Secret Vines Blog

A Grape Escape.... here's some wine reviews which were quoted by Roberta Muir for Jetstar's inflight magazine

30th April, 2009

"A Grape Escape"

Celebrate the Barossa Valley's annual harvest with its glorious Vintage Festival and its wines.

TOP DROPS
Whether you make it to the festival or not, check out these great new Barossa releases recommended by South Australian wine guru Tim Althaus from Secret Vines, a company of dedicated oenophiles who seek out and recommend the best of the Aussie boutique vineyards.

2006 KALLESKE ‘GREENOCK' SHIRAZ
It's difficult to top Barossa Shiraz and it's even harder to surpass a fully organic wine that has so much depth to it. This is a mean and brooding red that has a soft and stylish underbelly. RRP AU$38.

2005 ELDERTON ‘ODE TO LORRAINE' CABERNET SHIRAZ MERLOT
Purple teeth is what the Barossa is all about and this Elderton certainly delivers. The blend of sturdy red grapes makes the wine super generous - think size 14 supermodel. RRP AU$45.

2007 HEWITSON ‘MISS HARRY' GSM (GRENACHE SHIRAZ MOURVÈDRE)
It's hard to believe that this Rhône-style blend is just AU$22. It's got tons of succulent berry fruit flavours that seem to go on forever. If you could dress strawberries and cream up in a cocktail dress and take them to a debutant ball, this is what they would look like. RRP AU$22.

2006 CHARLES MELTON ‘NINE POPES' GRENACHE SHIRAZ MOURVÈDRE
This is a very impressive wine and the best Nine Popes since the 1998 - an absolute cracker. The three varieties work seamlessly together and although the price tag marks this wine for special occasions, it's outstanding value for an icon of such quality. RRP AU$50.

2008 TIN SHED ‘WILD BUNCH' RIESLING
The sheer personality of this wine makes it well worth searching out. It's got all the wonderful limey flavours that make Eden Valley (upper Barossa) Riesling so sought after, and then some! Classy, small batch white winemaking and great value for money, what a combo! RRP AU$18.

2008 TORBRECK VIOGNIER MARSANNE ROUSSANNE
Dave Powell is a superb winemaker and is held in high regard around the world for his work with this family of wine grapes. Blending three white varieties, he packs the flavours of three wines into one! RRP AU$36.

To check out the full article click

http://www.jetstarmag.com/story/a-grape-escape/609/