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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

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

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 announce the winners of our Best Dozen of 08 compeition. Of course as well as filling the cellars of two lucky WineWeek friends we offer up three wines perfect for the heatwave baking south-eastern Australia. The first is a sparkling shiraz. If you’re a big red drinker this is the perfect answer, just chill it down before popping the cork. The next wine is an Alace white blend from a producer who’s been making wine for more than 350 years! And our final wine of the week is a Rosé perfect for those 40C/100F days.

The two lucky winners of our “Best Dozen of ’08″ competition, who will receive a full dozen of the wines we picked as being the best of 2008 came from both our email subscribers, and our twitter followers. Congratulations to the two winners, Reneé and @Lilylauren!

This week’s recommendations are:

• Banrock Station The Reserve Sparkling shiraz NV ($10-12)
• Hugel ‘Gentil’ 2006 ($21-25)
• Angoves grenache shiraz rosé 2008 ($13-15)

Download the video: (4 min 07 sec)
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Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

This week we look at a wine which uses a closure that might just signal the end of corks on high end wines… and the wine inside the bottle isn’t half bad either! We also look at a great shiraz with lovely chocolate characters and a semillon/sauvignon blanc from a region known for producing great versions of the blend.

In this episode we recommend:

• Stella Bella Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2006 ($18-24)
• Henschke Henry’s Seven 2004 ($25-27)
• Knappstein Shiraz 2004 ($16-22)

Download the video: (3 min 54 sec)
Windows Media (13.2 Mb) | Mpeg4 (11.9 Mb) | Ipod (15.9 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

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This week we look at two wines that are from the same producer, under the same label, but which come from different regions. As well we check out a stylish shiraz/viognier blend and a white which surprised us with its quality despite its youth – and price tag.

In this episode we recommend:

• Tyrrell’s Rufus Stone Shiraz (McLaren Vale & Heathcote) 2005 ($17-22)
• De Bortoli Windy Peak Sauv. Blanc / Semillon 2007 ($12-15)
• Yering Station Shiraz Viognier 2006 ($18-23)

Download the video: (3 min 26 sec)
Windows Media (12.0 Mb) | Mpeg4 (10.5 Mb) | Ipod (14.0 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

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This week we look at three different wines that are all genuine bargains. The first is a Margaret River sauvignon blanc / semillon blend that is well balanced without being too heavy on sweetness. The next wine is a big Coonawarra cab. sauv. which is normally much more expensive than you might find it around town right now. Our final wine of the week is a classic Barossa shiraz that is sure to impress both your taste buds and your wallet.

In this episode we recommend:

• Voyager Estate Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2006 ($15-22)
• Jacob’s Creek St. Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 ($30-42)
• Saltram Mamre Brook Shiraz 2004 ($16-25)

Download the video: (3 min 50 sec)
Windows Media (11.2 Mb) | Mpeg4 (11.7 Mb) | Ipod (15.6 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

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This week we look at a great Barossa red with a German sounding name which is made in the classic Rhone style. We also look at a brilliant semillon sauvignon blanc blend from a producer well known for their great whites, plus a shiraz which is still exceptionally affordable – despite an ever growing list of super reviews than might cause other wineries to raise their prices.

In this episode we recommend:

• Rolf Binder Heinrich 2004 ($24-29)
• Water Wheel Bendigo Shiraz 2005 ($15-20)
• Grosset Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2005 ($25-30)

Download the video: (3 min 58 sec)
Windows Media (11.6 Mb) | Mpeg4 (12.1 Mb) | Ipod (16.6 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

It’s been a long time coming, but we finally review a pinot noir in this week’s edition of Wine Week, and a damn good value one at that. We also look at one of Australia’s best examples of the fashionable shiraz viogner blend, and an easy drinking white wine that is perfect for those summer picnics.

In this episode we recommend:   

• Evans & Tate Margaret River Classic 2006 ($12-16)
• D’Arenberg Laughing Magpie Shiraz Viogner 2005 ($28-34)
• De Bortoli Yarra Valley Estate Pinot Noir 2005 ($22-26)

Download the video: (2 min 36 sec)
Windows Media (7.6 Mb) | Mpeg4 (7.9 Mb) | Ipod (10.6 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny