Wine Without Wank - Corkers Of 2007

Written by Ian Robertson on 30th December 2007

We at Wine Without Wank are like any other journal/magazine/web site that pontificates about a certain topic in that we of course must have annual Awards!

And so, without further ado, I present to you the Wine Without Wank Corkers Of The Year for 2007!

By way of conveying some understanding to you, let me make the rules quite clear.

1. The Awards cover the year of 2007 – any wine tasted and reviewed in that time qualifies despite the vintage. Given that I don’t manage to taste everything from everyone released in any set year (let alone back vintages) this is not the be all and end all of wine awards – it is one individual experience of his wine life in a set period.

2. Some of the wines might have been released at the start of the year, making them now either unavailable or difficult to get – try the auction sites!

3. Value awards are based on the Wine Without Wank Value Rating system – see here to refresh your mind on the details

4. Quality Awards – well, it makes sense that of the wines rated Outstanding for Quality over the year, the ones that stood out above the others are selected!

Well, let’s get to it, shall we?

Value White 2007 –

Framingham Classic Riesling 2001

Perhaps not to everyone’s taste, but it should be. A style with a slight amount of sugar leaving it slightly sweet, but still very stylish and complex, and with a dash of bottle age to boot. This was available at an obscene price for its quality from Nicks Vintage Direct – well done to them for stocking such a beauty, and let’s hope for more of it in years to come! Click here for the Review!

Value Red 2007 –

Six Gates The Majnun 2004

Squashedgrape seem to stock an abundance of Barossa Shirazes that are on the leaner, tighter and more elegant side of the coin, and this wine is no exception. Add to that the wonderful earth and dry spice tones, and a lovely length and tannin structure, and you have a great drop. Add then the fact that it is under $15 by the case, and you have madness. Click here for the Review!

Best Quality Red 2007 –

Balnaves Of Coonawarra – The Tally Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

I am speechless with this wine. It is just so complex – masses of black fruits, licorice, choc, cocoa, earth (both dry and wet) spices…I could go on, which is exactly what this wine does. Your best bet is to try Cellar Door or Winestar for this one. And do it. You won’t regret it. Click here for the Review!

Best Quality White 2007 –

Giaconda Chardonnay 2001

Where have you been all my life? I cannot believe it has taken me so long to taste this label. And now, in a vintage that Mr Oliver does not deem worthy of extreme points, I am in heaven. The power and length of the wine has to be experienced to be believed. Forget bottles of Dom or Krug for celebrations – and you don’t find me saying that often – latch onto a bottle of this instead. But, you will have to go to auctions or Winestar to get it. Click here for the Review!

Just thinking about each of these wines makes me smile.

Congratulations to all our worthy winners – a genuine invisible trophy is on its way to you!

Slainte to all for 2007, and here’s to 2008!