Spinifex Indigene 2008 received a great review in The Wine Front by Campbell Mattinson.  He wrote: "Indigene is Spinifex’s top-level blend of shiraz, mataro and grenache.   It’s a pearler. It tastes minerally and funky at first but given air, it’s a wash with delicious flavours of cedarwood, cloves, dark cherries, five-spice and probably a good many other things. It’s complex, smooth, and persistent. It has out-and-out sex appeal too. It’s very easy to review, because it’s very obviously excellent. 94 points".

Groom Sauvignon Blanc 2009 from the Adelaide Hills was picked as Huon Hooke's "Top Aussie White" in his weekly wine review in the Sydney Morning Herald on Feb 9, 2010.   He also gave it 93/100 points.   He wrote: "A very intense, crisp, tangy sauvignon that has more fruit depth than most Australian examples of its kind, with green salad, fresh herbs and melon skin aromas.  Juicy but not sweet, it is strongly varietal and deliciously refreshing.  Drink now. 93/100.  Eat with cold meats and salads."  Huon Hooke.

Teusner Woodside Sauvignon Blanc 2009 impressed Matt Skinner of the Sydney Sun Herald in April as part of his article about the loss of appeal of NZ Sav Blancs.  He wrote: "If you're feeling a little jaded with sauvignon blanc - and you wouldn't be alone if you did - the good news is that there are some really exciting things currently happening with this variety closer to home... Bucking the trend, and in a bid to creeate a richer more textured sytle of wine, great examples are slowly beginning to emerge from regions like...the Adelaide Hills." Of Teusner's Woodside Sauvignon Blanc 2009 he wrote: " Former Torbreck winemaker Kim Tuesner continues to craft brilliant, understated wines.  This is a cracking sauvignon blanc where a bright nose of passionfruit, gooseberry, lanolin and green herb smells make way for a mouthful of wine that is intense with focused acidity and a racy, drying finish. Try with a caramalised onion tart."

Salitage wines owner and creator, John Horgan was awarded an Order of Australia in this years Australia Day honours for his services as a promoter and exporter of the Australian wine industry.  He was also honoured for his promotion of wine-based tourism in Western Australia.  We congratulate John.  We too recognise his skill and hard work in the wines that Salitage produce and we love to drink!  A pioneer of the Pemberton wine region, he started his career along with his brother Dennis as co-owner of Leeuwin Estate.  Not surprising then that Salitage produce some of this country's finest Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Dal Zotto Barbera 2005 from Victoria's King Valley received this from Campbell Mattinson from The Wine Front : "This is a great Aussie Barbera. It's true that there's a fair bit of oak on it but there's no problem with the level of that oak - it tastes beautiful and matches the style and substance of the wine to a tee. The fruit here is full of polished, dark cherry flavour and the finish is as juicy and semi-tart as it is spicy and savoury. Mouth-puckering tannins are minerally and impressive – this is a grippy, juicy, flavoursome wine of real quality. A super drink, at a super price.   93 Points"

Dal Zotto were the first people to grow the variety Prosecco in Australia, back in the early 1990's in Victoria's King Valley.  Prosecco is the main grape variety used in the sparkling white wine native to north-east Italy.  The variety has been grown in the province of Treviso, north of Venice, since the early 19th Century.  

 

Sally Gudgeon from the Sunday Life magazine wrote:

"Prosecco is not a cheap alternative to French bubbles; it has its own unique dry to off dry style. When you smell it, aromas to look for are apple, pear, almond, lemon and grapefruit. In the mouth it’s light breezy, with a tangy finish. Serve it well Chilled. "

 

Of Dal Zotto's Pucino Prosseco she wrote: "A fruity, off dry style that is less complex than L’Immigrante Prosecco, which is also produced by Dal Zotto. Try serving it with spicy dishes –  it handles chilly well."

 

Spinifex has every wine writer and enthusiast raving catapulting them into the league of Barossan cult producers in a remarkably short time…finalists for Winemaker of the Year in Gourmet Traveller Wine and named Winery of the Year in The Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide 2009.  Winemaker, Peter Schell is inspired by time spent working many vintages in the south of France their love is the local varieties there – Mataro, Grenache, Shiraz and Cinsault. What sets them apart is their attention to detail and total hands on winemaking.  Their wines are all about finesse and complexity (aromatics, line and length).  Come and join winemaker Pete Schell who will pour you his superb wines….

Clark Estate makes unique single vineyard wines from Awatere Valley in Marlborough, NZ. This low yielding vineyard (using sustainable practices) is producing fine aromatic whites. Their 2008 Clark Estate Sauvignon Blanc was listed as Best Buy under $20 in Oct /Nov Australian Gourmet Traveller wine. We think their 09 is better. Come and join winemaker Simon Clark who will tell you his story and pour you his fine wines….

Join us for a fun stand up tasting in Sydney CBD Thurs 20 May $25 per pers. 6.30-8.30pm. Places limited. Bookings essential. To book email rhys@thevinepress.com or phone 02 9908 4994.

Dal Zotto Sangiovese 2008 was reviewed last year by Campbell Mattinson.   He wrote: "The King Valley’s Dal Zotto winery seems to be going from strength to strength and this Sangiovese - especially if you can let it rest for another six months or so - is another good release.

Quite savoury and grainy, almost bitter. In an attractive way though. Good ripeness and freshness. Good acidity. Flavours of hazelnut and dark cherry. Excellent tannin formation. Very juicy finish. Like the way this wine is heading. Rated : 91 Points"

Spinifex winemaker Peter Schell was named as a finalist in the Winemaker of the Year 2009 Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine. "Opening his heart and mind to French influences has inspired this young Barossa winemaker to craft a suite of distinct, superlative wines." "In an age when many wines are stereotyped, Spinifex’s are a breath of fresh air, including Indigene, a shiraz mataro blend; Taureau, a blend of tempranillo and graciano with more familiar French grapes; and Lola, which combines non-aromatic varieties such as semillon, marsanne with some exotics. The wine Schell is most happy with is Esprit, a blend of southern French grapes, inspired by his time winemaking in the region. ...Schell comes across as thoughtful, even reticent, and not a self-assured promoter in that brash Australian winemaker way. He is, after all, a Kiwi! Instead, he lets his wines speak for themselves, which they do with a confident rather than loud voice. Success may indeed be unexpected, but in Peter Schell’s case thoroughly deserved." Nick Bullied MW, Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine June/July 2009.

Dal Zotto from King Valley in Victoria are showing their great Italian heritage here in this sensational Rose just into our cellar here at The Vine Press.  Dal Zotto Rosato 2009 is brimming with cherry fruit with a more-ish savoury european edge (Made from predominantly sangiovese) It is dry and refreshing-superb to drink over lunch. Second year in a row it won Blue Gold At 2010 Sydney International wine show (top 5% of wines out of some 2000 judged for the show).  Check out this and other great Dal Zotto wines we have in stock.