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To mark our milestone 100th episode we thought we would have a special episode where we look at four of the best wines in Australia. To narrow it down a little we decided to break it up into four categories.

The first category is a white, and unusually for us the top wine is a chardonnay, and not a riesling. It’s a great drop from the Margaret River region and will be no shock to anyone being named Australia’s best white, especially given the current vintage.

Our next top wine is a cult wine, from a relatively new producer. It’s a big, powerful, red from a Barossa producer who has a legion of fans across the globe thanks to some great reviews from the top wine writers. But it’s not all about power with this red, as a splash of viognier adds subtlety and grace to the super old shiraz vines.

Of course no list of Australia’s top wines would be complete without our next wine. A true icon of Australian winemaking, the name is known across the world. People who don’t drink wine know this wine’s name and know it’s reputation as Australia’s finest drop. This red is ideal for cellaring for the long term, and is the wine that so many Australians have celebrated important milestones by opening.

To round things out we thought we would include a wine that is uniquely Australian. The fortified wines of the Rutherglen region are truly distinctive and recognised as singularly exceptional when at their best. Some producers from the region have stock of old wine dating back many generations. Our pick has dipped into some incredibly old wine to offer a blend that is exceptionally rare and worth every dollar of it’s high price tag.

In this episode we recommend:

• Leeuwin Estate Art Series chardonnay 2005 ($80+)
• Torbreck RunRig 2005 ($220+)
• Penfolds Bin 95 “Grange” 2003 ($500+)
• All Saints Museum Muscast NV ($1000)

Download the video: (8 min 06 sec)
Windows Media (29.5 Mb) | Mpeg4 (24.8 Mb) | Ipod (33.2 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

With one week to go before a big 100th episode we look at three wines worthy of a special episode of their own. The first wine is a riesling from a vintage that is shaping up as a beauty. Our next two wines are both shiraz, one a Barossan from winery which hits the highs again, while the other is a young producer who almost took out the top trophy in Australia for young reds.

Danny is still growing a dodgy moustache. It’s all in order to help raise funds and awareness for men’s health as a part of movember. You can help by sponsoring danny’s mo growing activities.

In this episode we recommend:

• O’Leary Walker Polish Hill River riesling 2008 ($17-19)
• St. Hallett Blackwell shiraz 2006 ($30-35)
• Xabregas shiraz 2007 ($14-16)

Download the video: (4 min 42 sec)
Windows Media (18.6 Mb) | Mpeg4 (14.4 Mb) | Ipod (19.1 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

This week we check out three great bargain wines that are perfect for when the dollars are a little tight. The first is a Coonawarra Cabernet that would be a perfect match with spring lamb. The second is a Chardonnay from the Yarra Valley. Our final wine is a french style blend perfect for getting into straight away. Best of all, they can all be had for under $20!

Danny is still growing a dodgy moustache. It’s all in order to help raise funds and awareness for men’s health as a part of movember. You can help by sponsoring danny’s mo growing activities.

In this episode we recommend:

• Katnook Estate Founder’s Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 ($17-19)
• Diamond Valley Chardonnay 2005 ($17-18)
• Hewitson Miss Harry 2006 ($16-19)

Download the video: (4 min 02 sec)
Windows Media (16.3 Mb) | Mpeg4 (12.3 Mb) | Ipod (16.4 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

In 1976 there was a famous blind tasting now referred to as the “Judgement of Paris” in which US wines toppled the French as the judges favourites. This week we recommend a petite syrah from one of the producers who turned the world’s expectations upside down and proved great wine doesn’t have to be grown in France. We also look at a great value shiraz from the Heathcote region which is receiving rave reviews from today’s big critics. There’s also a saintly riesling that is a true bargain no matter who’s name is on the label.

Danny is also sporting a very average moustache. It’s all in order to help raise funds and awareness for men’s health as a part of movember. You can help by sponsoring danny’s mo growing activities.

In this episode we recommend:

• Orlando St. Helga riesling 2007 ($15-20)
• Stags’ Leap petite syrah 2005 ($35[us] – 50[au])
• Tyrrell’s Rufus Stone Heathcote shiraz 2006 ($17-25)

Download the video: (5 min 05 sec)
Windows Media (20.0 Mb) | Mpeg4 (15.6 Mb) | Ipod (20.7 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny