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This week while Danny and Brad battle fatigue from staying up until the small hours of the morning to watch the Tour de France we finally get around to talking about a wine we’ve been meaning to review for more than four years.

The classic Rhone style blend that makes up Grant Burge’s Holy Trinity makes it a great drop to enjoy while watching Cadel battle it out with the Schleck brothers.

We also check out the high end Riesling from Pikes in the Clare Valley and a great Bordeaux blend from Margaret River producer Woodlands.

This week’s recommendations are:

• Pikes Merle Riesling 2010 ($40-$45)
• Woodlands Margaret 2008 ($40-48)
• Grant Burge Holy Trinity 2008 ($28-35)

Download the video: (4 min 32 sec)
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Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

The Grand Prix is on in our hometown of Melbourne this week, and while we record the F1 cars head out for a bit of practice.

The first across the line is a M. Chapoutier Côtes du Rhône that is a reliable everyday driver. Next is the Radenti from Freycinet, a high end sparkling that is a proven endurance performer. Taking out third place is a newer model from a stable with a host of followers, the Moppa Shiraz by Kalleske.

This week’s recommendations are:

• M. Chapoutier Côtes du Rhône 2008 ($16-$18)
• Freycient Radenti 2000 ($55-$60)
• Kalleske Moppa 2009 ($25-28)

Download the video: (5 min 30 sec)
Quicktime/iPod/iPhone (35.2 Mb) | Mpeg4 (18.1 Mb)

Have you seen our Best Dozen purchase offer? You can purchase 6 of our Best Dozen of 2010! Details here.!

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

Most people who are wine buffs know about the winery Clonakilla. Tim Kirk, the winemaker there, is famous for his Shiraz-Viognier. But if you don’t have the $100+ for a bottle of that why not try the Hilltops Shiraz they make that comes in a much more weekday friendly price and still impresses.

We also check out a pair of wines from two of McLaren Vale’s best know wineries; the Lost Watch Riesling from Wirra Wirra and the d’Arry’s Original from d’Arenberg.

This week’s recommendations are:

• Wirra Wirra Lost Watch Riesling 2010 ($16-$19)
• Clonakilla Hilltops Shiraz 2009 ($25-$28)
• d’Arenberg d’Arry’s Original 2008 ($13-18)

Download the video: (4 min 26 sec)
Quicktime/iPod/iPhone (27.5 Mb) | Mpeg4 (14.6 Mb)

Have you seen our Best Dozen purchase offer? You can purchase 6 of our Best Dozen of 2010! Details here.!

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

We try not to talk about wines we haven’t tried yet, but this week in an exception. In fact, we’re glad we haven’t tried it yet, because this coming week Best’s are holding a tweet-up where we, along with lots of others across the globe, will be opening some of their new releases and tweeting our tasting notes. It should be loads of fun, so why not join in!

A wine we have deinitely tasted is the Kalleske Clarry’s red blend. This bargain GSM blend underlines exactly why we think Troy Kalleske is such a great winemaker – it’s not just expensive wine that he does really well.

And speaking of blends, Brad checks out the Cabernet-Shiraz blend from Majella in the Coonawarra region known lyrically as the Musician.

This week’s recommendations are:

• Kalleske Clarry’s 2008 ($16-20)
• Best’s Great Western Riesling 2010 ($20-22)
• Majella The Musician 2009 ($15-$17)

Download the video: (4 min 29 sec)
Windows Media (14.5 Mb) | Quicktime/iPod/iPhone (26.1 Mb) | Mpeg4 (14.0 Mb)

We are also super excited to announce the brand new Wine Week Radio podcast!

You can subscribe to the Wine Week Radio podcast via iTunes and every week we’ll have a new episode where we look at what’s happening in the wine industry.

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

Yesterday Australia found themselves with a new Prime Minister, Julia Gillard. While some have been focused on the fact this is Australia’s first female PM, we’re looking at it a different way.

Yes, our new leader has flaming red hair!

So what better way to toast the new PM than with a few bottles of red?! We first raise a class to the “Power Fox” (as Crikey have dubbed her) with glass of sparkling red. The Fox Creek Vixen is a lovely way to celebrate an early morning coup as it goes beautifully with bacon and eggs. While some make fun of red-heads by calling them “rangas”, we prefer to check out the Ata Rangi Crimson. It has been known as the second stringer for a long time, but it seems good enough for the job at hand. Lastly we pay homage to the outgoing Kevin Rudd with the Brave Faces from Two Hands. A soft, supple wine that pays its respects to history and the people who tended the country’s vines before those in charge today.

This week’s recommendations are:

• Fox Creek Vixen NV ($20-$23)
• Ata Rangi Crimson Pinot Noir 2008 ($30-$33)
• Two Hands Brave Faces GSM 2008 ($24-$26)

Download the video: (5 min 48 sec)
Windows Media (18.7 Mb) | Quicktime/iPod/iPhone (35.4 Mb) | Mpeg4 (18.1 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

This week is the last chance for you to be in the running to win our Best Dozen of 2009! But before we draw the winners over at http://wineweek.com.au/ we check out three wines hoping to make it to the top in 2010. The first is a great Riesling from Pipers Brook in Tasmania. Next is a “jam explosion” in the form of the Miss Harry from Hewitson in the Barossa Valley. The last wine we check out this week is a lovely Shiraz from one of the very best Margaret River producers in Cape Mentelle.

Want to win the Best Dozen of 2009? You’ll go into the draw if you’re a subscriber. If you’re a Twitter follower or 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!

This week’s recommendations are:

• Pipers Brook Riesling 2008 ($25-28)
• Hewitson Miss Harry 2008 ($18-$23)
• Cape Mentelle Shiraz 2007 ($30-$32)

Download the video: (4 min 55 sec)
Windows Media (15.9 Mb) | Quicktime/iPod/iPhone (29.1 Mb) | Mpeg4 (15.5 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

It’s the one book that serious Aussie wine geeks look forward to every year: The James Halliday Australian Wine Companion. The 2010 edition has hit the bookshelves and we’ve had a quick glance to see what Australia’s most renowned wine critic has given top marks to that we’re also fans of. So as well as giving James’ book a look, we check out the Brown Brothers Patricia Noble Riesling and the Teusner Joshua, two wines/wineries that fall into the ‘mutual admiration’ category.

This week’s recommendations are:

• James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion 2010 ($30-35)
• Brown Brothers Patricia Noble Riesling 2006 ($30-35)
• Teusner Joshua 2007 ($20-$25)

Download the video: (4 min 11 sec)
Windows Media (16.9 Mb) | Quicktime/iPod/iPhone (17.0 Mb) | Mpeg4 (12.8 Mb)

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

Our first wine this week is celebrating its 64th consecutive vintage: The d’Arenberg d’Arry’s Original. And as you’d expect from a wine with this sort of history it’s a real beauty! We also check out the new vintage Pinot Noir from Hoddles Creek: A wine that’s helped to redefine what’s possible from inexpensive Yarra Valley Pinots. To round things out we look at an organically/biodynamically grown Riesling from Radford in the Eden Valley.

This week’s recommendations are:

• d’Arenberg d’Arry’s Original Shiraz Grenache 2006 ($15-18)
• Hoddles Creek Pinot Noir 2008 ($17-20)
• Radford Eden Valley Riesling 2008 ($20-23)

Download the video: (4 min 17 sec)
Windows Media (17.5 Mb) | Mpeg4 (13.1 Mb) | Ipod (17.5 Mb)

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

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

With all Aussies celebrating Australia Day this Monday we happily provide three wines that would be a great addition to any BBQ or party you’re throwing. The first is a single vineyard Canberra riesling that can be had now, or cellared for Australia Day 2020. The next is a Barossan red blend from a Young Gun of wine, while the last offering is a ‘drink-now’ styled shiraz also from the Barossa. And what could be more Aussie than drinking shiraz with your mates!?

This week’s recommendations are:

• Helm Premium reisling 2008 ($32-35)
• Spinifex Esprit 2006 ($25-30)
• First Drop Mother’s Milk 2006 ($18-20)

Download the video: (4 min 08 sec)
Windows Media (16.8 Mb) | Mpeg4 (12.6 Mb) | Ipod (16.8 Mb)

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