From the get-go Perth cardiologist Peter Thompson brought a medical approach to the vineyard he and wife Jane established in 1997.
Ray Jordan
‘To think only of reds is to ignore the whites’
MadFish, the brand created more than 30 years ago as a second label for Howard Park, has been given a fresh new look as its owner says it was “time for a change”.
The first release comprises a chardonnay and three pinots
‘The only cold turkey should be the one in the fridge’
These mature wines are really hitting their straps.
It was an ambitious plan for this Swan Valley winery to focus on sparkling wines
Jay Hanna
Ray Jordan trials the top-range Grange
From the extraordinary number of white wines submitted, it was a mighty difficult assignment to work through them to pick the best of the tasting and the best-value wines.
The West Australian’s wine editor has sipped through more than 750 wines to crown the best drops to sip this summer.
One variety dominated in this category, as some South Australian winemakers claim the 2021 vintage was the best they’d ever had.
These Australian sparkles are the equal of a lot of the lower priced French non-vintage styles. The best of these, as reflected in the over-$30 bracket, are exceptional.
Australian winemakers are doing a very good job with the style, so there is a good cross-section of local and imported prosecco in the list.
The traditional, deep-crimson-to-almost-red colour of Aussie rosés of the past has given way to often the palest of blushes. Yet the wines have a more persistent and penetrating flavour.
This is where you find the interesting wines, where the quality of the fruit is better and the winemaker is dialled up to match.
This category was logically dominated by wines from the past couple of vintages and there were some excellent value-for-money wines here.
There was only room for two pinot grigios but quite a few just missed the cut. It is a variety well suited to the price point, where you are looking for a nice easy drink especially over summer.
Stella Bella has been one of the stand-out performers in Margaret River for some years
The Swan Valley produces some of the top drops in the State. Here are three of Ray Jordan’s favourites.
There was something about the wines from Polperro that had Ray Jordan hooked from the start.
Houghton continues to release several wines which honour some of the most important people in the State’s wine industry while showing the regional diversity of the wines.
The winemaker has turned out just 2200 bottles of the g5, a blend of five separate Grange vintages.
If you love the Barossa and you love its history, style and people, then these three wines should be worth a serious look.
Grenache, once considered as a second-class citizen in Australian wine, has now become incredibly popular, whether as a beautifully fragrant and stylish red wine or as a fresh light rose.
© West Australian Newspapers Limited 2022
