... we couldn't find the page you requested. If you typed the address in, please check that it's correctIt's also possible that you clicked on an outdated link. Our homepage may be able to help you find the feature or store you're looking for. Were you looking for ?We're here to help.Would you like to chat now?Top 100 Wines by Year Every year James Halliday selects his Top 100 wines from the many thousands he samples. Featuring wines of all varieties and at a range of prices, it's an invaluable guide to the very best of Australian wine. The Top 100 also includes an overview of the year in wine, looking at the major trends and the key issues facing grape growers and winemakers. The Top 100 is first published in The Australian in November and is available on Wine Companion at the same time. Below are all of James' Top 100 wines, dating to 2001. Top 100 wines of 2016 Top 100 wines of 2015 Top 100 wines of 2014 Top 100 wines of 2013

Top 100 wines of 2012 With a handful of exceptions, only the 244 wineries awarded five red stars in my annual Australian Wine Companion were invited to participate in the table wine and Australian sparkling section. The exceptions were wineries with a track record of producing very good wines sold for $20 or less. In the end, 1256 table wines, 74 Australian sparkling wines and 75 champagnes were submitted, a grand total of 1405. Top 100 wines of 2011 I know I’m not going to get much sympathy when I say this year’s selection for the Top 100 was a marathon effort, with a record 1887 wines entered. good wine to have with dessertThe 7am to 7pm tasting day went on relentlessly and seemingly endlessly, with a short lunch break and one or two hours between 3pm and 5pm to deal with the mountain of emails and other writing deadlines. best wine for sleep

I have christened my desk the Bermuda Triangle, where all sorts of letters, email print outs, and other important pieces of paper mysteriously disappear. Top 100 wines of 2010 Top 100 wines of 2009 Top 100 wines of 2008 Top 100 wines of 2007 Top 100 wines of 2006 Top 100 wines of 2005 Top 100 wines of 2004 Top 100 wines of 2003 Top 100 wines of 2002 Subscribe to Wine Companion today Access over 100,000 wine reviews Instantly access Wine Companion mobilebest red wine under 2000 Create your own virtual cellarbest wine of mexico Discover extended wine region contentbest wine to drink with game Get 100 new tasting notes every monthbest italian wine ever

Unlock exclusive member only search enhancements Become a member today and receive a $50 wine voucher.Most people in Australia know about it, and many backpackers drink it almost daily. Basically, goon is a general name for cask wine (or boxed wine). There are mixed opinions about goon. On the one hand, it's a cheap drink that tastes good ice-cold or mixed. On the other hand, it can be disgusting. On the box of one brand, Golden Oak, it says "Produced with the aid of milk, egg, nut, and fish products and traces may remain. Of course, some optimistic mates say, “Well, at least it's a whole meal.” The Best and Worst Brands and Flavors By "best" I mean that these are the ones that you can drink even pure without mixing them. That is the extent of my recommendation—nothing more, nothing less. Goon is always something special, and, no matter how you drink it, do not expect a firework of flavour. Golden Oak Fruity Lexia This is probably the most popular brand which you can buy all over Australia.

Additionally you can buy the Golden Oak as dry, medium dry, or even red—but to be honest, never ever buy a red goon! It was the worst hangover I ever had in Australia. If you want to drink red wine, go for the bottled ones. However, Golden Oak is one of the “better” goons, which you can drink without mixing—though I recommend drinking it ice-cold, as you should with all goons. This was also my favourite when I was in Australia and I bought it every chance I had. The flavour is sweet and not that strong. This is another quite good-tasting goon. For the price-to-alcohol ratio, this is the one to buy. It has 10% more content and is around 2% stronger. It doesn't taste too bad either. Coolabah, Kaiserstuhl, Berri Estates, Sunnyville, and Stanley are goon brands that taste unique but are not that good. Drinking them on ice or with a mixer is recommended. Goon was invented in 1965 by an Australian bloke called Thomas Angove from South Australia, who was the first person to patent wine packaged in a carton box.

He put one gallon, or 4.5 liters, of wine into a box and sold it—and thus, goon was born. As time went on, the box and the container improved. Nowadays, goon comes in a plastic space bag, which is then placed in the box. One of the reasons that goon is so cheap is because the space bag and carton box are far more economical than glass bottles. For a more in-depth article on the history of this celebrated drink, read this article written by the Wine Wankers on the occasion of goon's 50th anniversary. They even review several kinds of goon and chose their favorites, which are: White: Yalumba 2014 Chardonnay ($13 for two litres) Red: Debortoli Premium Cabernet Merlot ($16.50 for four litres) Where Did the Name Goon Come From? This is a real mystery. No one knows the origin of the name. Wikipedia says it came from the word flagon, and another source says it comes from the aboriginal word for pillow (because of the bag). The truth, however, remains a mystery.

Space bag is a term that I (and many others) use to refer to the silver bag inside of the cardboard box that goon comes in. The bags are waterproof, and many goon users have been pretty creative when it comes to using them. The most popular use of packaging is the so-called goon crown, when one uses the carton box as a hat. It is also possible to blow up the space bags and use them as pillows. The most magnificent invention I came across was the goon raft. This was when some of my mates actually built a raft with some sticks and plenty of blown up space bags. Take a look at it below. Slap the Goon and Other Games Slap the Goon is a famous tradition that backpackers and other travellers in Australia learn about quickly. Created by a mate in Byron Bay, it all started with the idea that you literally need to slap the space bag before drinking. The effects of slapping the goon are still discussed and not scientifically proven, but nevertheless the idea took hold, and now “Slap the Goon” is popular all over Australia.

You can find people wearing "Slap the Goon" shirts all over the country, and you can even buy Slap-the-Goon Goon, which is a goon brand named after the saying. Goon of Fortune: A game that involves hanging up bags of wine on a clothesline. Goon Pong: Like beer pong, but with (what else) goon. Pros of the Space Bags The space-bag method is more economical for the wineries and more environmentally friendly. Boxed wine is simpler and lighter to carry—making it especially good for travellers. With a price around $10 for four to five liters, it is basically the cheapest alcohol you can buy in Australia. The space bag allows wine to last longer after opening because it cannot oxidise in the bag. It will stay fresh for weeks. Cons of the Space Bags One of the disadvantages of the space bag is that it does not keep the wine untouched for years like an unopened bottle does. It will expire, and you should finish the wine before it does so or you could suffer from serious stomach problems.

Critics also argue that goon tends to encourage binge drinking and allows alcoholics a cheap alternative to other drinks. That is why in some areas in Australia, you are not allowed to buy goon until 4 o´clock in the afternoon. Some say the taste of many kinds of goon is one of the biggest problems with it. Other people care more about getting bang for the buck. As mentioned before, goon is not everybody's cup of tea. Mixing goon is a way to make it taste better. Here are some ideas to help you create your own combinations. Goon can be mixed with any kind of juice and it will taste way better. My favorite juice mixers were cranberry, pineapple, and orange juice. Of course, it is up to you which flavour you prefer. The combination of goon and Coke is quite popular. For many travellers, this is the way to go. You can also use Sprite, Fanta, or any other soda you like. Basically, you can mix goon with anything you want. Remember that goon is wine, so you can even make a bowl or cook with it.