On a monthly basis this website will feature a small selection of recommended wines that I taste as part of my ongoing research to produce future guides.

Ratings Key

Click on the hyper-link to go directly to the wineries website.

White Wines (alcohol given as a % abv)

Coolangatta Estate Semillon 2011, Shoalhaven Coast, NSW. Lovely lanolin nose with some mineral notes, classic young Australian Semillon. Delicate, dry wine with juicy crisp acidity, light bodied but with medium plus length. Conclusion - All bode's well for this classic in the making, another good vintage from Coolangatta, handled expertly by the Tyrrells winemaking team. Outstanding

Robert Channon Wines Pinot Gris 2011, Granite Belt, Queensland. Attractive pear skin aromas as well as a mineral edge on the nose. Fleshy, pithy fruit driven palate. Dry but with a hint of residual sugar that is well balanced with medium acidity, this contributes to the length of palate producing a overall good quality wine at a very reasonable price. Conclusion - A clean and light but good example of the Gris style. Highly Recommended  RRP 19.00

Paracombe Holland Creek Riesling 2007 Adelaide Hills, SA. lovely toasty developed style with still a lemon zest core. Tight palate with medium plus length and a slight honey finish. Well balanced mature style Riesling that is a satisfying drop and very well priced. Highly Recommended  RRP 18.99

Alta by Sarah Fletcher Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Adelaide Hills, S.A. Strong passionfruit, green capsicum and intensely grassy aromas. Light bodied, dry and crisp on the palate. Tight zesty palate makes this wine a winner for immediate summer drinking. Recommended 

The Lane Block 3 Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills, SA. 13% Strong nectarine aromas with supporting peach and tropical fruit undertones. Dry light bodied wine with fresh crisp acidity. A hint of  malolactic butteriness supports the palate. Pleasant wine.               Recommended.  RRP $25.00

Orlando St Helga Riesling 2010, Eden Valley, SA. Pungent citrus and lime aromas that leap out of the glass. Dry, but very fruit driven with intense citrus fruit flavours. Light bodied as one would expect, with zesty, high acidity and a long palate length. Classic Australian Riesling. Oustanding.  

Jane Brook Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Margaret River, WA. Vibrant and pungent gooseberry nose with fresh dry and juicy palate with a sightly hints of fruit sweetness that perfectly offsets the medium plus acidity. Who needs New Zealand SB when we produce wines like this. Outstanding RRP 21.00

Peter Lehmann Margaret Semillon 2005 Barossa Valley, SA.  Stunning wine with aged toasty and lanolin nose developing into an intense  dry,citrus driven fresh palate with exceptional length and elegance. Outstanding

Printhie MCC Chardonnay 2009, Orange, NSW Astutely handled new oak on the nose, which blossoms on the palate to reveal an elegant chardonnay displaying lovely cool climate apple, mineral and grapefruit flavours. Dry, crisp acidity with great length ideal to drink now or age. Outstanding RRP $35.00

Krinklewood Verdelho 2009, Broke Fordwich, NSW, 12.5%. Pale colour. Strong tropical fruit displaying pineapple and passionfruit and a whiff floral. Slight hint of residual sugar or perhaps simply fruity, but moves quickly to a dry finish. Crisp tropical fruit acidity. Medium length and intensity. Attractive Verdelho that the Hunter does so well. Biodynamic vineyard. RRP $22.00 Highly Recommended

Moppity Vineyards Tumbarumba Chardonnay 2008, Hilltops NSW. 12.5% White peach and subtle oak with citrus undertones revealing its cool climate origins. Pleasant dry, medium bodied wine with crisp acidity. Just the right amount of savoury oak notes build on the restrained fruit. Medium length. Nice to see sensible alcohol levels. Recommended

Cooks Lot Pinot Gris, Orange, NSW, 2009 14%. Youthful primary fruit driven pinot gris with attractive, but restrained, tropical fruit, pineapple core and peach. Dry, medium bodied wine with well balanced acid and alcohol. Generous flavours of melon and peach with some floral and musk notes on the palate. Good length resulting in a good quality example from this cool climate region. RRP $20.00 Highly Recommended

Redbank Sunday Morning Pinot Gris 2009, King Valley, Vic. 12.5% Lovely peach and floral aromas with a hint of nectarines. Well balanced dry wine with a crisp, savoury, fleshy palate producing a long finish. Nicely handled wine with lower than expected alcohol a bonus. RRP $20.00 Outstanding

Coolangatta Estate Semillon 2009, Shoalhaven Coast NSW 2009 11%. Very pale with lemon, lanolin and citrus peel aromas. A hint floral. Elegant and light bodied with fresh lime juice flavours indicating zesty acidity. A lovely linear wine nice to drink young or keep for future bottle development. Another excellent Coolangatta Semillon confirming the pedigree of this south coast Semillon enclave.  Highly Recommended

Coolangatta Estate Savagnin, Shoalhaven Coast, NSW, 2009. 13%. pale colour. Herbaceous and pear skin nose. Dry with pleasant acidity and a hint phenolic. Flavours of peach stone, perfumed and slightly nutty makes this wine attention grabbing on the palate rather than on the nose. Fleshy and round with a long finish. Recommended.

Alta by Sarah Fletcher Sauvignon Blanc, Adelaide Hills, 2009.  12.5%. Very pale with green highlights. Youthful chopped green capsicum on the nose with grass and gooseberry thrown in - classic new world SB.  Dry, clean and crisp on the palate, with similar flavours as the nose with a dose of tropical fruit pitched in.  Nice drop from winemaker Sarah Fletcher and proves Adelaide Hills is Australia's top region for this variety. Recommended

Hungerford Hill Tumbarumba Chardonnay 2008. A fine, modern style chardonnay with intense aromas of melon, peach, butterscotch and vanilla. Dry with medium acidity, nice intense flavours with hints of nuts, marzipan and oak. Good quality with plenty of elegance on the palate confirming the use of cool climate fruit. Recommended

Man O'War Chardonnay 2008, Waiheke Island, NZ.  Pale lemon colour with classic peach, melon accompanied by restrained lees and new oak influence.  Dry, medium bodied with  well balanced fruit, acid and oak flavours. Attractive well make wine. Recommended.

Foxeys Hangout Pinot Gris 2008, Mornington Peninsula, Vic 13.5%  Hints of musk and pear skins. Lovely mouthfeel in a true Gris style. Well integrated creamy texture resulting  in a medium bodied  wine that is very satisfying. Highly Recommended.

Montalto Vineyards Pinot Grigio 2008, Mornington Peninsula. Vic.. 13.5%. Mineral aromas with apple and pear skins. Dry, with lovely length and touch of residual sugar balanced expertly with crisp acidity.  Classic Italian style wine. Highly Recommended. RRP CD $24.00

Cassegrain Fromenteau Chardonnay 2006, Tumbarumba/New England. NSW 13.5% Attractive lemon curd nose which carries through to a rich, dry creamy/buttery palate with lovely length and balance. Finishes with some pleasing acidity and peach flavours. Highly Recommended. RRP $32.00

Balgownie Estate Chardonnay 2006, Bendigo, Vic 14%. Pale yellow. Pronounced barrel notes on the nose accompanied by some tropical fruits. Rich, dry and towards a full-bodied style of chardonnay, good length, mouth-filling with some nice citrus acidity to balance the finish. Recommended RRP $35.00

Leo Buring Eden Valley Riesling 2008, SA. Strong lemon and lime aromas with some tropical fruits. Lovely intense palate with good length. Nice, crisp and dry. Highly Recommended 

Pepper Tree Alluvius Semillon 2009, Hunter Valley, NSW.  10.5 %  Lime and pear skin aromas driven with tight green apple acidity on the palate. The wine has intense flavours on the palate and finishes with a strong lime twist.  Classic young  Hunter Semillon either drink now or leave for 10 years. A Jim Chatto wine sourced from the famous Braemore Vineyard. Outstanding RRP $30.00  

Logan Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Orange. NSW. Lovely passion fruit aromas and a hint herbaceous. Dry, with fresh acidity, light to medium bodied with good length. Another excellent varietal sample from this quality driven region. Highly Recommended  

Singlefile Estate Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Denmark, WA. A lovely lifted herbaceous  nose with some ripe tropical fruits thrown in for good measure. Dry and extremely well balanced on the palate with crisp acidity, fruit and nice minerally notes all playing their part.  Highly Recommended RRP $24

Brokenwood Wines Pinot Gris 2008, Hunter Valley, NSW  Grape are sourced from Beechworth in NE Victoria for this wine. A ripe and luscious musky Gris with bonus Italian nutty hints. A nice rich style with some phenolic and residual sugar on the palate that definitely puts it into the Gris rather than Grigio camp. Recommended.      

Leo Buring Leonay Riesling 2006, Eden Valley, SA. Very pale. The nose is driven by cool climate minerality with hints of grapefruit. Crisp and dry on the palate with a lovely mid-palate richness and intensity.Outstanding.

Coldstream Hills Reserve Chardonnay 2005. Yarra Valley, Vic. Pale straw colour. Refined new oak nose with slight aromas of butter and toast. Long dry, elegant palate with crisp, tight acidity. Classic.  Outstanding.

Dessert Wines

The 4th edition of the Australian Wine Guide recommends wineries and individual wines to assist consumers in touring wine regions and purchasing wines. The following is a list of Outstanding and Highly Recommended wines.

Australian Rieslings - Outstanding

• Castle Rock 06 (Porongurup), Frankland Estate Poison Hill Vineyard 06 (Frankland River),

Grosset Polish Hill 06 (Clare Valley), Grosset Watervale 06 (Clare Valley), Howard Park 06

(Great Southern), Leo Buring Leonay DW117 06 (Eden Valley), O’Leary Walker Polish Hill 06

(Clare Valley), Richmond Grove Watervale 05 (Clare Valley).

Australian Rieslings - Highly Recommended

Alan & Veitch 05 (Eden Valley), Frankland Estate Cooladerra Vineyard 06 (Frankland River), Frankland Estate Isolation Ridge Vineyard 05 (Frankland River), Helms Premium 06 (Canberra District), Humbug Reach 06 (Tasmania), Iron Pot Bay 06 (Tasmania), Kilikanoon Mort’s Block 06 (Clare Valley), O’Leary Walker Watervale 07 (Clare Valley), Leo Buring Eden Valley 08, Lark Hill 05 (Canberra District),

Mount Horrocks Watervale 06 (Clare Valley).

Chardonnay - Outstanding

Bindi Quartz 05(Macedon Ranges), Coldstream Hills Reserve 05(Yarra Valley). Curly Flat 04 & 05(Macedon Ranges),  Freycinet 05(Tasmania), Giaconda 05(Beechworth), Leeuwin Estate Art Series 03(Margaret River), Penfolds Reserve Bin A 04(Adelaide Hills), Picardy 04(Pemberton)Pierro 05(Margaret River), Yeringberg 04(Yarra Valley).

Chardonnay - Highly Recommended

 Cullens 04 (Margaret River), De Bortoli 04 (Yarra Valley), Hardy’s Eileen Hardy 03(multi-regional), Hungerford Hill Tumbarumba 05 (Tumbarumba),  Kooyong 04 (Mornington Peninsula)

  Lillydale Estate 05 (Yarra Valley), Phillip Island 03 (Gippsland), Pirie Estate 04 (Tasmania),

 Robert Channon Reserve 05  (Granite Belt), Salitage Unwooded 06 (Pemberton),

 Shaw and Smith M3 05 (Adelaide Hills), Willow Creek Tulum 04 (Mornington Peninsula),

YarraLoch Stephanie’s Dream 04 (Yarra Valley)

Semillon - Outstanding

McWilliam’s Mount Pleasant Lovedale 05 (Hunter Valley), Thomas Braemore 05 (Hunter Valley) Tyrrell’s Vat No1 06 (Hunter Valley),  Uleybury Show Reserve 02 (Adelaide Zone) Pepper Tree Alluvius 09 (Hunter Valley)

Semillon - Highly Recommended

Bethany 05 (Barossa Valley), Hackersley 05 (Geographe), Henschke Louis 06 (Eden Valley),

Moss Wood 04 (Margaret River), Piggs Peake Sow’s Ear 07 (Hunter Valley), Rolf Binder 05(Barossa Valley),

 The Islander Wally White 05 (Kangaroo Island), Vasse Felix 05(Margaret River)

Attention Wine Producers

If you would like to submit samples for consideration in the next edition of the Australian Wine Guide as well as reviews on this website please contact Clive Hartley on the following email address. contact@australianwineguide.com