Two Hands, while relatively new, has been turning out consistently outstanding Syrah-based wines from the Barossa Valley every single year. Five wines in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 and 2 in the Top 10! The just-released 2008 vintage of Two Hands Angel’s Share Shiraz continues this excellence with a big, bold and expressive red, with some [...]

Huge fan of Rhone blends…always have been, most likely always will be. My problem is I drink so many from the Rhone Valley that I crave change. That is why I love the fact that so many other countries are experimenting with these blends at all different price-points. My latest discovery is from the famed [...]

This is the second wine I have reviewed recently from Colonial Estate, and this Shiraz may one day go down as legendary. L’Explorateur Old Vine 2005 is an absolute triumph at its price. The blockbuster, inky/ruby/purple-hued 2005 L’Explorateur Shiraz offers sweet aromas of blackberries, white pepper, licorice, and graphite. While full-bodied, powerful, and rich, it [...]

Yesterday we wrote about a powerful red from Nuriootpa area of the Barossa Valley, today I am going to recommend an equally powerful white from the same region. Colonial Estate Semillon Reserve Expatrie 2006 is an overwhelming example of what Semillon can be, and why Australia is leading the world in quality Semillon production. The [...]

There are very few Syrah winemakers more accomplished than Ben Glaetzer. As the owner or co-owner of Glaetzer, Mitolo, and Heartland wineries, Ben has been a star (and a sweetheart of Robert Parker) almost from the start, and his Amon-Ra bottlings have put him in the upper echelon of world-wide winemakers. His “value” shiraz, the [...]

Occasionally The Grateful Palate goes overboard with its marketing, and they did here. Clearly they are trying to grab a market segment that will just buy a wine that has a “outrageous” name. I don’t have any figures to back this up, but I suspect this may have, or in the future will, backfire. It [...]

R Wines from The Grateful Palate Imports is a mercilessly irreverent winery that manages to churn out winner after winner every year. From the simpler Bitch Grenache, and Bon-Bon Rose, to the newest regional Luchador Shiraz 2007, there are very few misses in their lineup. The Luchador, sources completely from Barossa Valley fruit, is big [...]

Heartland Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, from acclaimed winemaker Ben Glaezter, is a find from South Eastern Australia. This fruity powerhouse is described by Jay Miller (Wine Advocate) as “…Purple-colored, it delivers a fragrant nose of vanilla, cedar, spice box, tobacco, and black currants. This leads to a medium-bodied, elegantly styled Cabernet with concentrated black fruit flavors, [...]