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Most weeks we talk about wines that you’ll find if you head to a wine retailer this weekend. Our first two wines fall into that category: the Oliver’s Taranga 2011 Fiano and the Tollana 2008 Pinot Noir.

Danny also talks about an older bottle from his cellar, a 10 year old Cabernet from Victorian Pyrenees winery Dalwhinnie that’s ripe for a special opening.

This week’s recommendations are:

• Oliver’s Taranga Fiano 2011 ($22-$24)
• Tollana Pinot Noir 2008 ($29-32)
• Dalwhinnie Moonambel Cabernet 2001 ($40-65 on the secondary market)

Download the video: (5 min 30 sec)
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Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

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)
Quicktime/iPod/iPhone (27.7 Mb) | Mpeg4 (14.9 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

There’s an old song by Aussie band Cold Chisel that includes the line “Cheap wine and a three day growth”. It brings to mind some not so good inexpensive tipples.

But this week we’ve tracked down three cheap wines that won’t leave you struggling to get out of the bathtub. We kick off with a Thorn Clarke Riesling, move on to an Oakridge Pinot Noir and finish up with a Shiraz from Hardy’s with a name like a number plate.

This week’s recommendations are:

• Thorn Clarke Sandpiper Riesling 2010 ($12-$15)
• Oakridge Over the Shoulder Pinot Noir 2010 ($16-18)
• Hardy’s HRB|D641 Shiraz 2007 ($19-22)

Download the video: (4 min 25 sec)
Quicktime/iPod/iPhone (28.0 Mb) | Mpeg4 (14.5 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

We’ve had a little break, but it’s time to get back to business! Brad spent a bit of time up around Beechworth in Victoria’s north east, and came back with a Chardonnay from Savaterre that is worth the wait.

Danny looks at a Brand’s Laira Cabernet that’s classic Coonawarra and Brad rounds things out with a funky bottle named The Squid’s Fist from rogue producers Some Young Punks.

This week’s recommendations are:

• Savaterre Chardonnay 2009 ($68-$75)
• Brand’s Laira Blockers Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 ($17-20)
• Some Young Punks The Squid’s Fist 2010 ($21-25)

Download the video: (4 min 45 sec)
Quicktime/iPod/iPhone (29.0 Mb) | Mpeg4 (15.6 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

Yes, Chardonnay Day was last week. But why stop now? Especially when you’ve got a Chardonnay as good as the 2008 Voyager Estate from Margaret River to enjoy!

It’s been a while since we looked at a Zinfandel, but Brad’s got one from McLaren Vale that’s great value and great drinking. Danny checks out the newest release Pinot Noir from storied brand Heemskerk, a great drop from Tasmania.

This week’s recommendations are:

• Voyager Estate Chardonnay 2008 ($38-$42)
• Kangarilla Road Black St. Peters Zinfandel 2008 ($27-30)
• Heemskerk Derwent Valley Pinot Noir 2008 ($55-60)

Download the video: (5 min 05 sec)
Quicktime/iPod/iPhone (31.0 Mb) | Mpeg4 (16.7 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

This week Danny, Brad and Caroline talk about ex Wine Australia boss, Paul Henry’s recent blogging efforts around the word ‘terrior’, the Wine Australia roadshow, a term for Danny’s drinking buddies and much more!

Download episode 38 of the Wine Week Radio Podcast
(13.0 Mb – m4a file)

Follow the Wine Week Radio podcasters on twitter: @WineWeek (Danny & Brad), @bellabacchante (Caroline).

It’s all about triples this week on episode 222 of Wine Week. We start by looking at Penfolds Bin 09A, the third vintage in a row from this wine that has us asking if it is the best Chardonnay in Australia?

We then head over to Margaret River to recommend the Vasse Felix Cab Merlot from 2009, the third of three stunning years for the WA hot spot. And rounding out the week Danny suggests you grab a wood fired pizza this Friday night and combine it with the Paxton AAA Shiraz Grenache.

This week’s recommendations are:

• Penfolds Bin 09A Chardonnay 2009 ($70-$90)
• Vasse Felix Cabernet Merlot 2009 ($18-20)
• Paxton AAA Shiraz Grenache 2009 ($17-$18)

Download the video: (4 min 29 sec)
Quicktime/iPod/iPhone (28.5 Mb) | Mpeg4 (14.7 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

This week Danny, Brad and Caroline talk about the upcomming showing of Sideways and Bottle shock at the Nova cinemas in Melbourne served with wines featured in the movies. We also talk about Chardonnay Day and much more!

Download episode 37 of the Wine Week Radio Podcast
(12.4 Mb – m4a file)

Follow the Wine Week Radio podcasters on twitter: @WineWeek (Danny & Brad), @bellabacchante (Caroline).

When people start talking about “Australia’s best” you’ll always get a variety of responses. When it comes to Cabernet Sauvignon it’s no different. But any discussion of the best Cab from down under will certainly include Penfolds’ Bin 707. This week we check out the recently released 2008 vintage to see how it stacks up.

We also look at a much more affordable cabernet from Bowen Estate in the Coonawarra and a young Chardonnay from Yarra Valley boutique producer, Yeringberg.

This week’s recommendations are:

• Bowen Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 ($27-$30)
• Yeringberg Chardonnay 2010 ($50)
• Penfolds Bin 707 2008 ($160-$190)

Download the video: (5 min 03 sec)
Quicktime/iPod/iPhone (31.5 Mb) | Mpeg4 (16.6 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

This week Danny, Brad and Caroline talk the gold medal winners just announced at the International Wine Challenge, Caroline’s driving and much more!

Download episode 36 of the Wine Week Radio Podcast
(18.5 Mb – m4a file)

Follow the Wine Week Radio podcasters on twitter: @WineWeek (Danny & Brad), @bellabacchante (Caroline).