James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2011

Completely updated and revised.

An indispensable reference for all enthusiasts of Australian wine, the Australian Wine Companion is a must-have for anyone planning to visit a wine-growing region or to replenish their cellar or wine rack. It is the most authoritative and entertaining guide to Australian wine. Features include:

New features in The Australian Wine Companion 2011 Edition:

• Section on varietal wine styles and regions
• Value symbol to indicate wines offering special value for money
• Enhanced ranking of the best wineries of each region

Features of the Wine Companion book:

• Full tasting notes for 3,888 wines
• Ratings, drink-to dates and prices for a further 2,613 wines
• 111 new wineries
• 1487 winery profiles
• Best of the best by variety
• Vintage ratings charts for each region
• Regional index showing availability of food, accommodation,
  music events and cellar-door sales
• A full-colour map of the wine regions of Australia

]]> cellar2u@saddlerscreek.com (Saddler's Creek Wines) http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=230 Sun, 15 Aug 2010 20:47:39 -0700 25.00 AUD 230 0.1 1000 http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/images/halliday.jpg http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=184 http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/index.php?main_page=product_reviews&products_id=184 Garnet in colour with a slight purple hue this wine is all Hunter. Raspberry fruits and white pepper jump out of the glass to greet the nose. Savoury characters of leather and the rich ‘earthy’ smell of the Hunter are very apparent. Toasty oak and floral notes round out a very attractive nose. The palate is medium bodied with excellent length and great structure. Once again raspberries and leather play an integral role. If you want a great example of Hunter Shiraz, this is it!

Drinking Recommendation:

A medium bodied style of wine should not be over powered by too strong a food companion. Lamb is the perfect accompaniment to this wine. I suggest Thyme and Garlic Lamb Cutlets with Tomato and Olive Rosini salad.

Cellaring: 10-12 Years

]]> cellar2u@saddlerscreek.com (Saddler's Creek Wines) http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=184 Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:44:29 -0700 50.00 AUD 184 1 Reserve Range 923 Hunter Valley 5 http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/images/FSHI-SING-03-750ML.gif http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=202 http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/index.php?main_page=product_reviews&products_id=202 This wine is pale straw in colour and gives first indication of the subtle complexities of this wine. Aged in old French oak, it’s influence is subtle. Lifted stone fruits and melon aromas greet the nose. The palate is rich and full with lovely peach flavours. Lingering acid on the palate gives a lovely long finish.

Cellaring: 2 years

Drinking Recommendations:

Not everything in life needs to be complicated. Why not try this wine accompanied by grilled white fish seasoned with lemon and parsley. Sounds good to me!

]]> cellar2u@saddlerscreek.com (Saddler's Creek Wines) http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=202 Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:37:35 -0700 19.50 AUD 202 1 Best Barrique 1000 Hunter Valley http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/images/bottle_shots/best_barrique_cha_07.jpg http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=198 http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/index.php?main_page=product_reviews&products_id=198 Australian Rosè is made to drink at it’s youthful best when the wine is showing fresh vibrant fruit flavours. This latest release in our ‘Wheels’ range is a fun, exciting wine being a perfect release for those bright, sunny days.

A fresh, upfront nose of strawberries and raspberries will remind you of the halcyon days of summer’s gone. The palate is polished and long with a full mouth feel, loaded with sweet summer fruits. A slight drying finish adds to the texture of this wine.

Cellaring:

Enjoy this 2008 Rosé today. The sealing of the wine with the Stelvin Closure will ensure its integrity until the time you choose to enjoy it.

Drinking Recommendation:

Rosè is the most versatile of wines when matching to food. Antipasto, seafood, tapas…the list goes on.

My suggestion…a spicy Asian stir fry. A dazzling array of spicy characters to perfectly compliment the sweet fruit of this delightful Rosè.

]]> cellar2u@saddlerscreek.com (Saddler's Creek Wines) http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=198 Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:36:27 -0700 18.00 AUD 198 1 Wheels Range 903 Hunter Valley http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/images/FROS-ROSE-05-750ML.jpg http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=220 http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/index.php?main_page=product_reviews&products_id=220 This is a first class Hunter Semillon that is just entering into the prime of its life. With the development of Aged Hunter Semillon characters this wine is a true Classic.

The bouquet that greets the nose shows fruitful lemon zest aroma whilst being further complexed with the development of some Aged Semillon influences. Lanolin, buttered toast and nutty characters are adding further integrity to the bouquet.

The palate retains a youthful acid line providing this wine with considerable length and a tight structure. Having had time in bottle, the wine is beginning to display a toasty bottle aged complexity that is synonymous with older Hunter Semillons.

Drinking Recommendations:

Now showing some aged characters this wine is much more available to a wider range of Menu’s. Carrying a fuller palate we suggest fresh lobster tail with a light cream sauce served with pan fried scallops and aioli dressing .

Cellaring:

This wine has plenty of life left in it. Sealed under Stelvin we will see consistent, slow aging for the next 10+ years.

STOP PRESS

Our 2005 Classic Hunter Semillon has just been awarded
2 x Trophies at the Sydney International Wine Competition.

3 x Trophies, 5 x Gold, 9 x silver, 23 x Bronze

Re-released from the cellar February 2010.

ONLY 100 CASES AVAILABLE..be quick!

]]> cellar2u@saddlerscreek.com (Saddler's Creek Wines) http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=220 Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:30:03 -0700 36.00 AUD 220 1 Classic Range 94 Hunter Valley http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/images/FSEM-CLHU-07-750ML_2.jpg http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=191 http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/index.php?main_page=product_reviews&products_id=191 This release is a unique cuveé blend of vintages 2004 and 2005. Both parcels were fermented in small lots over an extended period (up to 4 months), in French oak barrels, followed by 12 months barrel maturation.

The wine has a bouquet of subtle apricot and figs, and gains complexity from spicy French Oak. It has a rich palate characters of tropical fruit, apricots and honey, finishing with a long, fine, acid balance, and creamy botrytis and oak characters.

Drinking Recommendation:

This wine is a must with sweet fruit based desserts and yet would be perfect to accompany a fine selection of cheeses.

Cellaring: 5 to 8 years

]]> cellar2u@saddlerscreek.com (Saddler's Creek Wines) http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=191 Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:27:40 -0700 36.00 AUD 191 1 Reserve Range 975 http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/images/FBSE-SAUT-NV-375ML.jpg http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=200 http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/index.php?main_page=product_reviews&products_id=200 Vibrant Ruby Red in colour this wine delivers from the very beginning. Great complexity greets the nose with generous red berry fruits further enhanced by floral notes and herbaceous tomato leaf characters. The oak influence is subtle but very supportive.

The palate is medium bodied and quite savoury exhibiting a fine integration of sweet fruit and delectable tannins. Spicy oak characters give further complexities to a wine of many subtleties

Cellaring: 5-7 years

Drinking Recommendation

This wine opens up superbly and would be perfectly accompanied by Lamb racks with garlic, sage and onion. A perfect night in.

]]> cellar2u@saddlerscreek.com (Saddler's Creek Wines) http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=200 Sun, 06 Jun 2010 16:58:13 -0700 19.50 AUD 200 1 Best Barrique 946 http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/images/best_barrique_shiraz_07.jpg http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=201 http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/index.php?main_page=product_reviews&products_id=201 Bright ruby red in colour this wine is looking it’s youthful best. On the nose, dark fruits are supported by spicy American oak with hints of aniseed and coffee. The palate shows generous ripe fruits with a velvety mouth feel. Fine tannins leave a long, lingering finsh to this full bodied wine

Cellaring: 5-7 years

Drinking Recommendation:

Drinking beautifully now, this wine would go perfectly with Roast beef rib and fresh horseradish sauce. Traditional baked vegetables will complete the ensemble.

]]> cellar2u@saddlerscreek.com (Saddler's Creek Wines) http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=201 Sun, 06 Jun 2010 16:57:51 -0700 19.50 AUD 201 1 Best Barrique 970 http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/images/best_barrique_cab_07.jpg http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=192 http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/index.php?main_page=product_reviews&products_id=192 The wine was fermented in open vats with maximum skin contact and then matured in American Oak barriques for a period of 19 months. This is a full-bodied Shiraz, with distinct layers of flavour and complexity.

While the wine is large in character it is at the same time wonderfully silky in texture and alluring in finish. Subtle scents of oak and vanilla coffee beans combine with smooth flavours of ripe berries and spicy pizza bread and finishing with the slightest hint of chocolate. A very different Shiraz, but with the trademark style of Bluegrass.

Cellaring: Up to 8 years

Drinking Recommendations:

A wine to be best enjoyed with distinctive flavoured foods that will not dominate the smooth taste and texture of the wine. How about Barbecued Quail, marinated in lemon, olive oil, coriander rosemary and black pepper???….Quail ala ‘Bluegrass’!

]]> cellar2u@saddlerscreek.com (Saddler's Creek Wines) http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=192 Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:52:59 -0800 100.00 AUD 192 2.5 Bluegrass Range 999 http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/images/FCAB-BLUE-03-750ML.gif http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=186 http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/index.php?main_page=product_reviews&products_id=186 Over the past few years Saddler’s Creek has been producing some truly wonderful estate grown Merlot’s and this is another great example. A beautifully structured wine that is more than just fruit.

The plum and raspberry fruit characters are enhanced by white chocolate, florals, white pepper and a distinct earthiness. The palate is soft and elegant with fine tannins and good length. The finish leans towards a Bordeaux style of wine with a distinct tannic edge.

Drinking Recommendation:

This Merlot will enjoy something a little bit left of your main stream meats. Try it with Plum Glazed duck served with herbed mash potato and steamed seasonal vegetables.

Cellaring: 5 - 7 years

]]> cellar2u@saddlerscreek.com (Saddler's Creek Wines) http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=186 Tue, 26 May 2009 19:07:46 -0700 42.00 AUD 186 1 Reserve Range 991 Hunter Valley http://saddlerscreek.com/cellar2u/images/FMER-RESE-02-750ML.gif