shiraz - SA

I don't know what it really is about these Shiraz' coming out of South Australia that makes them good. People cite the weather - climatic conditions etc. Whatever it is, it is good for us. We get to taste these beautiful wines. Maglieri Shiraz 2008 is a fine example of another good, honest wine that came out SA. It comes with a cork though...

Open it up, have a glass and then leave it sitting for an hour. Have another glass. You feel the life in the wine. You'll notice it has grown. And this is it. This is what keeps us wine lovers attached to this beautiful world of wine.

Taste - nice, subtle and easy to drink, it is not a strong, full-on Australian Shiraz

Price - around AUD $12 - 14

Alcohol - 14.5%

Origin - McLaren Vale - South Australia

Mariner Pinot Noir - Marlborough, NZ

Pinot Noir is a tricky wine. Everyone wants to grow this grape. Recently, I came across a winemaker from the Pemberton area, WA and he told me that they grow this grape and make pretty good Pinot Noir. I tasted the wine he so graciously gave me. I told him it wasn't good. He probably doesn't like me that much any more but the reason I told him that was simple - I told him the truth. He came back with "this is not the top range, mind you" and told him that's good because I would've been worried about his winery if it was.

Mariner Pinot Noir is a wine that has a feel-good wholesomeness to it. It is something that you'd want to take for a nice sunny lunch in the winters. Share it with friends and family. This is the wine that'll make you a star if you take it to a dinner party. It's not easily available and that's the downside. It's extremely likeable. Easy to drink and goes very well with food. Try it with whatever you like. Personally, I think you need to drink a good wine with something that you like. Lamb, Chicken, Steak, Pork - vegetarian stuff. Anything. Even fish, if you're a seafood person. Mariner uses this new thing called a zork. It's a rubber cork-screw cap combination. I quite like this idea - no cork (which is always good) and it's better than a screw cap as it fits back in quite nicely.

Witches Falls 2007 Syrah

Most people don't know this but there is a region in Queensland that grows a considerable amount of grapes and a lot of wine comes out of it - the Granite Belt. Wineries are scattered all over the place and also spill over to the nearby areas such as Mt. Tamborine. Witches Falls is located in that region. The actual vineyard is minuscule. Owners get a lot of grapes from the Granite belt and mix it up.

The 2007 Syrah is their premium range. The bottle I bought at the cellar door set me back by $48. It's nothing like your usual Barossa Shiraz. It tastes very different - you can tell. Was it good to drink? I can't say I enjoyed as I enjoy the stuff out of the Barossa but having said that, it's not a bad drop. We had it with dinner. Spicy Asian cuisine. It went down very well. It wasn't bold and powerful at all. I thought it was quite mellow, subtle and easy to drink. We had a glass or two after dinner, on its own and it was again, easy to drink, even without food. Price is a bit high - if you've got a Dan Murphy near you, you could easily get something far better in that price range.

Chris Ringland Shiraz 2008

Chris Ringland is back with his new Shiraz. Going for around $20-$25 at this time, its a typical good Barossa Shiraz. If you like Barossa Shiraz, it can be had on its own. Otherwise, enjoy it with food - lamb, duck or mild Asian-style stir-fry or noodles. Grab as much as you can, this is a very good price. Robert Parker has given it 92, don't know what Mattinson will come up with but I think it'll be right up there in the 90s.

Metala 2008 Cabernet Shiraz

Saw this at Vintage Cellars - 2 for $22. If you see that, grab as many as you can easily afford. This might never happen again. Dan is doing that same for $10.98, but that's all you get. With Vintage Cellars, you get a Cellar Share (worth $25 now a days) when you buy 6 of these babies.

Now the real thing, the taste: very good. Not as bold as some of the Penfolds reserve releases you can find for a decent price right now, which, in my case, is better. I like my reds to be elegant. Classy in taste, not in price or look. So, yes, I found this to be a great wine. Goes down well without food. Add a bit lamb meatball to it and its a treat.

Borderline subtle, not very spicy at all, this is a wine that anyone can enjoy.

The Tin Soldier - Chardonnay 2007

Probably one of the best wines to have come out Hunter Valley in recent times. 2007 is outstanding, 2008 is really good. James Halliday gave 2007 a score of 94/100 - nothing else needs to be said about this wine.

Downside, not much available out there. You wouldn't find any of this stuff in the bottleshops (that's what Mark Hussy from the winery told me) and it being a boutique winery, not many bars would be stocking it.

As far as the flavours go, very well balanced, very subtle. Fruit and spice are the obvious flavours that leap out of the glass.

Peter Lehmann Chardonnay

Tried the Peter Lehmann Chardonnay the other day.

Before I say something, anything about it, the price is right. You can get it for around 9-11 dollars at any wine shop. Dan's could be cheaper. Around $15-$20 in the wine bars around Sydney.

The taste is nothing special. Its not bad, for sure. It has a slight heaviness to it, you feel it more if you're not having food with it. With grilled fish, or cheese, it could be quite refreshing - the temperature, I'd suggest, should be around 7-8 C, which is slightly less than how I usually like whites.

A good choice if you're having a BBQ with friends. Bad Choice for a romantic, impress-her-all-you-can date.

Orlando Gramps: THE Australian Shiraz

Here's the writing on your screen: grab a dozen bottles of Orlando Gramps Shiraz, Vintage 2006 and put them away!

Don't say you didn't see it. The writing that is.

This is a wine that many have tasted, many have liked. Many have already put away. Join that club.

Tastes like a good wine should. Without digging deep into my literary closet for fancier words, I'd put it simply: it makes you feel good, it makes the meal taste better and the feeling of general well-being is suddenly uplifted to a new high after the first glass.

Try it before you decide to stock up.