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When a winery can charge, $60 to $100 for their best know wines you known they’re doing something right. But not all of us can afford three figures for a bottle of wine everyday. So many of the most respected wineries have wines commonly referred to as ’second’ wines. But don’t let the fact that these aren’t their most expensive offerings suggest that they aren’t up to scratch.

The first wine we look at is the ’second’ Chardonnay from Leeuwin Estate, maker of arguably Australia’s best from the white grape. Next up is a Pinot Noir from Kooyong that comes in at half the price of their most renowned Pinot. The last wine we recommend is the ’second’ from Moss Wood, one of the the greatest Cabernet producers from the Margaret River region in WA.

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This week’s recommendations are:

• Leeuwin Estate Prelude Chardonnay 2008 ($30-35)
• Kooyong Massale Pinot Noir 2008 ($28-$30)
• Moss Wood Amy’s Cabernet 2008 ($30-$35)

Download the video: (4 min 44 sec)
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Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

In wine, as in property, the one thing that everyone wants is a prime location. The best vineyards give the best fruit. But it’s not always easy to get the best locations. Two of our wines this week come from producers who have decided location is the key to the best grapes, while the other has helped define their region as one of the best Chardonnay areas in the land.

Between the Jim Barry Cover Drive and the Wyndham Estate George Windham Shiraz Grenache you can see why regional blending has become a key part of the winemaker’s arsenal. At the other end of the spectrum, the Voyager Estate Chardonnay continues to gain favour as a stand-out example of just what Margaret River can produce with the white grape.

This week’s recommendations are:

• Jim Barry Cover Drive 2007 ($18-23)
• Voyager Estate Chardonnay 2007 ($38-42)
• Wyndham Estate George Wyndham Shiraz Grenache 2007 ($17-$22)

Download the video: (5 min 45 sec)
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Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

3 years and almost 450 wines later we’re up to episode 150! To celebrate we’re looking at wines that you’d probably only open on special occasions, and only if you’re really splurging!

Penfolds having been looking to produce a white wine that rivals the great Grange, and the Yattarna we check out this week might be that wine. Over the last 150 episodes more than one Kalleske wine has come across our desk, because they are such great wines. This week we look at the very top of the Kalleske range; the Johann Georg. When discussing long periods of time, the wines from Wendouree immediately spring to mind. With vines dating back more than 100 years and producing wines like the Shiraz-Malbec that are long term cellaring gold. To round things out, we finish with a wine that might be the best red in Australia; the Clonakilla Shiraz-Viognier. It’s a brilliant drop that we think is still undervalued even as we’ve seen the price rise steadily over the last decade.

This week’s recommendations are:

• Penfolds Yattarna Chardonnay 2006 ($120-130)
• Kalleske Johann Georg Shiraz 2007 ($90-100)
• A P Birks Wendouree Shiraz-Malbec 2006 ($55-$100)
• Clonakilla Shiraz-Viognier 2008 ($75-85)

Download the video: (7 min 33 sec)
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Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

This week we look at three wines with a definite family theme. The first is the Tulum Chardonnay from Willow Creek, a small winery on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula which hosted the wedding of members of Danny’s extended family a few years back. The next wine is the Kalleske Clarry’s red, named after the grandfather of current winemaker, Troy Kalleske. Our final wine is the Zema Estate Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, a ripper drop using only the best fruit from the great 2005 Coonawarra vintage.

This week’s recommendations are:

• Willow Creek Tulum Chardonnay 2007 ($30-40)
• Kalleske Clarry’s Red Shiraz-Grenache 2008 ($16-20)
• Zema Estate Family Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 ($40-$45)

Download the video: (3 min 50 sec)
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Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

A few weeks back we raved about a Chardonnay that has changed what people expect from the grape. This week we look at the Shiraz from the same guys, Shaw + Smith, and find ourselves equally impressed! We also look at another shiraz, this a classically Barossan offering from Epsilon. To round things out we also check out a still white from one of the most respected producers of sparkling wine, Domaine Chandon.

This week’s recommendations are:

• Epsilon Barossa Valley Shiraz 2007 ($20-25)
• Domaine Chandon Chardonnay 2008 ($20-27)
• Shaw + Smith Shiraz 2007 ($36-$39)

Download the video: (4 min 03 sec)
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Join the Wine Week footy tipping competition! (Entry is free and the winner receives brilliant Kalleske wine!)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

Not that long ago Chardonnay was all the rage. But winemakers started churning out wines that tasted more like oak than they did fruit. As a consequence, the wine public turned its nose up at the one time powerhouse white grape and looked elsewhere for a refreshing tipple. But things have changed! There’s now a “new style” of chardonnay, and loads of wineries are trying to mimic the style. But this week we look at the original, the chardonnay that started the revival – the Shaw and Smith M3. As well we also check out two more South Australian offerings. Both are shiraz, while one is from a well established producer in McLaren Vale, while the other is from a young winery. Both are rippers!

This week’s recommendations are:

• Maglieri Shiraz ($13-20)
• Shaw and Smith M3 Chardonnay ($30-40)
• Yelland & Papps Greenock Shiraz 2007 ($27-30)

Download the video: (3 min 52 sec)
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Join the Wine Week footy tipping competition! (Entry is free and the winner receives brilliant Kalleske wine!)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

How much would you expect to pay for an Australian Shiraz which won gold at one of the most well respected wine shows? How about under $10! The De Bortoli winery continues to impress across the range and this bargain red is certainly no exception. We also look at a Shiraz Grenache blend from Western Australia and a Chardonnay from the Yarra Valley.

This week’s recommendations are:

• Cape Mentelle Marmaduke 2006 ($12-16)
• De Bortoli Deen Vat 8 shiraz 2007 ($9-12)
• Giant Steps Sexton Vineyard chardonnay 2006 ($25-30)

Download the video: (4 min 07 sec)
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Make sure you’re entered into the competition to Win our Best Dozen of ‘08.
Click here to enter by subscribing.
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Competition terms and conditions.

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

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

Yes, it’s that time of year. No matter if you’re hosting the party or need something to take along to the big bash you’ve been invited to we have a couple of great ideas. If there’s turkey or chicken involved (and there’s a fair bet there might be) then our first wine is a great selection. It’s another Chardonnay from the Adelaide Hills which continues the great run of the grape from this little region. We follow this up with a big cabernet from the Coonawarra, a wine from the great 2004 vintage which should still be available now. Our last wine is a bargain shiraz which won’t break the bank if you’re wining and dining a huge crowd this festive season.

In this episode we recommend:

• Richmond Grove Adelaide Hills chardonnay 2007 ($19-24)
• Punters Corner cabernet sauvignon 2004 ($25-30)
• Quarisa Johnny Q. shiraz 2006 ($10-13)

Download the video: (4 min 10 sec)
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Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

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)
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Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny