All these wines are perfectly suited to drinking at this time of the year, but don’t let that stop you from enjoying them all year round!

Pinot Noir: Fantastic grape varietal, one of my favorites. It is a light, bright easy to drink wine that pairs so well with so many leaner ‘healthier’ dishes such as Salmon, Salads, lean turkey, pork and chicken to mention a few.

The name comes from the French meaning pine and black- pine was inspired by the tight clustered pine cone shaped bunches of grapes. It is grown all over the world but it is best suited to cooler climates such as Burgundy, Oregon and Victoria in Australia. Warmer climates such as Sonoma and Central Coast emphasis red fruits ranging from cherries, strawberries, raspberries, cranberries and plum whilst cooler climate offerings emphasize more rustic earthy notes such as forest floor, mushrooms, leather and spices. It is also one of the most widely used grapes for Champagne (along with Chardonnay) and it notoriously fickly, and, at times, down right difficult to grow due mainly to its thin skin. 

Its origins are unclear but its home is most definitely Burgundy but considered by many to be an ‘International Grape’. France grows by far the most with the US, Germany, Moldova and Italy rounding out the top 5. There are also approx. 1,000 clones of Pinot Noir that display individual characteristics that are specifically selected to match the terroir of specific vineyard sites around the world to produce the best possible wine.

Food Pairings: Salmon, Salads, lean turkey, pork, chicken and seasoned vegetables.

Price: Ranges from $10-$20 Sth America, $25 to $100 elsewhere and up to several hundred dollars from Burgundy. Will cellar out up to 20 – 25 years from France. 

Celebrate International Pinot Noir Day August 18th  

Gamay: Also known as Gamay Noir is actually a cousin of Pinot Noir and is primarily grown in the region of Beaujolais which just happens to be next to Burgundy. It’s the delicate floral nose underpinned by earthy notes that is a major factor in these wines appeal with the palate displaying raspberries, black current, cherries, strawberries, cranberries and distinct notes of banana. All in all, a really interesting varietal and a wonderful wine to drink. Some of the higher tiers will cellar out 10 or even 15 years displaying wonderful depth and complexity. Regions to look for when buying a Gamey are Moulin-à-Vent, Régnié, Fleurie, Morgon, Chiroubles, Julienas, and Côte de Brouilly.

It is also the grape used in Beaujolais Nouveau which can be found on just about every table at Thanksgiving in the US. Don’t make the mistake of confusing the two, despite being the same varietal. 

Grenache: Grenache is one of the most widely planted red grape varietal in the world and prior to 1970 was the most widely planted grape varietal in Australia (since over taken by Shiraz) Sth Australia holds the distinction of hosting the oldest Grenache vines in the world. Some say the 1848 plantings in Marco Cirillo vineyards in Barossa are the oldest, and others say D’Arenberg vineyards in Mc Laren Vale are the oldest. We may never know. What we do know is some exceptional Grenache and Grenache based blends, known as GSM’s come out of Australia, as well as Cote du Rhone, Spain and a dozen other countries. Another wayward child that doesn’t know its origins: it is either the Island of Sardinia (where its known as Cannonau) or Northern Spain with both France and Spain out ranking all others in plantings. The vines thrive in dry climates and are often the last to ripen and picked and can produce a degree of sweetness and high alcohol.

Flavor profile can run from strawberries, cherries and raspberries to orange rind, tobacco, cinnamon and spices and is one of the most enjoyable wines from the lighter red group. The warmer climate offerings from Spain are dominated by cherry and licorice and some sweetness and generally have alcohol levels of 15% whilst cooler climate offerings from Cote du Rhone are focused on cherries, herbs and smokey notes with lower alcohol levels and more finesse. New world offerings lean towards red fruits and floral notes dominating with spices herbal notes taking second place.

Food Pairings: Bold meat dishes with the spicy notes can prove to make an ideal pairing with spicy foods and can be chilled slightly to accommodate additional spiciness in dishes.

Price: Can range from $10 – $40 but can rise quickly to $100 (Hickinbotham, Sth Australia) $300 (Clos Erasmus in Spain) $500 (Sine Qua Non Winery, Santa Barbara) and $600 (Domaine du Pegau in Châteauneuf-du- Pape) when considering the best offerings.

Celebrate International Grenache Day September 18th          

Every year around this time when I get to taste all the new vintage releases, I remember back to all the Penfolds wines I’ve drunk over the past 40 plus years and have to smile. From the baby Grange officially known as Bin 389 to 28 and 407, and let’s not forget my old favorite St Henri.

On the white side of things, Bin 311 Chardonnay and Bin 51 Riesling have never disappointed and all the Special Bin and limited releases have consistently made me smile. With the exception of a few specific releases, all Penfold’s wines are multi regional, multi vineyard blends bringing a more consistent aspect to the wines.

Bin 311 Chardonnay 2017- 95 Points – Campbell Mattinson   

I’ve always enjoyed this wine and this vintage is no exception. Launched in 2005, sourcing 100% of the fruit from Tumbarumba (cool climate region southwest of Sydney). This vintage truly reflects the winemakers’ mantra ‘we always go where the fruit grows best and where its best suits style’. In 2017, the fruit sourcing has moved to cool-climate multi-regional embracing fruit from Adelaide Hills, Tasmania as well as Tumbarumba.

The nose is fresh and inviting with aromas of white peach, nuts, nougat and crème brulee with a promise of more to come.

Palate is fresh and lively with lime, citrus, white stone fruits, with secondary notes of peach, green apple and a beautiful balance of saline and minerality. Impressive length and acidity make this ‘new’ regional blend something completely different from earlier vintages and worth rediscovering all over again.

Bin 28 Shiraz 2016- 96 pt, James Halliday.

The renown black fruit dominated flavor profile of Bin 28’s reputation is not only intact but reinforced by the 2016 vintage. An impressive balance of depth, complexity, elegance and drinkable appeal is stylishly grafted together to create a wine greater than the sum of the parts. Greater than the individual parcels of grapes from Barossa Valley, or McLaren Vale or Padthaway that go into making up this impressive wine. So much power and balance with impressive structure, this will cellar out 20 years without a problem. Bin 28 is growing up, and in the process, developing both character and charm. A must try wine for 2020. Not at all surprised by the 96 pt rating.

Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2017- 97 pt, James Halliday.  

Known as ‘Baby Grange’ due to aging in Grange barrels, this remarkable blend of 54% Cabernet and 46% Shiraz is sourced from McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Padthaway and Wrattonbully vineyards. Impressive, complex and compelling, with attitude. Enticing nose of dark fruits establishes your anticipation but one sip will reassure you there is no disappointment is store. Impressive layers of black and blue fruits with secondary notes of plum, black current, chocolate, sweet tobacco and spices, engineered, almost seamlessly, to impress. I know I didn’t mention how friendly and approachable the silky-smooth mouthfeel is or the impeccable balance and structure or the very long finish but it has all of that and more. Discover it for yourself.

Bin 407 Cabernet 2017- 96 pt, James Halliday.  

This vintage benefits from ‘hand me down’ juice down the declassified Bin 707 (around $500 a bottle) but very much a Bin 407 from the first sip. Grapes are sourced from Padthaway, McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley Coonawarra and Wrattonbully- all exceptional regions in St Australia. This vintage is characterized by depth and complexity delivered in a medium bodied approachable Cabernet.

Nose is restrained with cherries, dark fruits and an interesting array of spices,

Palate is all Black currents, cherries, plum with a nice rich mouthfeel with cassis and an enticing savory note on the finish dominated by olives, herbs, mint and oak.

Deep and complexity is evident from the first sip. Despite being textbook 407 there is a subtle shift in style to old world and more austere style. Still has all the trade-marks of a multi-regional Australian Cabernet. I think this is going to surprise a few people in 5 – 10 years and will cellar out 20 plus years.  

Penfolds St Henri 2016- 98pt Andrew Caillard MW.  

I have to say from the outset that this is my favorite Penfolds wine. It doesn’t possess the reverence or reputation of Grange but it’s like connecting with an old friend every time I open one, not to mention substantially cheaper. I’ve been fortunate to drink at least 25 vintages of this amazing wine. All have been an absolute pleasure and this is one of the best St Henri’s I’ve tasted, certainly as good as the 1990, 2004, 2006 and 2010 vintages and I would take a guess and say it could out perform all of those vintages with some cellar time.

The 2016 is predominately Shiraz with just 5% Cabernet Sauvignon added. The only bad news about this wine is they only produced 690 cases produced- and that’s 6 packs.

Nose is dominated by olives, coffee, bay leaf and chocolate with dark fruits and framed with savory spices and bell pepper gently support this compelling nose.

Palate is immediately impressive, even with this only being opened 10 minutes and improved over the next 3 – 4 hours. From the first sip this wine screams potential and will cellar out a minimum of 30 to 40 years. The palate is complex with layers of fruits seamlessly folding into each other with a total package approach. Layers of blackberries, cherries, blueberries and chocolate with secondary notes of fleshy prunes, plums, red current and spices on a long impressive finish.

Spectacular with so much elegance and restraint. Don’t get me wrong, this is a big wine and bound to impress even the most obsessive, astute buyer and will make you smile from the first sip. It doesn’t get much better than this!