The Xmas 2006 Mixed Dozen

I am a big rap for the Gunn Estate Sauvignon Blanc from this label, but you can get that incredibly cheaply from Dan's. The Pinot Grigio, however, is made in smaller quantities, as it comprises a blend of Italian Pinot Grigio (90%) with New Zealand (10%) grown fruit. Look out for the Gunn Estate Verdelho as well, it's totally spot on. Between the three of these wines, they just have to comprise the best range of $15 whites I have come across. If you want an all-white dozen, you get the VIognier in that also.

Still on the Italian them - I loved the Primo Estate 'Il Briccone' Sangiovese-Shiraz the first time I had it, at a great Italian restaurant in Adelaide. However, quite a few bottles of other things followed, so I thought I'd better try it again to make sure it really was the goods. I bought another bottle and took it to a Friday night BBQ with some fellow school parents. Again, it disappeared very quickly, but at least this time I could remember it.

A 'blind' tasting is always a good way to judge a wine - and when you have 30-odd Kinder parents doing it at the same time, it is an even better way to see if people like it - that was certainly the case with the All Saints Estate Durif - so much so that the winners, Anton & Jenny, bought an extra case after they had drunk their prize (of a bottle of the same). I have to say I am always wary of Durif, as it can be too big and too tannic - but this is certainly not the case here - with a wine that can either be cellared or drunk now.

What's the definition of hard work? Tasting 57 one-year old Hunter semillons and 54 two-year old Hunter Shiraz before lunch. But that's the sort of hard yards I put in one your behalf - and it yielded the De Iuliis 2005 Show Reserve Shiraz. This wine won the trophy at the Hunter Wine Show for best 2005 red, and it certainly is a classy wine. Although the winemaker describes it as "typical Hunter Valley" - I think he is giving far too much credit to typical Hunter Valley reds! This has more fresh, primary fruit characters, and less (in fact no) dry-leather and pong!

The Mayfield vineyard is one of the highest and coolest vineyards in AUstralia - 930 metres above sea level. Low yields (2 - 3 tonnes per acre) from minimal irrigation have produced a terrific 2004 Pinot Noir that, to me, shows that maybe Tassie and Victoria will not have the super premium pinot stakes to themselves going forward.

Finally - The Growers Reward Verdelho. Now Verdelho is a much-maligned variety, and while I am as good (I'd like to think better) at maligning as anyone, I'm a fan of this variety. And this wine was the only Verdelho to pick up a Gold Medal at the Margaret River Wine Show, so better palates than mine agree that not only is this a worthy variety, but this is a very good example of it.

The Cellar Pack - A couple of Bruce McAvaney 'speeeecial' reds this time around

I have to say, I am not a fan of Pernod Ricard rebranding all the premium Orlando wines as "Jacob's Creek - but maybe I'm just a wine snob. What I am a fan of is the Jacob's Creek (nee Orlando) 1999 Centenary Hill Shiraz. I thought this was a great wine when I tasted it, then was blown away to find it is the current release. It's a single vineyard Barossa shiraz, which is held back as part of the release program, so it has been cellared perfectly at the winery. It's definitely what I'll be putting on the in-laws' table to celebrate the arrival of the fat man in the red suit.

The other 'special' is the All Saints Family Reserve Durif - yes, All Saints is a client of the money-paying side of the business, but this is one of the few wines I've drunk this year to remind me why it's sometimes worth it to spend more than 40 bucks of your own money on a bottle of wine. (It's always worth it when it's someone else's money.)

Christmas Pressies / Drinking

The main thing here is, of course, bubblies. After selling not a single bottle of the sparklign red last year, I am giving the option of two local white bubblies - the ever-popular Red Hill Estate, and the classic Blue Pyrenees - both vintage drops. There is also, of course, 'real' Champagne - this year from Nicolas Feuillate. (If you're having trouble with the pronounciation, just think mille feuille. If that doesn't help, you'll just have to buy a bottle, and try repeating the name after every sip.) The first time I heard about this brand was from Maree H., who has been drinking it courtesy of her employer in honour of her working hard (I think it must have been a first!) Anyway, Maree was right on the money, and this is a lovely example of why the French are the benchmark for bubbles.

I also have limited stocks of the popular Cooralook presentation 6-packs from last year.