.: FIVE REASONS WINE :. > The Wines > By Region > New World

Lantana, Shiraz Cabernet, 2006	5.50

Murphy's Big River Shiraz, Murray Darling, 2006	6.95
We think it’s impossible not to like this wine. Black cherry aromas and spice on the nose followed by sweet plum fruit and firm tannins. Not sure what you’d eat with this – but who cares – its lovely laid back Shiraz, at an unpretentious price.

Murphy’s Big River Chardonnay, Murray Darling, 2007	6.95
Superb value for money and almost too easy to drink, this should make the ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) brigade learn to love this glorious grape again. Rich tropical flavours of melon, guava and passionfruit jostle for position and the mouth feel is creamy, without being the slightest bit cloying. A truly excellent effort from an estate which has won over 300 awards in the last ten years.

Coriole Contour 4 Shiraz Sangiovese, McLaren Vale, 2005	8.30
The Coriole Estate, under the supervision of Tango-dancing, Jazz-lover (and thankfully also outstanding wine-maker) Mark Lloyd in the Mclaren Vale, has been at the forefront of producing the famous Chianti grape, Sangiovese, in Australia. Whilst he also releases single varietal Sangiovese and Nebbiolo, this blend of 60/40 Sangiovese/Shiraz is exquisite; beautifully marrying the typical sour cherry fruit of the former with spice and pepper of the latter, into a full bodied and truly delicious wine.

Lu Lu, Viognier, Hewitson, Victoria, 2006	8.50
Renowned winemaker Dean Hewitson has joined in the worldwide revival of the Viognier grape. In the 1960s there were less than 50 acres of vines worldwide but the variety is now widely planted throughout the Southern Rhone, California and South America. In these warmer climates growers have overcome many of its varietal shortcomings such as poor yields and unpredictable ripening. Ironically Dean has reacted against what he calls a syrupy, overripe style of Australian Viognier and sources his fruit from cooler vineyards in Victoria. He harvests early to preserve acidity and create a distinctively vibrant wine. It shows intense aromas of acacia bloom, apricot and orange sherbert. On the palate classic varietal flavours of peach and apricot are refreshed with leaner tropical fruits, citrus zest and tangerine.

Trentham Estate, Chardonnay, Murray Darling, 2005	8.50
Over the last ten years this estate has won over 300 awards. Moderately yielding clones have been selected to produce well-flavoured ripe fruit for their Chardonnay, producing a wine to drink young and enjoy the lifted tropical fruit flavours, lovely balance and mouthfeel.

Heinrich, Rolf Binder, Barossa Valley, 2005	12.00
“60% Shiraz, 25% Mourvedre, and 15% Grenache aged in a combination of American and French oak) boasts a knock-out nose of garrigue/Provencal herbs, licorice, black cherries, and blackberries. With medium to full body, great fruit, surprising elegance as well as equilibrium, and a long, heady finish, it should drink well for 5-7 years. Think of it as Rolf Binder’s interpretation of Chateauneuf du Pape”Robert Parker, 93 Points.

Hollick Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra, 2004	12.50
The Hollick winery is located on the “ Limestone Coast” of South East Australia within the tiny Coonawara sub-region. Here the red, terra rossa, soils overlay free-draining limestone creating distinctive growing conditions which produce some of the best Cabernet Sauvignons in Australia. This wine is sourced from the Neilson block and Wilgha vineyards which were planted in 1975 and 1987 respectively. Hence these are pretty old for this region. (NB: As vines get older they produce less fruit with more concentrated flavour). It is 100% Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon aged in a combination of French and American oak for fifteen months. On the nose there is nice blackberry and red currant fruit, liquorice, and some leafy hints. On the palate it is medium bodied with a silky mouthfeel. It has typical ripe blackberry, cedar and tobacco flavours with hints of thyme, spice and clove wrapped up with fine ripe tannins and a long finish.

Coriole, Shiraz, McLaren Vale, 2005	13.00
Coriole vineyards are situated in the “Seaview” sub-region of the Mclaren Vale and this Shiraz is produced from vines between 35 and 85 years old. It is a complex multi-faceted wine with layers of light summer fruit flavours underpinned with notes of rich cherry-plum and cassis. The tannins are softened and rounded making it very appealing for early drinking but the wine has the power and structure to develop for several years.

Garlands Saros Cabernet Franc, Mount Barker, 2003	14.50
Mount Barker and Frankland are the furthest flung and coolest regions within Western Australia and make highly structured, taut, fragrant wines that mature slowly and with grace. This Cabernet Franc is from a 1-hectare vineyard in the Mount Barker region of the Great Southern and incorporates 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Listed as one of the ‘10 Dark Horses’ by James Halliday; his award for wineries deserving greater recognition. Also endorsed by Peter Forrestal with his ‘Best of Mount Barker’ approval of the 2002 saying, ‘this remarkably good red propels Garlands into the top rank of WA producers’.

Leeuwin Estate, Prelude Chardonnay, Margaret River, 2006	16.00
It has been a mere 40 years since the first vines were planted in the Margaret River region, and already the area is recognised as the home of some of the world's finest wines. Leeuwin Estate is a family run winery located around 360 km south of Perth and produces the famous Art Series Chardonnay, which has consistently earned high praise from wine critics and lovers the world over. The Editor at Large, Harvey Steiman of Wine Spectator, said that the 2001 was simply “the greatest white wine Australia has ever produced”. Unfortunately, few of us can afford to drink the Art Series every night of the week, so thank goodness for the Prelude: a glorious introduction to Leeuwin’s outstanding range. Honeyed pear and peach burst from the glass and intermingle with grapefruit and vanilla in this youthful and elegant wine.

Heysen, Rolf Binder, Barossa Valley, 2004	16.95
“Dense ruby/purple color is accompanied by a sumptuous nose of blackberry jam interwoven with melted licorice, charcoal, smoke, and roasted meats. Stunning richness as well as opulence, and a powerful, multi-layered mouthfeel suggest this superb Barossa Shiraz should be at its finest between 2007-2020.” RP 94 Points

Dead Arm Shiraz, D’Arenberg, McLaren Vale, 2002	25.00
“…loads of cassis, asphalt, smoke, and barbecue spice-like aromas along with full-bodied flavors. While well-made and impressive it is backward and restrained in style” Robert Parker, 93 Points. Not a concentrated beast of vintages like the 2001 or 2003, but drinking beautifully at the moment and about half the price!

Coriole, Lloyd Shiraz, Mclaren Vale 2005	26.50
The Mclaren Vale, overlooking the Gulf St. Vincent, in South Australia is home to one of Australia’s best Shiraz. A regular 90-94 points with Parker; this is a monster Shiraz, bursting with ripe fruit. A heavyweight wine with a finish that goes on till the next time you want to buy a bottle. Superb for a proper dinner, like Toad in the Hole, or a spicier Sausage Casserole.

Nantua Les Deux, Giaconda, Victoria, 2003	29.00
If anybody in Victoria can boast a first rate track record its Rick Kinsbrunner of Giaconda – all of his varietals are top class, but his top cuvee the Giaconda Chardonnay has possibly become Australia's greatest white wine. This is a blend of his Chardonnay with a splash of Rousanne, to making an accessible yet serious wine that puts many well bred white Burgundies to shame at this price.

Noon, Eclipse, Langhorne Creek, 2005	25.00
The Eclipse (a blend of Grenache and Shiraz) is a high alcohol, highly extracted and intensely concentrated wine coming from 45-70 year old vines in the McLaren Vale / Langhorne Creek region. A tour de force of winemaking, we cannot imagine that this wine would be anything but painful to drink in the next couple of years. If opened sooner this wine should be allowed to breathe for at least a day! Drew Noon’s wines are big favourites with those who chase wines only available on allocation. Robert Parker has described him as a genius and has never awarded the Eclipse less than 92 points in any vintage. The perfect gift for the New World wine fanatic who likes extremely rare wines.

Leeuwin Estate, Art Series, Chardonnay, 2003	42.00
Probably the most famous and expensive fine white wine from Australia (the equivalent to Grange for reds), the Art Series Chardonnay is often compared to Grand Cru burgundy. Wine International have described it as “a brilliant marriage of Meursault and Aussie tropical fruit.” Robert Parker gives the 2003, 93 points and says of it: “The classic 2003 Chardonnay Art Series was aged in 100% new French oak for 18 months, but you would never know that. It boasts a layered, white peach and honeyed citrus bouquet intermixed with subtle background wood smoke. Medium to full-bodied with excellent acidity, minerality, and structure, this beauty will be even better with another 1-2 years of bottle age. It should last for 6-7+ years.”

Dry Red No.1, Cabernet Sauvignon, Yarra Yering, Victoria, 2004	35.00

Pinot Noir, Yarra Yering, Victoria, 2005	35.00

Mollydooker, Enchanted Path, Langhorne Creek, 2006	47.50
The 2006 Shiraz (66%) – Cabernet Sauvignon (34%) “Enchanted Path” was made entirely from McLaren Vale fruit. Opaque purple-colored, the wine has a fragrant bouquet of pain grille, leather, smoked meat, game, blueberry, and blackberry. This is followed by a structured wine with intense, spicy black fruit flavors, full-body, and superb balance. It is still tightly wound and will benefit from 6-8 years of cellaring. This promising effort should drink well through 2030.Robert Parker, 94 Points (v limited availability)

Hanisch, Rolf Binder, 2003	61.00
“One of Australia’s flagship wines, the Hanisch is a full-bodied, classic South Australian Shiraz. It boasts an inky/purple color as well as a gorgeous nose of crushed rocks, blueberries, blackberries, camphor, acacia flowers, pepper, spice, and toasty oak. Dense, chewy, full-bodied, and muscular as well as incredibly pure and elegant for a wine of such size and majesty. Very impressive” Robert Parker , 97 points.