This year we have featured some terrific value red wines in Corker. Forest Hill 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Torzi Matthews 2008 Schist Rock Shiraz and Teusner 2008 The Riebke Shiraz are just some of the standout under $20 reds that spring to mind.

In this edition of Corker we introduce another: the 2007 Sons of Eden Kennedy Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre. The accolades for this wine speak for themselves; Trophy for best GSM blend at the Barossa Wine Show, 96 Points - James Halliday and a glowing 94 Point review from Tony Love. Best of all this delicious Barossa red is available at the great price of $19.90. At the time of writing there was less than 30 dozen of this wine remaining so please be quick if you wish to purchase any.

Also in this edition we feature a few highlights from James Halliday’s Top 100 that was released last week. Finally we have an offer on the inaugural reserve Shiraz from Heathcote’s Sanguine Estate, a wine that is available in tiny quantities.

Don’t forget you can follow us on twitter here to get all the latest news along with some exclusive offers.

The team at Auscellardoor

Ph – 1800 088 022

www.auscellardoor.com.au

2007 Sons of Eden Kennedy GSM - $19.90

Sons of Eden is a partnership between Winemaker Corey Ryan and Viticulturist Simon Cowham. Corey Ryan has over 22 years experience making wine for the likes of Henschke, and Penfolds along with a stint as head winemaker at Villa Maria in New Zealand. With a clear focus on varieties that are specialties of the Barossa, Sons of Eden are producing some exceptional wines and have clearly announced themselves as a winery to watch.

The 2007 Sons of Eden Kennedy is a classic blend of old vines Barossa Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre. Available for the great price of $19.90 this is one of the best value reds around and we expect the limited stocks of this wine to sell out quickly.

96 Points - James Halliday, Best of the Rest, The Weekend Australia, November 14-15, 2009.

“94 points. 14.5% Beautifully crafted dark, cherry-like fruits with classic garden herbs and woody spices are the highlights here in a grenache (47 per cent), shiraz (37 per cent) and mourvedre (16 per cent) blend that makes for a very slippery, juicy wine that's great with an Italian braise over risotto.” - Tony Love, The Advertiser, July 29, 2009.

Trophy - Barossa Wine Show 2009, Best Dry Red, Grenache/Shiraz/Mourvedre Blend (Class 15).

2009 Charles Melton Rose of Virginia Rose - $19.90

There are few wines more suitable to the Australian Summer than Rosé, with the best examples being fragrant and refreshing whilst offering flavour and structure. Charles Melton has firmly established himself as one of Australia's finest producers of Rosé and the recently released 2009 version is once again superb.  

"96 Points. A slightly higher proportion of grenache (60%) than in previous vintages was co-fermented with cabernet and shiraz. Vivid fuchsia in colour, it has fragrant rose petal/raspberry/spice aromas, then a vibrant, positively flavoured palate. It has good length and a dry, almost savoury, finish. From: Barossa Valley, SA. Drink: to 2010" - James Halliday, Top 100 Wines, The Weekend Australia, November 14-15 2009.

"A slightly higher grenache portion (60%) than the previous few years. Our aim was to lighten the style just ever so slightly away from the super rich rose style. The wine remains lightly perfumed from its Grenache origins with the usual restraining influence from the Cabernet and Shiraz portions ever so slightly drier than the ’08. It is crisp and balanced to match the wide range of food styles that have been Rose of Virginia’s partners over many years." - Tasting notes from Charles Melton.  

2005 Tyrrells Stevens Semillon - $19.90

Last stocks available. Tyrrells source the grapes for this wine from Neil Stevens' Glenoak vineyard in Pokolbin which is regarded as one of the finest white vineyards in the Hunter Valley with the oldest block planted in 1911. This is a superb example of Hunter Valley Semillon with complex mineral and flint aromas. On the palate this wine is displays exceptional length and a beautiful balance between the young, fresh citrus flavours and the aged 'toasty' characters that are beginning to develop. 

"97 Points. The grapes come from Neil Stevens' Glenoak Vineyard, the vines planted between 1911 and 1965. Small wonder that wine has collected so many trophies and gold medals. Gloriously delineated, the finesse of the wine is extraordinary, as is its youth and length. Just accept its greatness. Lower Hunter Valley, NSW" - James Halliday, Top 100 Wines, The Weekend Australian, November 14-15 2009. 

"95 Points. All the typical things - hay, lemon and lime but there’s more flavour than you’d usually expect: it’s a trait of the vintage along with softness of acidity. Make no mistake though - the balance here is impeccable. This is still carrying a little bit of spritz and tastes pretty much young and unevolved yet offers a great deal of drinking pleasure right now - so you can have your cake and eat it. Tasted : Aug09 Alcohol : 11% Price : $31.99 Closure : Screwcap Drink : 2009 - 2020+" - Gary Walsh, The Wine Front.   

2005 Clover Hill Blanc de Blanc Sparkling - $44.90

Clover Hill has long been regarded as one of Australia's leading sparkling producers and this week saw the release of their 2005 Blanc de Blanc sparkling. As with previous vintages of this wine the 2005 vintage has plenty of classic sparkling Chardonnay characters; citrus, stone fruit, and a long, elegant palate driven by zesty, natural acidity. The time on lees has added complex honey and brioche notes.  

"95 Points. Clover Hill was established by Taltarni in 1986, with the sole purpose of making premium sparkling wine; the initial plantings were 12 of chardonnay, 6.5ha of pinot noir and 1.5ha of pinot meunier. Bright yellow-green, the bouquet is fresh and vibrant, the palate intense and long, with exceedingly crisp and zesty citrus flavours, then a dry, well-balanced finish" - James Halliday, Top 100 Wines, November 14-15, 2009.

"The 2005 Blanc de Blancs is a pale straw colour with a fine, persistent bead and mousse. It displays classic sparkling Chardonnay characters of lemon and white peach, and a long, elegant palate driven by minerality and natural acidity. The time on lees has added complex honey and brioche notes. It is drinking beautifully now but has the structure to develop over the next 8- 10 years" - Winemaker notes from Clover Hill.  

2008 Ashton Hills Piccadilly Pinot Noir - $29.90

Piccadilly Valley is Ashton Hills' entry level or 'village' wine with all grapes coming from the Adelaide Hills' coldest, wettest and most humid wine sub-region, the Piccadilly Valley. About half the grapes for this wine comes from 16 of Ashton Hill's own selections with the remaining grapes purchased from two neighbouring growers. The three vineyards have amongst them the oldest pinot vines in 'The Valley' and all are managed in such a way to ensure small crops and maximum flavour concentration.

"96 Points. Owner/winemaker Stephen George was one of the pioneers of pinot noir in the Adelaide Hills. It shows some colour development; as always, has an extremely expressive and complex bouquet with forest undergrowth and spicy red fruits; the palate in a precise replay of the bouquet, with great length and immaculate balance. From: Adelaide Hills, SA. Drink: to 2016" - James Halliday, Top 100 Wines, The Weekend Australian, November 14-15, 2009.

"95 Points. Stephen George makes a couple of pinots each year, this engaging Picadilly Valley version from his own and growers’ fruit offering an excitingly complex matrix of aromas, cherries wrapped in anise spice to ferns and bubbling coq au vin juices, followed by spicy fl avour and a soft, silky texture. $33 14.5% alcohol. Adelaide Hills." - Tony Love, Top 100 Wines, The Adelaide Advertiser, November 2009.

2006 Sanguine Estate d'orsa Shiraz - $56.90

Many will be familiar with Heathcote's Sanguine Estate who have produce the highly popular Progeny Shiraz. With the ideal vintage conditions that prevailed throughout 2006, Sanguine Estate opted to produce their first reserve wine using some standout barrels. This is rich, powerful expression of Heathcote Shiraz that promises a long life ahead of it.  

“96 Points. Deep crimson-purple; the bouquet promises opulent black fruits with a dash of oak and spice, and so it is, but on a quality level above expectations; incredibly rich and supple, but not jammy; generous oak and ripe tannins finish the taste. The cork is of high quality, as it should be. 14.8% alcohol. Rating 96. To 2031” - James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2010 Edition.

Gold Medal - 2008 Victorian Wine Show. 

"This is our first Reserve wine. The 2006 vintage was a great year and if show results and reviews are anything to go by, it has been our best year so far. To pay homage to our Great Great Grandfather, we kept aside some exceptional barrels of Shiraz to produce this Reserve wine." - Sanguine Estate.

With Christmas less than five weeks away, now is the time to start thinking about gifts for clients and staff. Auscellardoor offers a wide range of wine gifts that are sure to be well received over the festive season.

Please click on the link below to view our Christmas catalogue for 2009.

Auscellardoor Christmas Gift Catalogue 2009

We are happy to tailor a gift that is just right for you, a delivery service throughout Australia is also available.

If you would like any further assistance with Christmas wine gifts please give us a call on 1800 088 022 or email us here