odd ball

I would suspect it is an example of aggressive Australian marketing seeking alliance with a recognized European name to bring Oz wines to the Continent.

Recently I've been watching a TV series (HD stuff where you watch the life cycle of the fruit fly because the fidelity is so incredible), on "Wines of Australia". They visit one or two vineyards each show, meet the people and see the facilities then they sit in lush gardens sipping glbuttes of Oz wine. Unusual, since there are only so many ways you can photograph a vine, a grape, a press, a vat, a bottle and a glbutt. Yet, the show indicates how seriously Australia is about getting their due recognition.

They've done an excellent job in the US, bringing both budget and high-end wines to the marketplace and carving a huge niche for themselves.

I'd bet that the somewhat medieval tax laws, labeling requirements, etc. of Europe lead to the sort of economic marriage that you are describing. The questions remaining for me are, how does it taste; what does it cost; what kind of tax is imposed on the bottling, and would you buy it again?

Ed Rasimus Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret) "When Thunder Rolled" www.thunderchief.org www.thundertales.blogspot.com