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Instead of our normal look at three wines we love this week Danny is on his own and has something different to talk about. With every wine store in the country selling Sauvignon Blanc like hot cakes Danny asks “Why?” To make things interesting Danny opens a NZ Sauv Blanc and an Aussie Riesling and puts both through their paces. The result? Not a lot of love in the room for the “Cats wee” flavour of the bigger selling Savvy. Controversial? Sure! Eye opening? Hopefully!

Download the video: (9 min 06 sec)
Windows Media (29.6 Mb) | Quicktime/iPod/iPhone (53.8 Mb) | Mpeg4 (28.7 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

Two Aussies picked up more than $50 million each this week in the lotto, and we’re sure they’re drinking great wine. But what about the rest of us? This week we check out three wines that are great bargains and can be found for well under $10 each. There’s the McWilliams Inheritance Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc, the Angove Long Row Shiraz and De Bortoli Deen Vat 1 Durif. Combined we spend less than $22 on all three!

This week’s recommendations are:

• McWilliams Inheritance Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2008 ($4.5-7)
• Angove Long Row Shiraz 2007 ($8-10)
• De Bortoli Deen Vat 1 Durif 2007 ($9-12)

Download the video: (4 min 04 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

This week saw the passing of one the biggest figures in Australia’s wine industry over the last 50 years, Max Lake. As a tribute we look at one of his wines, a 1998 Lake’s Folly cabernets. It’s a Bordeaux style blend grown under Max’s eye in a region where very few other winemakers could ever manage to grown the grapes required for the blend. We also look at a Sauvignon Blanc that aims to replicate the French more than the New Zealand style. And finally we check out a Shiraz and Pinot Noir blend that also draws inspiration from one of the great wine makers of Australia’s past.

Join the Wine Week footy tipping competition! (Entry is free!)

This week’s recommendations are:

• Lake’s Folly Cabernets 1998 ($50-100)
• Ten Minutes By Tractor 10X sauvignon blanc 2008 ($24-28)
• Mountain X Hunter shiraz 2007 ($30-35)

Download the video: (4 min 24 sec)
Windows Media (17.8 Mb) | Mpeg4 (13.5 Mb) | Ipod (17.9 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

This week we look at two Cabernets, one from the Margaret River region, the other from the recently bushfire ravaged Yarra Valley. We kick off with a Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc blend from another Margaret River producer – one known best for their Cabernets as well! The first of our two Cabs is from the great 2005 vintage in the Yarra Valley, while the second teams up Merlot to create something really stylish.

This week’s recommendations are:

• Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2008 ($25-27)
• Yering Station Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 ($20-24)
• Fraser Gallop Cabernet Merlot 2007 ($16-25)

How can you help those affected by the Victorian bushfires?

• Spend a little less on wine this week and donate the difference to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire appeal
• Buy a ticket to the massive wine raffle. With $25,000 worth of wine for 1st prize and 33 prizes total you really should be buying a ticket. Tickets available here, here and here to name just a few.
• Be part of the tasting event in San Francisco featuring some of Australia’s finest wines.
• Visit Domaine Chandon in the Yarra Valley and donate some cash – which they will match dollar for dollar!

Download the video: (5 min 09 sec)
Windows Media (20.4 Mb) | Mpeg4 (15.8 Mb) | Ipod (21.0 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

This week we check out a wine you might have to watch out for, a wine that should be given time to reach its full potential and a wine for those watching their calorie intake. Firstly we look at an early havest white blend which is low both in alcohol and in calories. The next wine is a brilliant red from a great Barossa producer which may take a little searching to track down, but worth the effort. The the final wine this week is a Cabernet Sauvignon that will benefit from some patient cellaring.

In this episode we recommend:

• Lindemans Early Harvest semillon sauvignon blanc 2007 ($12-14)
• Pirathon by Kalleske shiraz 2006 ($20-24)
• Wolf Blass Grey Label cabernet sauvignon 2006 ($27-40)

Download the video: (4 min 15 sec)
Windows Media (17.3 Mb) | Mpeg4 (13.0 Mb) | Ipod (17.2 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

This week Brad and Danny disagree over a wine variety. Brad looks at a New Zealand wine that’s incredibly popular, but Danny isn’t won over. However there are no arguments when it comes to the two reds we recommend. There’s a recently released cabernet sauvignon from Penfolds and a cellar release from Jacobs Creek, both of which are certain to hit the mark.

In this episode we recommend:

• Penfolds Bin 407 2005 ($30-45)
• Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc 2007 ($15-20)
• Jacobs Creek Centenary Hill shiraz 2003 ($40-45)

Download the video: (4 min 18 sec)
Windows Media (17.7 Mb) | Mpeg4 (13.0 Mb) | Ipod (17.3 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

This week we look at a New Zealand sauvignon blanc which was a recommendation from one of wine week’s loyal viewers. In the same episode we look at another of the great Coonawarra 04 cabernet sauvignons and a bargain shiraz from the Hunter Valley

In this episode we recommend:

• Oyster Bay Sauv. Blanc 2006 ($16-18)
• Mount Pleasant Philip Shiraz 2003 ($14-16)
• Balnaves of Coonwarra Cab. Sauv. 2004 ($27-32)

Download the video: (3 min 13 sec)
Windows Media (9.4 Mb) | Mpeg4 (9.8 Mb) | Ipod (13.1 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

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The 2004 vintage in the Coonawarra continues to dazzle us with fantastic cabernets – and this week we look at another one which is incredibly good value. We also look at a sauvignon blanc that is a bargain at less than $10 a bottle, and proof that Rutherglen can make great table wines as well as fortifieds!

In this episode we recommend:

• Yalumba Y Series Sauvignon Blanc ($8-12)
• Campbells Bobbie Burns Shiraz 2004 ($18-24)
• Zema Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 ($19-25)

Download the video: (3 min 18 sec)
Windows Media (9.7 Mb) | Mpeg4 (10.1 Mb) | Ipod (13.5 Mb)

And a quick reminder that you can now subscribe to our email updates by filling in your details here

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

After a short break we’re back on deck with our first episode for 2007. We look forward to bringing you regular tips each week throughout the year so you’re armed and ready when you hit the bottle shops.

In this episode we recommend:

• Giesen Sauvignon Blanc 2006 ($13-18)
• Taylors Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 ($14-19)
• Balnaves “The Blend” 2002 ($19-25)
• St Hallett Blackwell Shiraz 2004 ($27-34)

Download the video: (3 min 44 sec)
Windows Media (10.9 Mb) | Mpeg4 (11.3 Mb) | Ipod (15.5 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny