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Last weekend Danny dropped past the Coonawarra wine region on his way back from a wedding in Adelaide. So this week we’re looking at three wines from the region that caught his eye. The first isn’t a true Coonawarra wine, coming from the Wrattonbully vineyards of Yalumba, but this botrytis viognier is a lovely little drop. Brad then looks at a Wynn’s favourite that can be had for bargain prices. Danny rounds out the week with the 2004 vintage of the Highbank Coonawarra, a wine that made our very first Best Dozen back in 2007.

This week’s recommendations are:

• Yalumba Wrattonbully Botrytis Viognier 2008 ($20-$22)
• Wynn’s Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Shiraz Merlot 2008 ($14-$18)
• Highbank Coonawarra 2004 ($43-$48)

Download the video: (5 min 14 sec)
Windows Media (16.9 Mb) | Quicktime/iPod/iPhone (31.1 Mb) | Mpeg4 (16.4 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

It’s that time of year again! Santa’s packing his ute with presents for the good kiddies, and all us adults are wondering if there will be something special under the tree for us from the jolly man.

And it’s also the time of year when we announce the 12 wines that impressed us the most over the last year…. and then give them away to a couple of lucky friends of the show!

If you’re an email subscriber you get one entry into the draw to win one of two complete sets of our Best Dozen automatically. If you’re a Twitter follower you’ll get another entry into the competition. And if you’re a fan on Facebook then you’ve got another chance to win! Retweeting on twitter, or posting on your facebook wall with a link to the competition will get you another entry too! There are heaps of ways to give yourself the best possible shot at taking home one of the Best Dozen of 09 packs!

The Best Dozen of 2009 are:

• All Saints Moscato 2009 ($15-19)
• Pewsey Vale Riesling 2009 ($13-18)
• Wirra Wirra Mrs Wigely Rosé ($16-$19)
• Deen De Bortoli Vat 8 Shiraz 2008 ($8-12)
• Yalumba The Scribbler 2008 ($16-$18)
• Stefano Lubiana Primavera Pinot Noir 2008 ($28-$30)
• Hoddles Creek Pinot Noir 2008 ($18-$20)
• Shaw and Smith Shiraz 2007 ($30-35)
• d’Arenberg d’Arry’s Original 2006 ($16-20)
• Giaconda Warner Vineyard Shiraz 2006 ($80 en-primeur)
• Zema Estate Family Selection Cabernet 2005 ($40-45)
• Brown Brothers Patricia Noble Riesling 2006 ($32-35)

Download the video: (8 min 10 sec)
Windows Media (26.5 Mb) | Quicktime/iPod/iPhone (47.4 Mb) | Mpeg4 (25.6 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

This week we kick off by looking at another one of the new Penfolds Bin releases – a great GSM blend that is right on the money this vintage. We then look at a couple of genuine bargains – first up a cabernet sauvignon from the guys at Thorn Clarke who know all about value for money. Then we finish with one of the best value dessert wines going around – and it’s no surprise given it comes from the same stable as Noble One.

This week’s recommendations are:

• Penfolds Bin 138 2007 ($24-34)
• Thorn Clarke Sandpiper Cab Sauv 2006 ($14-15)
• De Bortoli Deen Vat 5 Botrytis Semillon 2006 ($10-13)

Download the video: (4 min 18 sec)
Windows Media (17.3 Mb) | Mpeg4 (13.1 Mb) | Ipod (17.4 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

This week we look at a Cabernet from a region possibly better known for its shiraz, but which certainly hits the mark. We also look at a shiraz from the Great Southern region of Western Australia. There’s also a botrytis semillon from a smaller producer, in a smaller bottle perfect for the sweet wine.

In this episode we recommend:

• Richard Hamilton Hut Block cabernet sauvignon 2006 ($14-17)
• Cookoothama botrytis semillon 2006 ($20-22)
• Howard Park Scotsdale shiraz ($30-35)

Download the video: (3 min 29 sec)
Windows Media (14.3 Mb) | Mpeg4 (10.7 Mb) | Ipod (14.2 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

This week we look at three wines perfect for opening up after your main meal is done. The first is a Muscat which is under the vino-lok closure to make sure the wine is at its best. The next is a sweet white made in the style of the great French sauturnes. And it wouldn’t be a dessert wine special without looking at a brilliant fortified from Rutherglen.

In this episode we recommend:

• All Saints Rutherglen Muscat NV ($18-20)
• De Bortoli Noble One 2003 750ml ($45-50)
• Morris Old Premium Tawny Port NV ($45-50)

Download the video: (4 min 35 sec)
Windows Media (18.0 Mb) | Mpeg4 (13.3 Mb) | Ipod (18.7 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny