wineweek.com.au
pouring rapid tips

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

Update: Just announced – our friends at Boccaccio Cellars are offering 6 of our Best Dozen in a special pack at just $130 plus delivery!

It’s that time of year again! Yes, that time when we announce the 12 wines that impressed us the most over the last year…. and then give them away to a of lucky fan of the show!

If you’re an email subscriber you get one entry into the draw to win the complete set 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 2010 packs!

The Best Dozen of 2010 are:

• De Bortoli Rococo Blanc de Blancs NV
• St. Hallett Eden Valley Riesling 2010
• Toolangi Chardonnay 2008
• Andrew Thomas Wines Braemore Semillon 2010
• Scion Vineyard Durif 2008
• Yabby Lake Pinot Noir 2008
• The Story Grampians Shiraz 2008
• Ben Glaetzer Wallace 2008
• Teusner Riebke Shiraz 2009
• Yalumba The Cigar 2008
• Penfolds St. Henri 2006
• Wolf Blass Platinum Shiraz 2007

Download the video: (11 min 11 sec)
Quicktime/iPod/iPhone (68.6 Mb) | Mpeg4 (37 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

With the Melbourne Cup running this Tuesday there will be a lot of early kick-offs this week. So with that in mind we look at the perfect starter for your cup day celebrations. The Seppelt Original Sparkling Shiraz is the ideal wine to match up with bacon & eggs, and what could be more Aussie than that?

We also look at a half bottle Riesling from Clos Clare and a Cabernet from Pyrenees winery Taltarni.

This week’s recommendations are:

• Seppelt Original Sparkling Shiraz 2006 ($19-24)
• Clos Clare Riesling [375ml] 2009 ($15-$18)
• Taltarni Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 ($36-40)

Download the video: (4 min 48 sec)
Windows Media (15.5 Mb) | Quicktime/iPod/iPhone (28.5 Mb) | Mpeg4 (15.0 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

With the World Cup kicking off tonight, we look at a couple of wines from the competing nations – and announce our tipping competition where you could win a dozen great old-world wines! The first wine is a German Riesling, and while we Aussie hope they don’t do well in the first game, we know they make great wines.

When talking France and football we’re certain that if they win the big gold trophy that there will be lots of corks popping. So we look at a grower Champagne from Pierre Peters that is worth celebrating with.

The World Cup wouldn’t be what it is without the Italians, and we look at a great Chianti Classico from Castello di Monstano worth diving into.

Want to win more than $400 worth of great old-world wine? Just join our tipping competition! The winner will take home a dozen brilliant wines from Italy, Germany and France thanks to the guys at Mondo Imports.

This week’s recommendations are:

• Dönhoff Riesling Kabinett 2008 ($38-$41)
• Pierre Peters Cüvee Reserve Blanc de Blancs NV ($70-$75)
• Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico 2007 ($37-$40)

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

Inexpensive bubbles are to be avoided at all costs… or so says Danny. But this week we look at a blanc de blancs from De Bortoli that will have the approval of your wine-snob friends but is cheap enough for even midweek celebrations.

Brad follows up with another of the classic Aussie blend of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Lake Breeze number shows just how Australian it is with an Aboriginal name for its blend.

We’ve been talking for a few weeks about some of the wines we showed off at the Seddon Wine Store at our recent tasting event, but we’ve saved the best for last. The Kate Hill Pinot Noir impressed everyone on the day, and the judges at the recent Tasmanian Wine Show. Not so easy to get, but worth hassling your local wine store about!

Want to join Danny & Brad in the Wine Week AFL footy tipping competition? Sure you do! Well, come on and be part of it!

This week’s recommendations are:

• De Bortoli Rococo Blanc de Blancs ($18-$20)
• Lake Breeze Bernoota Shiraz-Cabernet ($18-$22)
• Kate Hill Pinot Noir 2008 ($30-$34)

Download the video: (4 min 35 sec)
Windows Media (14.8 Mb) | Quicktime/iPod/iPhone (26.9 Mb) | Mpeg4 (14.3 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

The hot days down under aren’t done with just yet. And vintage, when vineyards are picking their grapes, is in full force too. With both those things going on at once we look at a sparkling wine from Blue Pyrenees which is picked in the cool of the night to make sure they get the best from their grapes.

We also look at a super bargain priced Rosé from Angoves great for warmer days, and a classic quaffer from Pepperjack perfect for matching with lamb on the BBQ.

This week’s recommendations are:

• Angoves Nine Rows Rosé 2009 ($8-14)
• Blue Pyrenees Midnight Cuvée 2002 ($22-$26)
• Pepperjack Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 ($18-$23)

Download the video: (4 min 31 sec)
Windows Media (14.9 Mb) | Quicktime/iPod/iPhone (26.8 Mb) | Mpeg4 (14.7 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

It’s Melbourne cup next week: The race that stops a nation! And people all over the country will be breaking out the bubbles and barbie wines as they host Cup Day parties. With this in mind we’re looking at three wines that might help you qualify your day as a winner even if the horses you back come last! The first is a classic red quaffer from Fox Creek. We also check out a really inexpensive sparkling from Yarra Burn, and a more expensive bottle of bubbles from Quartz Reef – an international raider on the cup!

This week’s recommendations are:

• Fox Creek Red Baron McLaren Vale Shiraz 2008 ($13-18)
• Yarra Burn Premium Cuvée NV ($13-$20)
• Quartz Reef Methode Traditionelle NV ($30-$35)

Download the video: (4 min 51 sec)
Windows Media (15.8 Mb) | Quicktime/iPod/iPhone (28.5 Mb) | Mpeg4 (15.2 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

It’s Mother’s Day down under this Sunday, and we present three wines that are sure to make your Mum happy this weekend. The first is a Semillon / Sauvignon Blanc blend from WA’s Margaret River region that Brad thinks is brilliantly named. The next is a Pinot Noir from the Macedon Ranges with great flavour and style and not too much alcohol. Lastly we look at a Yarra Valley sparkling Rosé that mums everywhere will love the look and the taste of.

Join the Wine Week footy tipping competition! (Entry is free and the winner receives brilliant Kalleske wine!)

This week’s recommendations are:

• Wine by Brad semillon/sauvignon blanc 2008 ($20-25)
• Bress Macedon Ranges pinot noir 2008 ($18-20)
• Dominique Portet brut rosé LD NV ($25-27)

Download the video: (4 min 22 sec)
Windows Media (17.5 Mb) | Mpeg4 (13.3 Mb) | Ipod (17.7 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny