Tag Archives: Australia

Let’s Taste – Heartland Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

I’ve tasted some Heartland wines on Let’s Taste before, and in this case it was exciting to look at a step up in their range, being the Cabernet Sauvignon. Ben Glaetzer is a highly respected winemaker, and does an incredible job with the Heartland wines, let me know what you think in the comments below.

Wine tasted;
Heartland Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 – RRP $19.99

Leave a comment

April 4, 2018 · 9:48 pm

Let’s Taste – Pewsey Vale 2017 Rieslings

Very excited on this edition of Let’s Taste to look at the 2017 rieslings from Pewsey Vale, particularly having tasted across the 2016 wines previously. The big difference on this occasion is there is a new wine to the range, and it was fascinating seeing how it fit in with the other wines of the same vintage. Let me know what you think in the comments below, and stand by for a part two looking at two different vintages of The Contours Riesling.

Wines tasted;
Pewsey Vale Riesling 2017 – RRP $20.00
Pewsey Vale 1961 Block Riesling 2017 – RRP N/A
Pewsey Vale Prima 22gr Riesling 2017 – RRP $25.00

Leave a comment

Filed under Tasting Notes, Videos

Let’s Taste – Topper’s Mountain Bricolage Blanc 2015 & Tannat 2013

Not for the first time I’m tasting samples sent from Topper’s Mountain, New England NSW based producer of some alternative wines. I’m fascinated by this region as I don’t see much else from there, and the TM crew are doing some really cool things up there. Let me know what you think of the latest edition of Let’s Taste, I’d love to hear from you and appreciate you subscribing to the Intrepid Wino channel.

Wines tasted;
Topper’s Mountain Bricolage Blanc 2015 – RRP $30.00
Topper’s Mountain Wild Ferment Tannat 2013 – RRP $38.00

Leave a comment

March 28, 2018 · 11:50 am

Let’s Taste – Mitchell McNicol Riesling 2009 & Shiraz 2007

This is the final in a three-part series looking at wines from Mitchell Winery in the Clare Valley. On previous editions I have looked at current release Mitchell wines compared with museum releases, but they also have a specific late release range under the McNicol branding. Here I look at the riesling and shiraz from this range. Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Wines tasted;
Mitchell McNicol Riesling 2009 – RRP $45.00
Mitchell McNicol Shiraz 2007 – RRP $50.00

Leave a comment

March 27, 2018 · 10:10 am

The Vincast LIVE with Ben Ranken & Dan Buckle – What are the right grape varieties for Australian wine?

Late in 2017, in conjunction with Ear Buds, I held the first edition of The Vincast Live at Noisy Ritual in Brunswick East and on Facebook Live. Two former guests of The Vincast – Ben Ranken from Galli Estate (Episode 127) and Dan Buckle (Episode 67) from Chandon Australia – joined myself and co-host Nevena Spirovska (Quickie Podcast) to talk about grape varieties in Australia: what are they, why are they, where are they and what are the best ones? I hope you enjoy this chat, as much as the live audience did. Please provide us with some feedback and interest in a future edition.

Follow James on TwitterInstagram and Facebook

Subscribe to the Intrepid Wino channel on YouTube and watch a few videos!

Follow The Vincast on Twitter and download all the previous episodes here

Subscribe to the podcast on iTunesStitcherPlayerFMPodbean or iHeartRadio, and don’t forget to rate and review!

Check out the Ear Buds network on Facebook!

Ben Ranken, Dan Buckle, Nevena Spirovska and myself

Leave a comment

Filed under Podcasts

Let’s Taste – Yalumba ‘The Y Series’ 2017 Whites & Rosé

Hard to believe, but this is actually the first recorded edition of Let’s Taste for 2018, and it happens to be at an entirely new location. My young family have just moved house (a fun exercise during vintage to say the least), and I was excited to taste some perennial favourites at the new address!

Yalumba is one of Australia’s most important wine producers, with an incredible range from iconic to approachable. The ‘Y Series’ range has always represented outstanding value, and I happily opened the range of chilled wines from the 2017 vintage. Let me know what you think in the comments below, many thanks to Yalumba for sending the samples!

Wines tasted;
Yalumba ‘The Y Series’ Sauvignon Blanc 2017 – RRP $15.00
Yalumba ‘The Y Series’ Riesling 2017 – RRP $15.00
Yalumba ‘The Y Series’ Pinot Grigio 2017 – RRP $15.00
Yalumba ‘The Y Series’ Chardonnay 2017 – RRP $15.00
Yalumba ‘The Y Series’ Viognier 2017 – RRP $15.00
Yalumba ‘The Y Series’ Sangiovese Rosé 2017 – RRP $15.00

Leave a comment

Filed under Tasting Notes, Videos

The Vincast with Steve Lubiana from Stefano Lubiana Wines

There aren’t many people who call Steve Lubiana Stefano, and you merely need to spend a few minutes with him to understand why. He is one of the most affable and soft-spoken Australian vignerons you’ll find, very much a product of having grown up in the Riverland, the product of Italian migrants. In spite of his very generous and gregarious nature, he is a philosophical wine grower with a deep passion for not only biodynamic farming but the history of these practices. His imprint on the island state of Tasmania is immeasurable, and has been producing outstanding wines from the Derwent Valley for several decades.

Follow James on TwitterInstagram and Facebook

Subscribe to the Intrepid Wino channel on YouTube and watch a few videos!

Follow The Vincast on Twitter and download all the previous episodes here

Subscribe to the podcast on iTunesStitcherPlayerFMPodbean or iHeartRadio, and don’t forget to rate and review!

Check out the Ear Buds network on Facebook!

Steve Lubiana

1 Comment

Filed under Podcasts

The Vincast with Jean-Jacques Morel

When Jean-Jacques Morel made the decision to move his family from Paris to Burgundy, it in fact wasn’t for wine, his entry into the wine industry was merely to earn a living once he moved to the region. It was his previous influences and experience that not doubt led to him finding a true passion for viticulture, and the decision was made to follow a path of wine farming. His incredible journey in life has not only influenced his approach to his wines, but also his approach to life, as his enthusiasm and affability his hard to deny. The fact that he limits interference with his wines is but a small part in his mystique and acclaim, and spending a short amount of time it’s hard not to find his love of life infectious.

Follow James on TwitterInstagram and Facebook

Subscribe to the Intrepid Wino channel on YouTube and watch a few videos!

Follow The Vincast on Twitter and download all the previous episodes here

Subscribe to the podcast on iTunesStitcherPlayerFMPodbean or iHeartRadio, and don’t forget to rate and review!

Check out the Ear Buds network on Facebook!

Jean-Jacques Morel

Leave a comment

Filed under Podcasts

Let’s Taste – Moss Wood Sauvignon Blanc Semillon & Semillon 2017

The last recorded edition of Let’s Taste for 2017 was on New Year’s Eve, and it was for two 2017 white wines from Moss Wood. Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc are varieties that have a rich and important history in Margaret River, but possibly don’t get as much love as other grapes. I was very interested to see what the 2017 vintage offered in the west, let me know what you think in the comments below!

Wines tasted;
Moss Wood Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2017 – RRP $32.00
Moss Wood Semillon 2017 – RRP $35.00

Leave a comment

January 10, 2018 · 10:56 am

The Vincast with Dan Pannell from Picardy Wines

The Pannell family is one of the most iconic in Australian wine, having not once but twice pioneered the vigneron model in Western Australia. After being one of the first commercial wine producers in the now legendary and substantial Margaret River region (Moss Wood), they had a complete shift East to the still somewhat unexplored Pemberton region, where they established Picardy Wines. Here they focused on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and invited their son Dan to be an important part of the future. With such an incredible wine pedigree and a passion for Burgundy, it’s easy to understand why Dan is regarded as one of the most incredible and honest winemakers in the state.

Follow James on TwitterInstagram and Facebook

Subscribe to the Intrepid Wino channel on YouTube and watch a few videos!

Follow The Vincast on Twitter and download all the previous episodes here

Subscribe to the podcast on iTunesStitcherPlayerFMPodbean or iHeartRadio, and don’t forget to rate and review!

Check out the Ear Buds network on Facebook!

Photographer: Iain Gillespie 0412263447.

1 Comment

Filed under Podcasts