JACOBS CREEK RESERVE SHIRAZ 2006

Review of Wine:

Firstly this wine was purchased as we were looking for a nice shiraz and noticed that it had won a few awards from different wine shows so thought it would be worth a try. Had to purchase it in a 6 pack which always has me a little worried when I haven't tried the wine before but it was well worth the purchase. The wine is incredibly smooth and a real pleasure to drink. Had a glass while marking a hardy meal in the kitchen as it was very cold and windy outside but the wine really shined once I had another glass with dinner as the plum and berry favors with a hint of pepper complemented the olives in the dish so well. I can see having quite a few great nights with this wine. Well worth the purchase I can say.

Wine Region: Barossa Valley, South Australia

Drink Until: 2016

Varieties: Shiraz

Food: An ideal accompaniment to most red meats, game and cheeses.

Colour: Deep crimson with dark red hues.

Nose: Lifted aromas of mulberry and blackberry with underlying hints of cloves and anise, balanced by spicy oak notes.

Palate:

The 2006 Jacobs Creek Reserve Shiraz is a full bodied wine displaying rich fruit flavours of dark berries and plums and velvety tannins. Lovely acid balance and integration of flavours result in a supple and engaging wine with a lingering finish of spice, chocolate and mocha.

Background:

In 1847, a young Bavarian immigrant by the name of Johann Gramp planted the Barossa Valley's first commercial vineyard on the banks of Jacob's Creek. Today, Johann's original cellar is still standing at Jacob's Creek. It's a testament to his enduring passion for wine. Johann's legacy instilled a simple winemaking philosophy that gave birth to one of the world's most popular wine brands. This premium, full bodied wine is an outstanding example of South Australian Shiraz, displaying an intensity of ripe plum with pepper spice, balanced by soft grape and oak tannins, leading to a lingering smooth finish. An ideal accompaniment to most red meats, game and cheeses. A wine that will develop further with cellaring.

Alcohol: 14.3%

Where to Purchase:

This was purchased online from Cellermasters for around $85 per 6. At the time of order we found an online coupon which gave a $50 discount if ordered with another 6 wines so worked out to be quite a deal. Have also seen a case of 6 on Deals Direct for around $70.

CASTLE GLEN VINEYARD 2005 VINTAGE CABERNET PORT

Review of Wine:

Our first experience with this port wasn't overly great. We visited the vineyard firstly to see the actual castle they have among the vineyards. After looking around we decided to taste test a few ports and settled on the 2005 Vintage Cabernet Port although at the time we didn't think much of this but this may have been due to brushing our tenth 30 minutes before tasting and also being before midday. To our pleasure surprise on opening this port one night at home for a night cap it really hit the spot. The port is extremely smooth and seems to have a really natural taste and Castle Glens approach to using nothing but 100% natural produce pays off.

Wine Region: Granite Belt, Queensland Australia

Drink Until: N/A

Varieties: Cabernet

Food: N/A

Colour: Rich light red with brown shadows

Nose: N/A

Palate: Lovely sweet taste which doesn't over power and really smooth taste.

Background:

All Castle Glen Vineyards Wines are 100% manufactured and produced in Queensland at our property on the Granite Belt. Our Stanthorpe Wines, Ports and Wine Products are 100% Natural, Chemical Free and Preservative Free! Great care is taken in harvesting and processing our wonderful grapes. They are all hand picked and transported carefully to our processing plant. The grapes are then squeezed by a unique press. This grape press is the only one of its kind in Australia. It is more like the traditional methods of old. If great care is taken in the harvesting and production process the use of sulphur dioxide or any other sulphites is not needed. Wonderful, natural, sulphur free wine is the result. At Castle Glen we do not add other nasty chemicals to our wine like tannins or colouring. There are no additives to change or modify the wine in any way. Many wine companies are using a cocktail of chemicals to make wines taste and look more appealing. Sulphur dioxide and other sulphur products are not the only chemicals added to todays wines. Every year in our lives is different. So to it is with wine. There is no need to laden wines with chemicals or preservatives if great care is taken in growing, harvesting and production. Mass produced wine has become a mish-mash of preservatives, colours and flavours. It might be said that sometime you would be safer eating a bright red candy. That this could very well contain less chemicals and irritants that your glass of wine. Where have the days gone where wine was just made from grapes?

Alcohol: 18%

Where to Purchase:

This was purchased directly from the Castle Glen Vineyard which is out at Stanthorpe (Yes they really do have a castle) for around $20 but can't quite remember. This port seems hard to find as isn't available from your local bottle shop or online discount liquor store. Castle Glen has an online ordering option but can't even see the port available there either.

YELLOWGLEN YELLOW SPARKLING

Review of Wine:

Now this Sparkling wine isn't you most exciting bottle on the market today but is certainly one of the most popular. Is a great versatile sparkling wine as can be used for many different purposes but lately we prefer to use it in a White Sangria recipe which we have been making lately that is a hit with the friends. There isn't to much to say about this sparkling wine besides it being the work horse of sparkling wines that we will purchase time and time again.

Wine Region: SOUTH EASTERN AUSTRALIA

Drink Until: 2011

Varieties: Premium sparkling varieties

Food: Light meat and seafood dishes

Colour: Light straw in colour with a persistent bead

Nose: The wine displays melon, pineapple and citrus characteristics

Palate:

It is a full and generous wine with a lovely mouthfeel and creamy mousse. It is fresh with a classy, crisp, clean finish.

Background:

This is non-vintage wine with fruit being sourced from vineyards throughout South East Australia. The best wine is sourced from the best vineyards to ensure a consistency in style and quality.

Alcohol: 11%

Where to Purchase:

This can be purchased from any independent bottle store as well as the normal Coles and Woolworths owned bottle shops. Got a special from Liquor Land last night where got two bottle for $8 each. Normally costs around $10 or so a bottle.

OLD CAVES ARMCHAIR PORT

Review of Wine:

Quite a pleasant port to drink. Isn't the best port or worst we have ever tried but would purchase again specially at the price we paid. Can't remember but not a bad deal at all or at least drinking it had us convinced. We tried this port on a weekend away and it was second out of the three we tried in terms of smoothness. Without the discount I would suggest maybe the Robert Channon Port we tasted the same weekend as think it is a little better value then the Old Caves Port. We have enjoyed this port even before or during dinner when you feel like trying something different so is great for any occasion.

Wine Region: Granite Belt, Queensland Australia

Drink Until: N/A

Varieties: N/A

Food: Serve this port with your favourite desserts and coffee.

Colour: N/A

Nose: N/A

Palate:

This is our most famous port. It is a five to six year old Tawny Port style. The Armchair Port has a slight chocolate overtone, soft, smooth and silky. Serve this port with your favourite desserts and coffee.

Background:

Situated on the New England Highway, just north of Stanthorpe, Old Caves specialises in producing “everyday” wines, non-vintage styles that are inexpensive enough for people to enjoy on a regular basis. A range of vintage wines are also produced at the winery. We are one of the smaller, commercial wineries in the Granite Belt area. Old Caves has grape planting covering 12 acres, including varieties such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, White Muscat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz. We also have contract growers to fulfil all our grape variety needs.

Alcohol: 16.5 %

Where to Purchase:

This was purchased directly from Old Caves Winery on a weekend away. Can't remember exactly what we paid but we purchased a range of wines and the guy gave us a nice discount. Can be purchased from the cellar door directly or online at $22.50 a bottle. Have done a quick search online and can't seem to find any discount wine stores selling it.

ROBERT CHANNON WINES SINGING LAKE CHARDONNAY VERDELHO 2007

Review of Wine:

A great wine which has a nice balance of flavors. Is very versatile as can be enjoyed at lunch as we have on many occasions (Have purchased a few bottles) while we have also taken as a BYO bottle to the local Indian restaurant. We find it a beautiful wine which can be enjoyed by wine lovers and the not so big wine drinks as offers that balance of fruit without being overly sweet.

Wine Region: Granite Belt, Queensland Australia

Drink Until:

Varieties: Chardonnay and Verdelho

Food: Excellent aperatif that also works well with spicy foods

Colour: Clear yellow

Nose: Lovely fruity aromas with a hint of citrus and peach

Palate:

Our very popular blend of Chardonnay and Verdelho. Fresh citrus and peach aromas lead into a medium bodied wine and medium sweet palate but still fresh, balanced with good acidityand fruit. A favourite wine for summer lunches.

Background:

Robert Channon Wines is producing some of Australia’s finest Verdelho, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Cabernet Sauvignon from its family-owned winery and vineyard in the Granite Belt district of Queensland. All of our wine is made at our winery from grapes grown in our cool climate vineyard at an elevation of about 950 metres.

Alcohol: 12%

Where to Purchase:

This was purchased direct from the vineyard on a weekend away in the Granite Belt for $14.50 a bottle. Can also be purchased directly from there website. Also did see on the Wine Experience website for $13.05 a bottle when purchased as a case.

LYRUP WINE COMPANY SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SHIRAZ 2008

Review of Wine:

Not an overly impressing wine to drink as isn't the smoothest wine. It is the kind of wine which gets better after a few glasses. Wouldn't recommend purchasing this wine unless budget is your main interest but saying this is perfectly fine if ordered in some kind of random mixed dozen. Also does have quite a nice aroma to the wine.

Wine Region: SOUTH EAST AUSTRALIA

Drink Until: 2011

Varieties: Shiraz

Food: beef ragu, barbequed meats and hearty tomato dishes.

Colour: Rich dark hue

Nose: Lovely depp nose of Cherries and Black fruits

Palate:

The deep purple with garnet hues of this wine precede the vibrant redcurrant raspberry and cherry fruit notes of the wine. This medium bodied wine is fruit dominant but has some spicy tones on the palate, which comes from careful oak integration. Enjoy with Kangaroo steaks with a red currant jam, pork loin or after dinner with your favourite rich cheeses.

Background:

The grapes for this wine were sourced from Angove’s own Nanya vineyards and premium growers in the Riverland region. The grapes for this wine were picked at night to make sure that they were as cool as possible. Crushed to modern rotary fermenters the grapes were then allowed to macerate for 2 days before inoculation and fermentation. Pressed off skins 7 days later and allowed to go through the second malolactic fermentation. The wine has then had minimal handling prior to filtration for bottling.

Alcohol: 14.5%

Where to Purchase:

This was purchased in a mixed dozen of red wines from Wine Market. It can also be purchase purchased from Wine Market at $55 a case but Deal Direct also had it for $50 including free delivery.