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In this, our final episode of 2008, we look back at our favourite dozen wines from the past year, and you could win one of two complete sets of the Best Dozen of ’08!

As always our criteria was to pick our favourite bottles based both on the quality of the wine and value for money. It would have been simple to pick the 12 most expensive wines but we think that there are some absolutely brilliant bargains out there. If a wine is a brilliant drop and is awesome value for money it ranks pretty high with us.

For your chance to win, all you need to do is subscribe to our weekly emails. You can get extra entries into the draw by sending the competition details out to as many friends as you like – for everyone who you refer you’ll get an extra chance to win one of the two Best Dozen of ’08 packs.

Following us on twitter also gains you an entry to win this fabulous prize valued at over $370.

The Best Dozen of ’08 are (in no particular order):

• Clover Hill vintage 2003 ($32-38)
• Leo Buring Clare Valley riesling 2008 ($15-18)
• Wolf Blass White Label riesling 2002 ($38-40)
• Charles Melton Rose of Virginia 2008 ($16-22)
• De Bortoli Windy Peak pinot noir 2007 ($9-15)
• Mike Press cabernet sauvignon 2006 ($10-14)
• Charles Sturt University chardonnay 2007 ($13-15)
• Hardys Oomoo McLaren Vale shiraz 2006 ($12-15)
• Penfolds St. Henri shiraz 2004 ($70-90)
• Yalumba The Menzies 2004 ($40-45)
• Pirathon by Kalleske shiraz 2006 ($20-24)
• St. Hallett Blackwell shiraz 2006 ($30-35)

Download the video: (6 min 40 sec)
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Cheers… happy wine buying and good luck in our competition!
Click here to enter by subscribing.
Click here to enter by following on twitter.
Competition terms and conditions.
Brad and Danny

The spring racing carnival is well and truly underway and what better way to celebrate a win on the ponies than with a glass of wine! So this week we suggest three wines that would be brilliant at your Melbourne Cup party. The first is an Eden Valley riesling that’s a little sweeter than usual, but not overdone. To complete the spring racing theme we also look at two very different sparkling wines. One a super cool moscato ideal for those who like a lighter bet, the other a true French Champagne perfect for toasting the winners.

In this episode we recommend:

• Pewsey Vale Prima riesling 2008 ($20-25)
• Innocent Bystander moscato 2008 ($10-13)
• G.H. Mumm Cordon Rouge N.V. ($50-77)

Download the video: (4 min 18 sec)
Windows Media (17.3 Mb) | Mpeg4 (13.1 Mb) | Ipod (17.5 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

This week we look at a chardonnay that is leading the pack with a lovely tight, clean style and a sparkling rose named after the hottest holiday destination on the planet. To finish things off we look at a wine that has it’s own facebook page and twitter account…. just like we do: http://twitter.com/wineweek

In this episode we recommend:

• Seppelt Jaluka chardonnay ($20-27)
• Bay of Fires Tigress sparkling rosé NV ($22-26)
• Kirrihill Companions cabernet merlot 2006 ($13-16)

Download the video: (4 min 16 sec)
Windows Media (17.2 Mb) | Mpeg4 (13.1 Mb) | Ipod (17.4 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

This Sunday is Mothers Day in Australia, and so we offer a sparkling wine that would be a perfect way to show your Mum that you care. As well we look at a Bordeaux style blend from Coonawarra and a somewhat unloved grape variety which doesn’t deserve the rough treatment it gets.

In this episode we recommend:

• Yarrabank Cuvée 2002 ($30-35)
• Zema Estate Cluny 2004 ($21-25)
• Elderton merlot 2005 ($23-25)

Download the video: (4 min 00 sec)
Windows Media (15.9 Mb) | Mpeg4 (12.2 Mb) | Ipod (16.2 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

Weddings are the perfect time to open a few bottles of great wine, and when it’s Brad’s wedding then there’s even more reason to get into some great wine! This week we look at a sparkling that many regard as Australia’s finest, and is a regular at our celebrations. There’s also a Margaret River riesling which will be served to the guests at the event this weekend. And we also look at a Coonawarra cabernet sauvignon which has really hit the mark with the 05 vintage.

Cheers and congratulations to Brad and Tranda. If you want to send your best wishes you can do so in the comments box below.

In this episode we recommend:

• Clover Hill vintage 2003 ($32-38)
• Bowen Estate cabernet sauvignon 2005 ($25-28)
• Leeuwin Estate Art Series rielsing 2006 ($18-24)

Download the video: (4 min 20 sec)
Windows Media (17.3 Mb) | Mpeg4 (13.2 Mb) | Ipod (17.6 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

This week two of our wines use grapes from various regions with great results, while the other uses a blend of red grapes to deliver a wine that is ideal for drinking now. The first wine is a sparkling white from a Victorian producer who is adding Tasmanian grapes to great effect. The other multi-regional offering is a Cabernet picking and choosing grapes from the best places in Oz for the variety resulting in a great wine at an even better price. Our other wine this week is from a smaller producer using both well known and less well known grape varieties.

In this episode we recommend:

• Taltarni Brut 2006 ($20-25)
• S.C. Pannell Pronto 2006 ($25-28)
• Jacob’s Creek Reserve cabernet sauvignon 2004 ($13-18)

Download the video: (4 min 15 sec)
Windows Media (17.0 Mb) | Mpeg4 (13.0 Mb) | Ipod (17.3 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

It’s that time of year again when everyone heads to the races and we’re offering tips that can’t lose! The first is a sparkling that is a sure bet even if you’ve already done most of your dough on the ponies. The second is a red hot tip for a great shiraz-viognier from a great stable. The last is a coonawarra cab sauv which is a regular favorite that delivers the goods time and again.

In this episode we recommend:

• Yarra Burn pinot noir chardonnay pinot meunier 2005 ($15-18)
• De Bortoli Gulf Station shiraz-viognier 2006 ($16-18)
• Wynns Coonawarra Estate cabernet sauvignon 2005 ($16-30)

Download the video: (4 min 24 sec)
Windows Media (12.7 Mb) | Mpeg4 (13.5 Mb) | Ipod (17.9 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

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This week we celebrate a terrific event with the birth of Danny and partner Jacqui’s first baby – daughter Chloe! So we look at three wines which are perfect for marking an important occasion. There’s a sparkling white that might be the best non-French bottle out there, a Coonawarra red recently nominated as Australia’s best drop and a Rutherglen fortified sure to be great drinking on someone’s 21st… even if they have just been born!

In this episode we recommend:

• Bay of Fires Arras 2001 ($40-50)
• Stanton & Killeen Vintage Fortified 2001 ($28-35)
• Balnaves The Tally 2005 ($80-95)

Download the video: (4 min 20 sec)
Windows Media (12.5 Mb) | Mpeg4 (13.2 Mb) | Ipod (17.7 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

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Down under people often refer to South Australians as ‘Crow Eaters’ and New Zealanders as ‘Kiwis’. So this week we look at two shiraz offerings from the Crow Eaters: One from McLaren Vale and one from the Clare. Our other wine is a sparkling from a Kiwi producer who has teamed up with a respected French Champagne house.

In this episode we recommend:

• Deutz Marlborough Cuvée Brut NV ($22-26)
• Rockbare Shiraz 2005 ($18-20)
• Tim Adams The Aberfeldy Shiraz 2005 ($39-55)

Download the video: (3 min 50 sec)
Windows Media (11.0 Mb) | Mpeg4 (11.8 Mb) | Ipod (15.6 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

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As the end of the financial year is upon us, we thought it timely to present a couple of wines that wont break the budget, but will help you celebrate in style. First is a sparkling white with quality well above it’s price. Next we look at a great red blend from the Yarra Valley of a style growing in popularity. Finally we check out an inexpensive shiraz that’s both a good bet for cellaring and drinkable right now – what a combo!

In this episode we recommend:

• Stephen John Blanc de Blanc NV ($14-15)
• Yarra Burn Shiraz Viognier 2003 ($15-17)
• Grant Burge Miamba Shiraz 2005 ($16-20)

Download the video: (3 min 39 sec)
Windows Media (12.5 Mb) | Mpeg4 (11.9 Mb) | Ipod (14.9 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

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