The Good Wine Guru » Australian Wine

Fisheye Shiraz 2010

George — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:00:28 +0000

Varietal: 100% Shiraz
Region: South Eastern Australia
Cost: $7 (SRP)

Winemaker’s Notes: Ripe blackberries and blueberries with spicy black pepper on the nose. Pairs well with BBQ baby back ribs with macaroni salad, jerk chicken with brown rice and black beans, or without any food at all.

My Review: It’s been unseasonably warm here in Virginia so I’ve been able to make use of my grill here at the end of January and start of February when it’s usually covered and forgotten until March. Because of that, my wife and I recently threw some chicken on the grill with some BBQ sauce basted on and decided to open up a bottle of Fisheye Shiraz that had been sent to me.

The wine was dark in the glass, with violet color throughout. On the nose I got berry and a hint of pepper right at the finish. In the mouth the wine was more complex than I would have expected, with a good mix of blackberry and blueberry flavors with a touch of spice and pepper and a fairly smooth finish. Paired with the BBQ chicken it went well with the food and was enjoyable to drink after the food was done as well.

Now, before I get too far let me be clear that this is by no means some transcendent wine. However, it’s pretty good for a budget table wine. It’s available in the Octavin Home Wine Bars and I’m giving serious consideration to picking one up to keep on the island counter in my kitchen for when I want that random glass of wine or for cooking with.

If you’re looking for a budget red that’s different than your usual value California Cabernet or Merlot and is surprisingly complex for the price you can do a lot worse than the Fisheye Shiraz. It won’t set the world on fire, but for parties and cookouts it’s a good option to put out, especially if you grab the Home Wine Bar size.

Fisheye Pinot Grigio 2011

George — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:00:20 +0000

Varietal: 100% Pinot Grigio
Region: South Eastern Australia
Cost: $7 (SRP)

Winemaker’s Notes: Light bodied with ripe peach and tropical fruit flavors. Pairs well with Korean BBQ ribs with spicy tofu soup, Teriyaki chicken with a side of pork or vegetable potstickers. An excellent wine to enjoy with our without food.

My Review: I’m somewhat hit or miss on Pinot Grigio, so when some samples showed up and there was a bottle of Pinot Grigio included I’ll admit that I hesitated. However, when the tasting notes recommended potstickers, my wife pointed out that we had some chicken potstickers that we’d been putting off cooking up and that at the very least we’d have something to pair the wine with, so that’s just what we did.

The wine had a bit more color in the glass than I was really expecting, and on the nose I got the expected notes of tropical fruit and citrus with just a touch of banana. In the mouth the wine was light and the tropical fruit and citrus carried over, and again I got notes of banana that I actually found rather enjoyable. I dislike the taste of “fake” banana and so any time banana flavor crops up I’m usually wary, but in this case it was great.

Paired with some chicken and vegetable potstickers with some white rice it was a good counter point to the meal and was surprisingly enjoyable even without the food. Now don’t get me wrong, this wine isn’t revolutionary, but for a budget white wine I was impressed with it, and I do like that it’s also available in an Octavin Home Wine Bar for those that really enjoy it and want it in larger quantities.

New Years Eve Bubbles Massacre

George — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:36:34 +0000

In a more perfect world I would have made some pointed and in-depth piece about what bottles of bubbles I was opening for the friends I was having over to my house on New Years Eve. We do not live in such a world. While I did come across tweets and pieces about people opening $100 bottles of sparkling wine and champagne, I just couldn’t justify that, in no small part because I knew exactly how the evening was going to descend (into a raucous good time).

I do, however, feel as though I owe it to the new year, and to the bottles that I opened, to show the bottles that I provided for the evening. Friends brought over others, but here’s a picture of the bottles that I provided for the festivities.

As you can see, the selection was on the whole rather affordable, with the most expensive one coming in at under $20, and most of them staying in the $10 range. New Years is certainly a time to celebrate, and this was certainly not some effort to only put out cheap wines since I had friends coming over, but was instead an effort to recognize what was about to happen at my house – a lot of drinking that most of us either wouldn’t remember or would rather forget the next morning. Also, the girls at the party spent the better part of the evening making bellinis using the bubbles, and I may have had a panic attack had they been doing so with $100 bottles of champagne, though the bottles of Barefoot that were sent to me as samples performed the task admirably and were a huge favorite with everybody.

I do hope that everybody had a safe and fun New Years and I look forward to another year of sharing my thoughts on wine with all of you that take the time to visit this site on a regular basis or even just once.

Thanksgiving 2011 Wine Selection

Angoves Nine Vines Rose

George — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:00:04 +0000

Varietal: Rose (70% Grenache; 30% Shiraz)
Region: South Australia
Cost: $15

Deep pink color with aromas of fresh berries and strawberries. Berry on the palate, notably raspberry, with a crisp finish.

Recommendations: I have officially consumed more pink wines in 2009 than in the previous 3 years combined – and that’s ok. My experience with pink wines started with the Peju Provence, and it has ended with the Angoves Nine Vines Rose.

A gift from my brother-in-law and his wife for Christmas, I was intrigued given the blend of Grenache and Shiraz. Dark pink in color with ripe fruit on the nose and refreshingly tart flavors of raspberry on the palate, this wine was a great pair for marinated salmon, mashed potatoes, and garlic green beans.

While I will be the first to admit that I am still hesitant about pink wines, this past year has taught me to be a bit more open minded, and the Rose from Nine Vines is a good one to be open minded with.

Razor’s Edge Chardonnay

George — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:00:51 +0000

Varietal: Chardonnay
Region: South Australia
Cost: $11

An unwooded Chardonnay, offering crisp flavors of apple and citrus. Pairs with chicken, pork, seafood, or light appetizers.

Recommendations: My wife is not a fan of oaked Chardonnay, so when we saw this in the store, we thought we’d give it a try. The initial flavors of the wine are crisp with plenty of citrus and granny smith apple both on the nose and on the palate, which was perfect for the grilled chicken dinner we paired it with.

However, I found the finish of this wine to be a bit rough. It’s certainly not as rough as the Mirassou Chardonnay that I’ve already reviewed on here. That being said, the finish eventually began to bother me, especially after we had finished our food and were just sipping on the wine. Maybe with a juicy piece of pork it wouldn’t be as noticeable, but with the chicken (that I’ll admit I overcooked), it just wasn’t as enjoyable as I would have hoped.

If you liked the Mirassou Chardonnay you’ll like this, but if you’re looking for a crisp finish to your unoaked Chardonnay you’ll want to pass on this one.

Get Razor’s Edge Chardonnay at WineZap – Click Here

Yellowtail Chardonnay

George — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:00:40 +0000

Varietal:  Chardonnay
Region:  Australia
Cost:  $7.99 – $9.99

Deep straw coloring leads into a light to medium-bodied white with a floral bouquet and an almost tart finish. Pair with grilled white meat for best combination.

Recommendations: Far be it from me to say that Yellowtail anything is some type of earth-shattering life-altering wine. Now, with that out of the way, I can say that Yellowtail Chardonnay is a good gateway chardonnay. By that I mean that if you’ve been afraid to really get into chardonnay because you’re not a fan of the buttery finish of oaked chardonnay, Yellowtail can help you ease into it.

With just enough buttery/oaky finish to it, the Yellowtail chardonnay will pair well with a range of white meats with the possible exception of some of your more delicate fish meals. Grilled chicken and pork are a good pairing. While this isn’t even approaching my favorite white wine, if you’re throwing a party, this is a good one to grab for your white as it’s affordable and will appeal to a range of white wine drinkers.

Whole Foods Market Offering Summer Wine Deals

George — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:53:32 +0000

With summer upon us, Whole Foods Market is rolling out a selection of wines for summer that are priced to make their way into your home for parties, cookouts, or just for a night with a special someone. Starting at just $9, these whites and reds should be a welcome addition to any home.

Whites

Presto Prosecco - Brighten up your summer brunch with the fruity effervescence of this popular Italian Sparkler. Crisp, clean and refreshing with flavors of tropical fruit, it’s content on its own, in mimosas or as a cheerful contrast to hollandaise-topped egg dishes, stone- and tree-fruit salads, light fish or the rich and buttery Fromager D’Affinois.

Rudolf Müller “Bunny” Riesling - Floral, fruity and flirtatious with crisp peach, pear and light acidity, this drier-style Riesling is a splendid apéritif and the perfect match with lighter seafood and salads, Asian spiced cuisine or firmer cheeses such as Hirtenkase Aged.

Biokult Grüner Veltliner - Austria’s “Gru-Vee” White is a groovy delight with a light zesty flavor and hints of cracked pepper and prairie grass. Clean acidity and a soft seductive finish make this an enchanting apéritif or versatile sidekick for spicy dishes, grilled seafood, burgers, pizza or Whole Foods Market® organic fresh goat cheese. Made with Organically Grown Grapes.

Vinum Chenin Blanc / Viognier - A marvelous medley of pear, melon and grapefruit, just one glass is like a bouquet of blooming summer citrus. A supple texture and snappy finish make this absolutely yummy with brunch, shellfish, sun-dried tomatoes, or thin-crust pizzettas made with fresh Cana de Cabra or Whole Foods Market® organic fresh goat cheese.

V-solo Verdejo - With its zesty acidity and fruity disposition this vivacious Spanish sipper is a welcome guest to any occasion. Floral aromas and hints of gooseberry, lime and citrus will dazzle the palate. Plays well alone or with others—especially seafood, shellfish or nutty, slightly sharp Robusto cheese.

Manifesto! Sauvignon Blanc - The ideal sip for a sunny picnic, this frisky White coats your palate with ripe lemon, gooseberry, grapefruit and orange peel. A smooth texture and food-friendly acidity makes it a harmonious companion for grilled foods, seafood or oysters.

Bonterra Rosé - This melodious blend of Sangiovese, Zinfandel and Grenache is full of ripe summer berries. Unexpected richness, a touch of spice and juicy acidity makes this a wonderful accompaniment for al fresco anything! A singular chilled sensation or perfect match for grilled foods, salmon or Spanish Cana de Cabra goat cheese. Made with Organically Grown Grapes.

Reds

Escudo Rojo - Enhance warm weather fare with some Chilean flare! This compelling mélange of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère, exudes rich spice, toast and black cherry aromas and is smooth on the palate. Captivating with grilled meats, barbecue or hamburgers.

Pirovano il Rosso di Enzo - For a long, hot and lusty summer, add a juicy Italian to your menu. This evocative Red is highly attracted to grilled food, pizza, burgers and medium-aged cheeses such as Taleggio and Kilaree Irish Cheddar.

Rutherford Hill Merlot - Dark cherries, luscious chocolate and a silky finish make this “king of Merlots” ideal for summer romance. Balanced with hints of vanilla, cinnamon and tobacco, this seductive Red is alluring one-on-one or with hearty meats such as grilled steak, burgers or mature Seaside Cheddar.

Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet - An outstanding value, this commemorative release is the life of any patio party, backyard bash or beachfront fête! Succulent ripe blueberry, dark cherry and black currant coupled with chocolate and olive flavors presents a beguiling complexity and sleek finish. Superb with beef, lamb and chicken or rich GranQueso cheese.

Castello di Gabbiano Chianti - This classic Red giant unfolds into a lush bouquet of ripe red fruits. Made in the Tuscan tradition, it is a dry, well-balanced and full-bodied Sangiovese that adores hot and hearty summer cuisine including grilled beef, barbecue or pizza.

In addition to this selection of wines, Whole Foods market has selected several cheeses that are perfect for pairing with these wines while sitting on a porch, deck, patio, or dinner table.

Aged Hirtenkase - This versatile and full-flavored hard cheese is made from the milk of cows that graze on rich Alpine grasses. Aged for one year, it fuses the best of Swiss and Parmesan style cheeses. Grate a hunk into risotto or over salads and soup and surrender your taste buds.

Fromager D’Affinois - Hello creamy goodness! From the French Rhône-Alpes, this soft-ripened cousin to Brie is luscious, buttery and just waiting to be taken advantage of. Savor solo or with ripe berries and other summer fruits.

GranQueso - From farm-fresh cow’s milk, this Wisconsin original is lovingly cured for six to nine months and hand-rubbed with delectable spices. Deep and complex with a balanced sweet finish, it’s the star of any cheeseboard, and coveted companion to salads, soups, pastas and sandwiches.

Robusto - A Dutch cheese with an Italian spirit, Robusto is softer, yet reminiscent of, aged, nutty Parmesan. Friendly and versatile, cube it into salads, melt it on pasta or roasted vegetables, or just savor a slice on its own.

Seaside Cheddar - This rugged mature cheddar’s unusual sweet taste and crunchy texture comes from cows that graze on southern England’s coastal grasses. Crystallized calcium gives it a crunch. Tantalizing by itself or on burgers, grilled chicken pasta or a rambunctious grilled cheese and grilled beef sandwich.

Visit your local Whole Foods Market to check out their summer wine and cheese selection. It’s a great way to enjoy wine the entire summer.

Target Wine Cube Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz

George — Tue, 26 May 2009 14:30:05 +0000

Target Wine Cubes

Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz (50% Cabernet Sauvignon/50% Shiraz)
Region: California – USA/Australia
Cost: $15.99

Fruit forward Cabernet Sauvignon has a hint of pepper from the Shiraz on the finish. Dark berry flavors present a very mild red wine with low tannins. Will pair well with sauce heavy pastas or as a contrast to heavily seasoned red meats.

Recommendation: For now I’m going to ignore the pros and cons of boxed wine (that will be another post at date soon to come) and look more at the wine. The Target Wine Cube Cab/Shiraz blend is very fruit forward, enough so that if I didn’t know it was a 50/50 split on the blend I would think it was more Cabernet than Shiraz. This wine came camping with my wife and some friends, and for enjoying in the great outdoors with some food cooked over an open flame, it was more than adequate.

I’m not going to delude myself into thinking that Target is now the purveyor of some amazing wine, but for anybody looking for a basic table wine, you really can’t argue against what they’re offering, especially when you consider it’s 4 bottles of wine for under $20. I wouldn’t serve this at a dinner party, but it’s certainly worth keeping on hand for anybody that just drinks wine by the glass.

Nine Vines Shiraz Viognier

George — Wed, 13 May 2009 19:21:17 +0000

Nine Vines Shiraz Viognier

Varietal: Shiraz/Viognier (94% Shiraz 6% Viognier)
Region: South Australia – Australia
Cost: $20.49

Big aromas of berry, especially blackberry, fruit, vanilla, and spice that only increase as the wine has time to aerate. Smooth on the palate, berry and vanilla flavors lead into a long finish, compliments of the slightly higher alcohol content of this wine (14% by volume).

Recommendations: I’m a fan of Shiraz and Viognier, so I was very interested in a blending of the two. I was not disappointed. The Viognier adds great spice to the wine, while mellowing it out on the palate. My wife and I paired this with grilled pork chops and risotto with basil and sun-dried tomatos in it, but this would go great with beef, lamb, or even ribs.

One of my biggest keys to a wine is whether or not it can be enjoyed without being paired with food, and this medium-bodied wine certainly passes that test. While it was great with the meal, I continued to enjoy the wine well after the meal had been completed and my wife and I had settled in to watch some TV.

Even if you’re not a fan of Shiraz, I would recommend the Nine Vines Shiraz/Viognier blend. It will go great with a good range of meals, but is just as enjoyable by itself.

Special thanks to the International Wine of the Month Club.

Can’t find the Nine Vines Shiraz/Viognier at your local store? Find it here.

Rosemount Diamond Label Shiraz

George — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:00:16 +0000

Rosemount Diamond Label Shiraz

Varietal: Shiraz

Region: Australia – South East

Cost: $9.99 – $14.99

A nose featuring hints of spice and black fruit, this Australian red offers complex flavors. A soft, velvety finish makes this a versatile wine.

Recommendations: Australia’s take on the Syrah, this red wine is quickly becoming a favorite of many red wine drinkers thanks to its versatility. Robust enough to not be overwhelmed by a meal, it’s also mellow enough to be enjoyed by itself. The Rosemount Diamond Label Shiraz is no exception. Pairing well with food or consumed by itself, this is a great shiraz for both the long time shiraz lover, or for somebody that is looking to introduce themselves to the wine. My one suggestion about this wine is to avoid drinking it a a restaurant simply for the mark-up that many eateries tend to have on this wine, otherwise, absolutely give this wine a shot.

No related posts.