The Wine Blokes

Reviews of wines from around the world.

Some times you find an old bottle of wine that you are sure isn’t going to be anything special, if at all drinkable. The label is old, faded, and dusty. The cork is cracked or seeping, and really you may aswell dispose of the enitre bottle without putting yourself throught he chore of disappointment. I’ve […]

Life’s tough….. We arrived home from a very successful weekend pursuing my other passion of equestrian sport (See AlliedEquine.com), and the winning owner of one of the competition horses I ride wanted to celebrate. What better way than with a bottle of 1998 Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame.  I have tried numerous vintages over the years, […]

One thing I’ve always enjoyed about being in the wine industry is the ability to taste new wines before anybody else, and I’m not just talking about the wine you make yourself.  Quite often we have the priveledge of being some of the first to taste new vintages and, even new brands. Sometimes, right off […]

Brunello di Montalcino is a red Italian wine produced in the vineyards surrounding the town of Montalcino located about 70 miles (110 km) southwest of Florence in the Tuscany wine region. Brunello, roughly translated as “nice dark one” in the local dialect, is the unofficial name of the clone of Sangiovese grown in the Montalcino region. In […]

As is usual on a Friday night, my parnter and I like to try something a little different, something a little unique, maybe even something a little botique.  We hadn’t organised any wine for tonight so I rumuged around in the cellar and found a bottle of 2005 Panis Sparkling. I know that almost none […]

By The Casual Observer
Penfolds Grange has always illuminated the imagination of many avid wine consumers in Australia, and indeed around the world, especially in the US. Year after year it’s still considerd the icon Aussie wine that epitomises what Australia is all about, and continues to build on the legacy left by Max Shubert way […]

Have you ever woken up with Rose coloured glasses?
I did this morning, after tasting a number of bright, fresh, inspiring Rose wines from both Australia and abroad. The perception of Rose has always been of a poor second cousin to other stable varieties such Shiraz, Chardonnay, Cabernet, and Pinot Noir. Rose was always considered, […]

Region: Eden Valley - South Australia
Alcohol: 14.5%.
Blokes Notes: The Irvine Merlot has become the premiere wine of its type in Australia, and probably for good reason. Interestingly, many Merlot producers in Australia seem to find it difficult to gain that extra edge that Irvine seems to do consistently year in, year out.  Merlot can be quite a […]

Region: New Zealand - Kumeu - 20km north west of Auckland
Alcohol: 13%
Blokes Notes: We had heard alot about Kumeu River but never had the chance to have a look at it. Ryan (my partners brother), while studying winemaking at Adelaide University, is also working at Melbourne Stree cellars, one of Adelaides most famous independent wine […]

I was given a bottle of a very inconspicuous Chardonnay the other night by a mate and told to try it and report back. I knew there was something going on when he handed it to me with a broad smirk. Anyway I took it home and tried it over dinner.
Romney Park is an extremely […]