James Halliday Gives O'Leary Walker Wines Five Stars

James Hallidayis an Australian wine writer and critic and senior wine competition judge. Since 1979 he has written and co-authored more than 40 books on wine, including contributions to the Larousse Encyclopedia of Wine and the The Oxford Companion to Wine. In 1986 he published his first annual overview of Australian wine which (since 2000) has been entitled James Halliday Annual Wine Companion. Jancis Robinson has described Halliday "as Australia’s leading wine writer". Halliday's career as a wine judge started in 1977 and he has been accorded the role of Chairman of Judges of the Victorian Wine Show, Sydney International Winemakers Competition, Adelaide Wine Show and National Wine Show Canberra. He also has judged in wine competitions in the United Kingdom, United States, South Africa and New Zealand.

In his most recent Annual Wine Companion ( for 2010) Halliday scored the O'Leary Walker; 5 Stars out of 5 Stars. This score is only possible a winery that regularly produces outstanding wines of quality and typicity. Only a very small percentage of Australia's wineries are award this score. The following is a break down of how Halliday scored some of the O'Leary Walker wines we have in Stock. A score of 90-93 represents a highly recommend wine with great style and character and a score of 94-100 is reserved for outstanding wines that are of the highest quality and distingusihed pedigree.

2006 Clare Valley/McLaren Vale Shiraz Rating 95

2006 Clare Valley/McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon Rating 95

2008 Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc Rating 93

2008 Watervale Riesling Rating 91

2006 Blue Cutting Road Cabernet Merlot Rating 90

2008 Blue Cutting Road Semillon Sauvignon Blanc Rating 90

2004 Hurtle Pinot Noir Chardonnay Rating 88

Food with Wine Part 4: Semi Hard Cheese

Stilton & Port A Classic Combination

In the last post in the food with wine string we looked at the soft cheeses, this time round I'm going to focus on the semi-hard cheese including the one we all have in our fridge, ceddar. Remeber the following matches are not set in stone and everyones palate is differernt so what works for you or me might not work for everybody.

Ceddar: The most widely purchased and eaten cheese in the world. Cheddar cheeses were originally made in England, however today they are manufactured in many countries all over the world. This popular cheese originated in the village of Cheddar in the Somerset region of England. It's a firm, cow's-milk cheese that ranges in flavor from mild to sharp, and in color from natural white to pumpkin orange. Depending on the strenght and style of ceddar there are many wines to try, for mild ceddar a nice creamy Chardonnay or if your feeling a bit more flush a sparkling wine from Champagne or a new world sparkler made in the Champagne method. For red wine drinkers a rounded Rioja such as a Tinto or Crianza is a good match with mild ceddar as well as sharp ceddar. However for sharper cheddars a nice Cabernet based Bordeaux or Australian Cabernet does the trick perfectly or a nice crisp Chilean or Australian Sauvignon Blanc.

Gouda: was named after the Dutch town of Gouda, just outside Rotterdam. It accounts for more than 60% of the cheese produced in Holland and it has a very long history. Gouda is a traditional, creamery, hard cheese, similar to ceddar. It is round with very smooth, yellow, waxed rind. The flavor is sweet and fruity. As time passes, the taste intensifies and becomes more complex. Mature Gouda (18 months plus) is coated in black wax which provides a stark contrast to the deep yellow interior. Gouda is considered to be one of the world's great cheeses. It is both a table cheese and a dessert cheese, excellent with fruit and wine. Gouda is now made globally, again like ceddar. Wine matches with Gouda are like those for ceddar, Champagne for those who like to splash out, but if it is a still wine your looking for Riesling is the only man a zesty citrusy Aussie Rielsling or a slighlty drier Alstain are delectable partners with gouda. For red lovers a fruity new world Merlot or a fruit forward Cabernet do the job especially if it is mature.

Stilton: Historically referred to as "The King of Cheeses" Stilton is a blue-mould cheese with a rich and mellow flavor and a piquant aftertaste. It has narrow, blue-green veins and a wrinkled rind which is not edible. Stilton is milder than Roquefort or Gorgonzola, and is equally excellent for crumbling over salads or as a dessert cheese. The classic cheese and wine combination is Stilton and Port. But if you feel like being a bit more adventerous try a spannish red something from Ribera del Duero or a crisp Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc from Nelson or Waipara.

Give it a go! Part 3: Unoaked Chardonnay

I know Chardonnay is not the most popular of grape varieties at the moment but it is certainly worth trying some of the fablous unoaked options that are out there. If it was the heavy buttery texture and vanilla and honeyed notes which sent you fleeing from this wonderful grape have no fear there is little to none of those here. Oak aging, literally aging the chardonnay in oak barrels, to impart flavour and texture to the wine. In many cases however cheaper methods such as adding a large tea bag full of oak chips to the wine, the result was oceans of terrible cheap chardonnay.

The fight back has begun however, with many producers allowing chardonnay to express itself in all it's unoaked glory, this means the wine will not have come into contact with any oak and as a result is delightfully refreshing and fresh. If you have been thinking about giving chardonnay a second chance now is the time pick up a delectable unoaked Chardonnay.

Winery of Good Hope Chardonay 2008

The name is a bit naff, but the wine is a wonderful easy drinking style, 100% unoaked. It displays notes of citrus zest and has a delightful mineral tang, bedded in stone fruit flavours.

Yalumba Y-series Unwooded Chardonnay 2007

A full bodied and fruity wine, with notes of melon, pineapple and grapefruit flavours. A refreshing citrus acidity on the finish.

Domaine des Valanges, Macon Fuisse 2007

This stunning french wine is loaded with aromas of lemons and citrus fruits with a hint of hazelnut. Rich mouth feel of lemons and apples leading to a lively and refreshing finish. A wine for Pouilly-Fuisse lovers.

Another Great Spanish Alternative

A few months back I posted a blog about great Alternative Spanish reds, like the wines Toro, Ribera del Duero and Bierzo. These all make fantastic Alternatives to Rioja, and luckily for Spanish lovers we can now add a tasty red from Campo de Borja to that list. The Campo de Borja region is located on South Eastern border of the Rioja Region.

Bodegas Borsao is one of the leading producers in Campo de Borja, and the Borsao Selection 2008 is a great example of the wine this region can produce. The Selection is a blend of 70% Grenache (the most used grape in this region, see previous post about Grenache), 20% Syrah and 10% Tempranillo all from vines at least 15 years old. The wine is an intense cherry red in colour with violet undertones. The bouquet is dominate by cherries and red berries with a slight floral note and on the palate the wine is a delicately medium bodied with well balanced tannin and acidity and again those cherry notes coming to the surface. The finish has a complex and and lasting aftertaste. This is a great wine by the glass for these dreary August days.

New Belvoir Pressés

Way back in June I posted about the Belvoir Fruit pressé which we had in store and the great response we had gotten to them. So great in fact that we have gone and gotten two fantastic new flavours.

Belvoir Organic Blood Orange & Mandarin

A delicious zesty blend of citrus fruit juices. As well as an energizing alternative to breakfast orange juice, Blood Orange & Mandarin is equally as good on the rocks, as a refreshing long drink.

Belvoir Pomegranate & Raspberry Pressé

A soft, fruity blend of the 'superfruit' pomegranate and the sweet summer taste of raspberries. This delicious, exotic combination provides a perfect alternative to alcohol or a great companion to lunch on the go.

Cotes Du Roussillon in Brief

Over the weekend we had a good few questions as to where or what is the Cote Du Roussilon, many people were in an inquisitive mood when checking out the great offer on the Domaine de Bisconte Cotes Du Roussillon red, 2 bottles for €25. The following is a brief description of the Cotes Du Roussilon

From the hills of Corbières to the Pyrénées mountains, Roussillon, the region around the city of Perpigian, is the sunniest wine producing region in France. The climate, the history and the traditions of Roussillon make it more similar to Spain than to the rest of the south of France. This is maybe the reason why Roussillon wines are still fighting to find an identity and can often be more modern than other french alternatives. The Cotes du Roussillon produce mainly red wines.

Côtes du Roussillon Villages label is rarer and is only granted to 25 villages along the Agly river, just North of Perpignian. Côtes de Roussillon Villages produces only red wine. They express the most of their sunny terroir than do the Cotes du Roussillon.

Carignan is the most important grape variety in Roussillon, and the normally the largest percentage of the blend will be of this grape. Othe grapes used in the blend are, thelocal grape Lladoner Pelut, Cinsault, Grenache and Mourvèdre. Red wines are generally spicy and medium body, with a good fruitiness.

Domaine de Bisconte Cotes Du Roussillon 2 bottles for €20

40% Syrah, 30% Carignan and 30% Grenache, this wine has spent 12 months in oak. Ripe red fruit leads the way in this wonderfully characterful wine. Medium to full bodied with subtle notes of vanilla and soft tannins. The finish is long, and very elegant.

Domaine Seguela 'Les Candalieres' Cotes du Roussillon Vilages €14.95

Domaine Seguela is one of the top Roussillon producers and this wine is a great example of why. Made using 60% Carignan, 20% Grenache and 20% Syrah, this wine is pure aromatic and juicy. Quite rounded with good tannins and a delectable long lasting finish.

Food with Wine Part 3: Soft Cheeses

A PIECE OF CAMEMBERT

When people talk about food and wine matches one of the first thing that springs to mind is cheese. But what people don't realise is there are nearly as many different styles of cheese as there are wines. This weeks food and wine pairings are going to focus on three well known soft cheeses.

Brie: Is a mild soft cheese with delicious savoury flavours and creaminess. It is delectable when served with Champagne or with Sherry. What type of sherry depends on personnel, a sweet Pedro Ximenez would probably be best, however many people prefer a dry Fino or Mazanilla.

Camembert: Is a soft cheese from Normandy and its full expression of flavour by pairing it with a full bodied Chilean Reserve or Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon with this cheese or stay french with a nice Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux. For those of you who drink white wine Chenin blanc is a good match with Camembert particular a full flavoured south African option.

Feta: This cheese is made using sheep's milk and varying percentages of goat's milk, it has a slight salty tangy flavour. Feta works fabulously well with Beaujoulais, the young vibrant fruit in the wine bringing out the full expression of the cheese.

Other Goat's Cheeses: wines are a fantastic when partnered with a grassy Sancerre or a citrusy Vouvray. Another option to try would some of the barrel fermented New World Sauvignons from Chile and New Zealand.

Give it a go! Part 3: Lugana

As in France many wines in Italy are named after the region, a well known example is Valpolicella. Another one you may have come across is Lugana, these wines come from a small area in Northern Italy located along southeast of Lake Garda near San Martino della Battaglia. The wines from Lugana are white and are made from the trebbiano grape, also known in france as Ugni Blanc and used in the production of Cognac. As trebbiano is usch a widely planted grape its style


Zenato Lugana


The grapes for this wine come from the lovely area enclosed within the morainic arc on the south shore of Lake Garda, stretching from Peschiera to Desenzano. This limited-production wine is a green-flecked straw yellow in appearance; marked by elegant and appealing fragrances, it shows a crisp, fruity palate that is supple and rounded as well. The wine is dry with balanced acidity and a slight and pleasant finish.


Tommasi 'Le Fornaci' Lugana currently 2 bottles for €25


The vines for this wine are cultivated in soil deposited glacier which carved out Lake Garda in the Le Fornaci Vineyard. This soil characteristically yields only a small volume of the most prestigious Trebbiano di Lugana grapes. The wine is a lovely moon yellow in colour and displays clean aromas with spicy hints, highlighted by delicious hints of tropical fruit.

Give it a go! Part 2: Albarino

Last time we looked a grenache a red wine, this time we'll go for some a different white, Albarino from Galicia in Spain. These whites have something different to offer the white wine lover.

Albarino is noted for its distinctive aroma, very similar to that of Viognier, suggesting apricot and
peach. The wine produced is unusually light, and generally high in acidity with low alcohol levels of 11.5-12.5%. produces white wines with good acidity, rich, but dry mouth feel and peachy fruit characters.

In recent years Albarino has attracted the attention of Australian winemakers, as they strive to produce interesting varietal wines. But, earlier this year it was discovered that grape growers and wine makers in Australia have selling mis-labelled Albarino for over a decade. What they thought was this great Spanish grape,turned out to be a French grape called Savagnin (this grape is different from the sauvignon blanc grape we all know it is mainly found in Jura in France).

As a result Spain remains the world leader in Albarino and the Sin Palabras Albarino we have on offer for August is a fantastic example of this wine with its nice depth of nutty fruit, peach and pear notes. This wine is made from 50 year old vines and is loaded with personalityit has great texture in the mouth and a delicous fresh finish.

Check out the Discounts on These Great Wines

Our 20% off 20 wines Sale is over but not to worry we still have great offers in store for August, Check out the following wines there is something here for everybody from Albarino to Zinfandel

WHITES

Sin Palabras Albarino, Spain

Regular Price € 16.95 Now 2 bottles for €30

This wine is made from 50 year old plus Albarino grapes located on granite soils on the banks of the River Ulla. The result is a wine loaded with personality; well balanced acidity; the wine is a bit Viognier-like, with a nice depth of nutty fruit, some peach and pear notes, good texture and a fresh finish.

Wild South Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand

Regular Price € 16.95 Now 2 bottles for €30

“Old fashioned” in style, the nose offers up gooseberry and grass with asparagus and capsicum that carry through to the pungent, flavoursome palate. Full of gooseberry, lime, asparagus, bean and capsicum with a slightly grainy texture, a refreshing zesty brightness and a long mouth-filling finish.

Tommasi ‘Le Fornaci’ Lugana

Regular Price € 13.45 Now 2 bottle for €25

Take your senses on a picturesque trip to the shores of Lake Garda. The lucky grapes grown here have produced a sensational bright and sunny white with a lemony colour and delicious combination of white fruit and hazelnut flavours all perfectly finished with a zip of minerality.

Honore de Berticot Sauvignon, France

Regular Price € 11.95 Now 2 bottle for €20

The Sauvignon Blanc is a pale yellow-golden colour with gooseberries, grass, lemon, and wild flowers on the nose. The palate is well balanced with some ripe gooseberry fruit coming through. Refreshing with a reasonably long finish.

REDS

Domaine de la Charbonniere Vacqueryas, France

Regular Price € 19.95 Now 2 bottles for €35

Very inviting, with crushed plum, warm espresso, Black forest cake and black tea notes that stay fresh and lively thanks to the long, graphite tinged finish. Aromas of cherry, black fruits, and red pepper. Filled with ripe fruits, very subtle but noticeable spices, and warm earth notes. Well balanced with an interesting rounded finish.

The Bill Pinot Noir, Chile

Regular Price € 19.95 Now 2 bottles for €35

Notes of dark red fruit, with lingering aromas of forest undergrowth and hints of Rosemary take this wine to a superior level of expression. The Bill will allow you to enjoy a brilliant example of Pinot Noir with exceptional intensity of Aromas and length on the palate.

Botalcura Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva, Chile

Regular Price € 17.95 Now 2 bottles for €30

This cabernet shows the harmony and finesse of all its components. It has a good colour, delicate fruit aromas, and spicy elements from the forward wood, revealing its ageing in noble oak. The impression in the mouth is linear and well balanced, with backbone. The acid and tannin structure is elegant yet firm, making this wine a good candidate for extended bottle ageing, which will result in fine integration of its many flavours.

Domaine de Bisconte Cotes du Roussillon, France

Regular Price € 11.95 Now 2 bottle for €20

40% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 30% Carignan. 12 months in oak. Ripe red fruit leads the way with wonderfully characterful wine. Medium to full bodied with subtle notes of vanilla and soft tannins. Long and elegant.

Borsao Selection, Spain

Regular Price € 11.95 Now 2 bottle for €20

70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Tempranillo. A young wine with body and the spicy flavours typical of grapes grown in the shade of the moncayo. At the nose one can appreciate the aroma of ripe fruit with floral tones. In addition it has a finish that reminds us of its youth and complexity- in the aftertaste difficult to match.

BUBBLES

Mionetto Prosecco, Italy

Regular Price € 17.95 Now 2 bottle for €30

Intense peach on the nose, pale straw yellow to the eyes, and citrusy golden apple on the palate, this well-balanced bubbly is great on its own or with light bites.

Food With Wine Part 2: 3 Alternative Foods

Continuing on from last weeks posting about classical combinations of food and wine this week we are going to tackle some of the more of the more notoriously difficult foods to match with wine. This means mainly Asian Cuisine. Easily the most asked about food in this group is Indian curries, these tend to be hard to find wine matches for due to the sheer amount of flavours involved.


So that's where we shall begin, Indian Curries, as with many foods the exact ingredients added will determine the wine that is chosen but the following are some combinations that should work well with curry. Any aromatic and spicy white like a Gewurtramminer, or even a fruity new world chardonnay, lightly or completely unoaked may be a good choice for many. As for reds something low in Tannin like a nice Rioja Crianza or possible a nice Shiraz.


Sushi: being so light and delicate in flavours sushi is one of the few foods that it is almost impossible to find a red to match. In the main a crisp off-dry to dry white would seem to be the order of the day, try a German Riesling Kabinett, or a dry Aussie Riesling, or for those less adventurous a nice Chilean Sauvignon Blanc. For those wanting to be more adventurous try a nice sparkling Cava or Prosecco.


Tex-Mex: for those of you who love your spicy flavours of Mexican and Texan fare, such as Chicken Fajita why not try a Delicious fruity and smooth Californian Zinfandel, or even a big tannic fruity and spicy Petite Sirah. As for Whites Guacamole and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanca is a match made in heaven.

LAST FEW DAYS OFF 20% OFF TWENTY WINES

Its the last few days of our 20% off Twenty wines, if you haven't availed of our fantastic offers now is your chance to try some truely great wines at 20%.

Here are hust a few of the great offers.

Cune Vina Real Rioja Crianza 2005 Regular Price €13.95 Slashed to €11.16

A beautiful Rioja from one of Rioja's top producers. This delicous red comes from their Vina Real vineyard and shows ripe red fruits with a subtle hint of spice on the nose. Well structured with a lingeringsoft finish of red fruits.

Yalumba Y-Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Regular Price €13.95 Slashed to €11.16

From Austalia's oldest family owned winery this bright and lively cabernet sauvignon has aromas of violets, spice and cherries. Subtle hints of mocha ans chocolate on the palate make this a vibrant and delicous red.

Blue Cutting Road Semillon Sauvignon 2008 Regular Price €13.95 Slashed to €11.16

This fantastic refreshing white blend is made by O' Leary Walker from 50 year old Semillon vines with depth added by the sauvignon blanc, this is a wonderful vivacious white great flavoursome fruit.

Muddy Water Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Regular Price €16.95 Slashed to €13.56

This Fantastic Kiwi Sauvignon with a twist, it is barrel fermented and shows gooseberry and lemon grass aromas. Mouthfilling flavours part herb, part fruit. A nice vibrant change from the fruity Marlborough Style.

Wine With Food What Goes With What Part 1: Classic Matches

A question we often get asked at all the time is which wines go with which foods. The simple answer is what ever you feel like. The old rule of white wine with fish and red wine with red meat has faded these days. We often hear of people enjoying a glass of chardonnay with steak and even a big Aussie shiraz with fish. But for those of you wanting to try some of the traditional food and wine match ups why not try the following .

First up Roast Lamb, this traditional Sunday dinner works fantastically well with a nice red Bordeaux or Rioja which seems as though it was made for lamb.

Second up is Salmon, now according to the traditional rules we should choose a white here but a nice Pinot Noir does the trick. A New World one from New Zealand or Chile hits the spot perfectly if the salmon has a light spicy crust.

Thirdly bring a little bit of the South of France to your home, try a crisp dry rosé with a lovely summer salad. Many people refuse to try rosé but it is a fabulous alternative to whites, and they have been doing it in the south of France forever.

Give it a go! Part 1: Grenache

Normally we don't champion any particular grape variety but over the next few we'll be suggesting a few different grape types and wine styles to try. First up is the Grenache grape, over the last few weeks we've had a great response to Grenache-based wines and wines with Grenache in the Blend, like the Camplazens 'La Garrigue', and the Glaetzer Wallace Shiraz-Grenache . So we decided to let you know a little more about this wonderful grape. Up until recently it was the most planted red grape variety even though it didn't appear on labels, it is used quite extensively in Rhone blends and is one of the 13 permitted grape varieties in Chateaunuef-du-Pape. It is quite popular in new world blends particularly in Australia where it is combined with shiraz to produce big spicy robust reds. But grenache as a single varietal produces lovely reds with raspberry, cherry flavours and a hint of white pepper.

Artazurri Grenacha 2006

Grenache or Grenacha as it is known in Spain is an important grape for blending, many well known Riojas are blends of Tempranillo and Grenacha. The Artazuri is a fabulous old vine grenache, deep ruby, purple tinged in colour. Sweet crunchy raspberry and cherry fruit on the nose and repeated on the palate leading to a luscious finish.

Chateau Camplazens Grenache 2006

A great french grenache from Languedoc, in the south of France, where it is found in many blends. The Camplazens is a full, robust flavours of dark plum, cherry and prune which are overlaid with a dusty almost earthy undertones. This wine also has an inviting hint of spice.

Yalumba Bush Vine Grenache 2006

This lovely new world offering is taking from bush vines, that is vines that are grown like small trees as opposed to high trellising. It has an intense aromas of plums cloves and spices. The palate medium bodied and shows sweet berries and dark cherry fruit flavours and a generous touch of spice.