McLaren Vale Wines – Leconfield (home of Richard Hamilton Wines)

This cellar door is one of the new classy style – with lots of new wood, stainless steel and glass.  The driveway shows off well manicured vineyards with lots of red roses (the roses also act as a early waring for some vine diseases).

Leconfield Wines Driveway

The grassed area next to the cellar door is used for the McLaren Vale venue for the “A Day on the Green” concerts.  Check out the concert series web site.

The cellar door is open 10 am to 5 pm daily and serves platters (such as ploughman’s lunch) every day as well.  The staff are friendly and I would recommend this as a stop for visitors into the McLaren Vale region.

Leconfield Wines Complex

And now the wines……..

NV Syn Cuvee ($A17.50)

Made mainly from McLaren Vale fruit (with some Coonawarra fruit added) – 79% Chardonnay, 19% Pinot Noir and 2% Riesling.  The wine has been made with yeast in mind – the bready yeast is dominate on both the aromas and flavor profiles.  As you would expect from a Chardonnay dominate wine there is peach characters as well.  I was presently surprised by the refreshing acid length that leaves the mouth and the mind wanting more.  A girl friend of mine just loves this wine, where she drinks it just sitting around chatting to her friends.
2010 Richard Hamilton Sauvignon Blanc Semillon ($A15.50)

The 27% Semillon in this wines makes a marked difference to the overall balance.  The aromas start with the gooseberries (Sauvignon Blanc), goes onto grassyness (from the Semillon) with some lime notes on the finish.  This finish on the nose makes me think the flavors will have a high acid influence – I was right.  The flavors start with tropical notes and then goes to the lime/acid finish.  Overall a much better wine that I would expect if it was Sauvignon Blanc on it’s own.  A nice plate of antipasta that just has to have some home made Pickled Onions.
2010 Richard Hamilton Slate Quarry  Riesling ($A15.50)

This wine has an interesting following – if for no other reason that it is one of the few quality Rieslings made in the McLaren Vale region.  True to variety I get limes and floral aromas.  The wine is drier that I expected (which is good) and it is just a jumble of zesty lemon and limes all over the mouth.  I can see this wine going so well with asian foods as it will compliment the varied flavor profiles and textures of this type of food.
2010 Leconfield Coonawarra Old Vines Riesling ($A24.95)

It has been a while since I have had a Coonawarra Riesling (I used to drink a fair bit of Wynns in years gone by) and after having the pleasure of tasting some Eden Valley Riesling last week and I can confirm that the Coonawarra offering is not quite in the same class but it is a jump up from the McLaren Vale wine.  This wine had more floral than citrus aromas that just moved into this wonderful razor sharp lemon and lime acids.  I feel people that open this wine should have Coffin Bay oysters (natural of course) in their future.
2009 Richard Hamilton Almond Grove Chardonnay ($A15.50)

I know I generalise but this is what Chardonnay should be like – some toasty oak integration from partial barrel fermentation and the textural feel from extended lees contact.  The flavor of nectarines is wrapped with the creaminess all covered in an integrated oak envelope – yes it should be obvious by now that I really like this wine.  At this price the wine should be walking off the shelves to be consumed with chicken dishes like Oven Baked Chicken Breast fillet stuffed with smoked semi dried tomato and brie served with fresh pasta stirred through with home made pesto.
2009 Leconfield Coonawarra Chardonnay ($A24.95)

The aromas were closed but the palate was a mouthful of peaches and slight oakiness.  This wine is more refined and is longer lasting, but my money is on the Richard Hamilton version.
2009 Richard Hamilton Jette’s Viognier ($A15.50)

Again a little closed with just a hint of stone fruit coming through.  30% of the wine was left on lees for 6 weeks and this shows on the flavor profile as there is a layered textural feel with peaches and cream.  The wine has a real soft finish so it is one for people that do not like the acid razor slashing over the tongue.
2010 Richard Hamilton Gida’s Rose ($A15.50)

This is a fist for me – a Rose made from Merlot.  The wine is only slightly sweet and is just dominated by strawberries – lots and lots of them.  I can see a hot day and many people seeing the bottom of a bottle or two of the Gida’s Rose, while consuming a ploughman’s lunch (like those served at the cellar door).
2010 Richard Hamilton Late Harvest Riesling ($A15.50)

The grapes for this were ripened for an extra month compared to the Slate Quarry Riesling and the wine was not as sweet as I thought.  A big winner at the cellar door where I am sure people just need to taste it and there is a large part of the population that will just love it.  All the same floral and citrus notes as the Slate Quarry without the sharp acid that would not be like by a proportion of drinkers – and good luck to them.  The asian food theme fits well here – particularly if one wants to tone down a chilli based meal with a glass or six of this.
NV Syn Rouge ($A17.50)

Sparkling Shiraz – oh how I love you!  This 2008 wine at this price is why I think everybody should be drinking good sparkling reds.  I got Raspberries and cherries with some serious oak tannins on the finish.  There is a little residual sweetness here but not too much like some sparkling reds.  If you are looking for a special match for the traditional Christmas Turkey then look no further than a good Sparkling Red and this one would fit the bill nicely.
2009 Richard Hamilton Lot 148 Merlot ($A18.50)

Plenty of fruit sweetness that fits the plum and cranberry hits one expects from Merlot.  What I did not expect was the cinnamon flavors from the clever use of oak.  Still not my style of wine however I can see a lot of people liking this one.
2009 Richard Hamilton Shiraz ($A18.50)

I was looking forward to this as the 2008 version was highly regarded.  What I found was what I would classify as a “typical McLaren Vale Shiraz”.  This version has seen some American oak action as you get vanilla and coconut action.  The plums and drying tannins are just what this variety shows in McLaren Vale.
2009 Leconfield McLaren Vale Shiraz ($A24.95)

Just to confuse you this Leconfield wine is made from grapes sourced in McLaren Vale (not from Coonawarra).  There is American oak sweetness here with all the nutmeg and cinnamon you would want for.  Plenty of juicy Shiraz fruit here also.  Put it all together and there is a good all round package.  This wine is more refined that the previous and has a greater life expectancy than the above wine but I am still drawn to it.
2009 Richard Hamilton Hut Block Cabernet Sauvignon ($A18.50)

Minimal aromas here with all the flavors one would expect from a McLaren Vale Cabernet – lots of sweet Blackcurrent fruits with fine drying tannins on the finish.  I can see a thick slice of Beef Wellington in this wine’s future.
2009 Leconfield Coonawarra Cabernet Merlot ($A24.95)

Again the aromas were somewhat closed but the flavors were full of sweet fruits and fine tannins.  True to expectations this wine has a softness imparted in some way from the Merlot – an elegant and refined structure that please those that like this style.
NV Richard Hamilton Lion Heart Tawny ($A18.50)

A lighter mouthfeel and viscosity than I expected however the aromas and flavors are not light.  This has all the warming , sweetness and character of this fortified.  Another style that is not popular but once tried the wine tends to sell its self.  A plate of vintage cheddar, water crackers and dried muscatel grapes and watch this wine just disappear.

Other Wines (Not tasted)
2006 Burton’s Vineyard Grenache Shiraz ($A39.95)
2009 Centurion Old Vines Shiraz ($A59.95)

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Lonely Grape TV Episode # 59 McLaren Vale v Barossa Cab Shiraz

Join me for Episode 2 of my Barossa vs McLaren Vale wines at the Collective Barossa cellar door (Main Street, Tanunda). This week the tasting is of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz blends.

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A McLaren Vale-ite in the Barossa

First things first – I love McLaren Vale and the wines she brings, but I also adore wines from the Barossa.  I believe the Barossa, Adelaide Hills, Langhorne Creek and McLaren Vale should join forces to promote South Australian wines – after all they are all special.  We should break down the barriers between these regions and take on the world as a combined entity.

On this basis I was ecstatic when my friend from Collective Barossa (a collective of 3 small Barossa family owned wineries) asked if I was interested in showing McLaren Vale wines of the same varieties as they had in their cellar door.  Well, I was so excited I was nearly jumping out of my skin.

As the day drew nearer I was actually nervous – with so many questions about how I would go.

  • Could I talk about the wine to the public
  • Could I deal with the public if there was any issues
  • Would I cope with the systems, taking money and using an Efpos unit
  • Would I sell any wines
  • What wines should I take with me
  • What information should I have for the wine drinking public
  • Would I need a sparkling wine stopper

Early this year I had applied for a job as a part time cellar door person – only to be told that I did not have any experience and thus not suitable.  This also increased my self doubt.

My lovely Wife and Son came with me and I was also concerned that they may not find stuff to do while I was working.

With all this going through my mind we left McLaren Vale and went off to the Barossa – I was so excited.  I also promised myself that I would not visit a winery on the way.  Late that afternoon I could not stand it – I just had to visit a winery.  There was one just around the corner from our Cottage in Bethany.  I have always liked Bethany – it is the oldest German settlement in the region  and up on the hill one gets an excellent view of the Valley.

Bethany Cottage Views

Then the day of reckoning.  The family organised to check out some local attractions and I was moving wine into the Collective Barossa cellar door (Main Street, Tanunda).  My host Marie was wonderful and after some coaching on how the handle the money and where things were we were all ready.  Over the next 2 days I had a ball.  Talking about wine to anybody that would listen and just being passionate about wine and how McLaren Vale and Barossa both make wonderful wines.  Sure, I forgot to write down the details of a couple of sales but we worked it out.

On the first evening the winemaker for Karra Yerta Wines came and had a chat with us (after the cellar door was closed) and we all had a relaxing couple of hours with good people – and I got to talk about wine some more.  I was in my element.

The family had a lot of fun shopping, going on a helicopter flight, seeing performing dogs and more shopping.

I must have done something right as Marie not only told me I was a natural behind the cellar door tasting bench, but to invite me to come back and do it all over again next year some time.  I look forward to it already.

Check out the Collective Barossa web site

The one wine I want to share my tasting notes is from Karra Yerta and is their award winning Eden Valley Riesling.

2010 Eden Valley Riesling ($A25)

Yum in a glass!  I do love really good Riesling – Clare, Eden Valley and South West WA.  This one is sensational and shows off what a wonderful variety this is.  The aromas are fresh with citrus with hints of flowers and musk.  The flavors are crisp lemons and limes (limes dominate on the finish).  The thing that strikes me here is the acid – there is lots here, but it is soft acids not those sharp “cut the tongue” that often occurs in young Riesling.  I can see a hot summers day and a bottle of this open – food discretionary, the wine is not.  This wine will age gracefully, however I cannot see my stash lasting too long.  Thanks James & Marie for this beauty.

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Lonely Grape TV Episode # 58 – Barossa vs McLaren Vale Grenache Shiraz

Recently I had the pleasure of spending a weekend in the Barossa – at Collective Barossa (Main Street, Tanunda) to show some McLaren Vale wines next to Barossa wines. This is the first part of a series of videos where I do a comparative tasting. This week – Grenache Shiraz.

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McLaren Vale Wines – Minko Wines

Nestled into the main street of Willunga is a little gem that is Minko wines.  This old world building is the working home of Margo who was just voted the 2010 Outstanding Cellar Door Person Award – well done Margo.  You can also get a number of fine foods, coffee, olive oils and a couple of times a week wonderful fresh bread.  The wines are made from grapes sourced from the company vineyards in Mount Compass which is outside the McLaren Vale region but they get a mention here because because of the cellar door location.

Minko Wines Cellar Door

I was impressed to see a Vinturi being used to serve the wines.  The Vinturi is a wine aerator that provides the wine with air integration like they have been open for a considerable time.

Minko Wines - Inside the Cellar Door

They also offer a wine flight with 3 Pinot Noirs complete with tasting notes and a tasting platter of Pate, Cheeses, smoked semi dried tomatoes and crackers all served in the side garden setting.  All for the low sum of $10 per person and then you have the option to buy 2 of each Pinot in a 6 pack for $135 compared to $150 normally.

2006 Trio – Sparkling Pinot Noir / Chardonnay / Pinot Gris ($A15)
An interesting aroma of Lychees and honey mead.  The flavours start with stone fruits and green apple and leaves you with a lychee finish.  The wine is neither sweet or dry and thus can be drunk in many settings with and without food.  How about a French Onion Tart.
2009 Pinot Grigio ($A18)
The aromas were a little closed but there was a hint of stone fruit.  The flavours are dominated by the stone fruits of nectarines.  There is a softness here with just a little sweetness.  I can see a wild rocket, cherry tomato and red onion salad with a pan fried salmon fillet.
2010 Unwooded Chardonnay ($A18)
Lots and lots of rockmelon aromas that continued in the flavour profile.  There is alot of acid here that leads to citrus note across the whole palate and then leaves a fresh grapefruit finish.  I found this a very different wine that sparked my interest – this does not happen often with unwooded chardonnay.  The acids scream seafood – so with a twist lets try it with crab stuffed into chicken breast fillets.
2010 Late Picked Pinot Gris ($A18)
Starting with orange peel aromas, I was concerned that this was going to be a very sweet wine and was concerned that my palate was going to explode with sugar and then I was going to struggle with the red wines to come.  Well I should not have been concerned as the wine was not cloying at all – the acids here were enough to clear the palate of the sugars.  Flavours of orange and apricots leads one to think about Mum’s Apricot Crumble.
2008 Pinot Noir ($A25)
Quite aromatic with violets and sour cherries with a savory finish.  Flaours just remind me of a fresh berry compote with just a little sour cherry thrown in.  As expected this is a lighter style wine which made me think of a match with runny soft goats cheese with fresh crusty french stick.
2005 Pinot Noir ($A25)
The aromas just leapt of of the glass well before I got the glass anywhere near my nose – just like I was crushing fresh cherries and raspberries with some savory oak notes on the finish.  Like the aromas I also got an immediate understanding of complexity here.  Cherries mixed up with some small amounts of mushroom compost and then wrappd up in a spiced beetroot envelope.  I do not normally drink Pinot Noir but I bought some of this to take home with me and I am thinking one of my home made pizzas with lots of mushrooms, smoked mussels, sausage with chunks of Fetta.
2006 Pinot Noir
Not normally for tasting – this wine is part of the Pinot Noir Wine Flight as already outlined.  This wine to me shows why Piont Noir can be such a fickle variety as it showed some savory cherries but none of the complexity and fruit power of the previous 2 wines.
2006 Merlot ($A18)
For a variety I am not overly fond of, this was an interesting find with aromas of violets, plums and blackcurrents.  The flavours showed not only ripe cherries but with the clever use of oak there was lots of spice and a cigar box finish.  Try it with Chicken in red wine
2006 Cabernet Sauvignon ($A18)
Interestingly this wine started as the usual Cabernet and I though – well here we go again just another Cabernet.  By the time I was finished I realised I was so wrong.  On top of the blackcurrents one expects from the variety I got the eucalyptus and menthol that I really get these days.  These note leads me to straight away think of roast lamb with mint sauce to go with the wine.
2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($A28)
Different again – this time I get a real meaty aroma to go with blackcurrent and the cigar box from oak treatments.  The flavours are full of berries with a dusty tannin finish.  The fruit here makes me think of herb crusted lamb loin chops.
NV Sparkling Merlot ($A18)
Lots of sweet fruits (but not too sweet) with blackcurrents dominating.  The tannins are light and the finish is refreshing.  There is enough complexity here to say this is a serious wine made for fun.  Can be drunk at any time with almost anything – not just the Xmas turkey smothered in cranberry sauce.

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Lonely Grape TV Episode # 57 – Taste McLaren Vale Red Pack #3

It is so exciting to share the wines from my latest Backyard Shed Cru Red Wine Pack from http://www.tastemclarenvale.com.au.
2008 Caught Red Handed Shiraz
2008 Seldom Inn Cabernet Sauvignon
2006 Marius Sympatico Shiraz

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McLaren Vale Wines – Minnow Creek Wines

Minnow Creek Wines comes from 2 friends – Bill who as a businessman enjoyed his wine and thought it would be good to make some plus Tony who was a winemaker friend who had just finished with another winery.  So they got together and Minnow Creek was born.  They do not own any vineyards but instead look to get the best fruit that shows regional characters.  The wines are made at other wineries but under the instruction of Tony.  They try to source their wines from McLaren Vale, but have settled on Sauvignon Blanc from Adelaide Hills and the use of Langhorne Creek as a varietal supplement.

I found the use of wild yeast fermentation on small portions of their wines and then back blended to add complexity and textural feel to some of the wines.

The wines are value for money and I would recommend that one checks out the wines if you get a chance.  The wines are found in some Adelaide restaurants and bottle shops or you can get them on line at www.minnowcreekwines.com.au.

2009 “The Silver Minnow” Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc / Semillon ($A17 or $A14 by the dozen)

The Semillon makes up a small proportion of the blend but is makes a big difference.  The reason for this is the Semillon has been fermented using wild yeasts in French oak.  The aromas are not over the top like a lot of Sauvignon Blanc’s can be and I get passionfruit and an interesting undertone of stone fruits.  The flavors are arranges in 3 waves.  The first is the immediate hit of tropical fruits, the second on the mid palate is a creaminess that suspect is coming from the oak treatment and then the third component is a strong acid finish that has a citrus feel.  I do not normally like Sauvignon Blanc, however this wine has interest and appeal – I even took a bottle home with me to have with Homemade Pesto Chicken Fettuccine.

2009 Rose ($A14 or $A12.50 by the dozen)

Yes – a dry style Rose wine (less than 5 g/L sugar) and made from Cabernet Sauvignon plus Sangiovese.  Interestingly a portion of the Sangiovese has been fermented with wild yeasts in 3 year old French oak Hogsheads.  The aromas are red berries (mainly cherries with some strawberries) and a creamy finish.  The flavours continue wiyh sour cherries and some earthiness from the Sangiovese.  All in all it is well balanced and would go well with a really creamy Brie on freshly baked crusty bread.

2008 “The Black Minnow” McLaren Vale Sangiovese / Cabernet / Malbec ($A17 or $A15 by the dozen)

This is the largest seller for Minnow Creek with this vintage receiving 4 stars from Winestate Magazine in their Regional McLaren Vale tasting.  The 2008 vintage was difficult and so sourcing quality fruit was also challenging – for this wine some of the grapes were sourced from Langhorne Creek.

The first thing that hit me when I got the glass near my nose was what appeared to me to be a bouquet of different herbs and then the cherries and rhubarb with an interesting dustyness in the background.  The were a ssoft balance of black fruits, anise, spice, soft acids and soft tannins.  It is easy to see this wine being very popular – particularly for the drink now cafe set.  A well made wine and well priced.  The wine would have gone well with the fantastic home made Lasagna my wife made a couple of days ago.

2007 Shiraz ($A24 or $A20 by the dozen)

There must be something right here as this wine won a trophy for the Dry Red Still Wine >$25 in the 2008 McLaren Vale Wine Show.  The wine is a single vineyard from Aldinga fruit with most of seeing 4 – 4 year old oak – both French & American.  The aromas start with black fruits and move into licorice wrapped in a cigar box.  The flavors were interesting as they are dominated by blackberry and not the usual plum and again with some cedary oak.  Nothing is out of balance here so I believe this wine is drinking well now.   There is a finesse here that is sometimes missing from the up front fruit and oak bombs that you sometimes see around.  The structure here means this wine would be at home being served with charred BBQ meats or with a pizza.

2008 Shiraz ($A24 or $A20 by the dozen)

Mostly made from the same vineyard fruit as the 2007 wine but so so different.  Here you immediately get the vanilla sweetness from the American oak.  This continues with aromas based on plums, blackberry & rhubarb.  Interestingly I got red and black fruits on the palate with the fruit and oak sweetness (again developed from the use of the American oak).  I felt the flavors were not as lingering as the 2007 Shiraz.  I can see a lot of people going for this wine even though it lacks the finesse of the 2007 wine.  This wine would go well with richer meat dishes or highly flavored Thai dishes such as Beef Massaman Curry.

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Lonely Grape TV #56 – Sabella Shiraz, Willunga Creek Cab Shiraz & Sellicks Hill Grenache Shiraz

This time I share with you 3 wines that will be available in the Taste McLaren Vale – Backyard Shed Cru Red Pack #3. The Sabella 2007 Shiraz, 2007 Willunga Creek Wines “Out for a duck” Cabernet Shiraz and the Sellicks Hill Wines “Valletta” Grenache Shiraz. 3 wonderful wines personally by me from the artisan producers of McLaren Vale.

These wines will be available from Taste McLaren Vale from mid November 2010

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McLaren Vale Wines – The Good Doctors Tonic

The Good Doctors Tonic

The good doctor is actually Doctor Matt who works and lives in McLaren Vale.  He has loved wine for a long time and had also harbored a dream of producing and selling his own wine.  The romantic notion of making his own wine was also triggered when he became friends with a local winemaker (Justin Lane from Alpha Box & Dice).  At the time Justin was running a facility that was tailored towards individuals making small volumes of their own wine and from then on Matt was hooked.  Another fate filled decision was based on a conversation of the sort of wine Matt wanted to make.  Surprise, surprise the response was Grange Hermitage – something that had structure to provide long term cellaring.  To do this both high tannin and acid would be required.  In the warm climate that is McLaren Vale the thoughts were directed to what grape variety would be the basis of this tannin & acid requirement – the thoughts went towards Tannat.  Tannat produces very tannic wines and in warm climates produces good fruit flavors while still retaining lots of natural acid.  Here was a marriage made in the doctors  surgery.

The wines sell for $A40/bottle and they are sold into UK and Canada – interestingly it cannot be sold in America as they have a problem with Doctor & Tonic being on the label and that this is promoting wine leads to good health!  Not on by the American importers and legislators – please, don’t be so serious.

Doctor Matt has really caught the wine bug – he now owns a vineyard in Willunga and is planning to build a house and transplant some of the vines to Tannat -has he got it bad or what?

You can check out the web site at www.thegooddoctor.com.au.

I must admit I enjoyed the wine but I also enjoyed the company of a passionate wine man.

2006 The Good Doctors Tonic

The finished wine was made as a blend of a hogshead each of Tannat, Cabernet & Shiraz, and one of the barrels was American Oak.  The Tannat from a vineyard at Kuptio, Cabernet from McLaren Vale and the Shiraz from Sellicks Beach.  The aromas were very closed initially, even thought the wine was opened for an hour before the tasting.  I was able to go back and re-taste this wine over a period of 2 hours and the aromas opened up markedly during that time.  By the end I got some sweetness (from the American Oak), some Capsicum and a real savory finish.  The flavors showed a black denseness with tar characters.  There is plenty of tannins and acids here mixed with fennel and the sweetness of the American Oak.

2007 The Good Doctors Tonic

The Good Doctor was not fully happy with the sweetness of the American Oak from the 2006 wine and this was the focus of change for the next wine.  The grapes for the wine were from different vineyards to the 2006.  The Tannat can from a Sand Road Vineyard, the Cabernet from Willunga and the Shiraz from Paracombe in the Adelaide Hills all in the ratio 40%/35%/25%.  This time 100% French Oak of which about 50% was new oak.  Thebug must have really caught on as The Good Doctor made 3 times the amout of wine from this vintage than from the previous, a full 300 dozen.

The aromas were so different than the 2006 – there was a blackness here with cardamon spices and an interesting chamomile soap tone.  The flavors have Blackcurrent beginnings that slip into a dense amalgam of fennel and acid with an envelop of tannin.  This wine is just “tannins all the way”.

2008 The Good Doctors Tonic

All the grapes were picked after the heat that framed the 2008 vintage.  The Tannat was again from the Sand Road vineyard, the Cabernet was from McLaren Flat and the Shiraz was this time from the Barossa.  The ratio od the final wine was 45%/35%/20% respectfully.  The Cabernet was totally fried from the vintage and the resultant wine was looking more like port than a table wine.  Then with a streak of brilliance – or was it wanting to try anything to make the wine better, the wine was passed through some grape skins from the next vintage – the Ripasso style.

The overall output showed stewed ripe black fruits on the nose.  This continued with the flavors of ripeness.  The tannin structure was not there and the flavor profile was significantly shorter than the 2007.  The wine is a result of the vintage but is considered more friendly to drink now than the other wines.  It is interesting that in a tasting lineup the other 2 wines are not as friendly to drink now but has the structure to last for a considerable time and drink very well.  In this line up the 2008 is often picked as the wine to drink now.

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Lonely Grape TV Episode #55 – McLaren Vale Tractor Protest

Yes a 46 year old man participating in a public protest. Yes the quality of the video is less than average, but I hope it gets the massage across. It will be a tragedy if the Seaford Heights development gets approved. High density housing on prime farm land on the edge of the McLaren Vale wine district. Who would come for a wine holiday that has such housing right up to the area boarders?

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