SPECIAL NEW ORLEANS GUEST CALLS

Nearly ready for the wedding veil to be lifted  ... Ironheart Shiraz ... I could sit down to a plate of this delicious bright-acid fruit with a crisp pear and some sheep cheese, but I probably couldn't afford it ... healthy berries but sparse - typical of many of the best Shiraz vineyards after that very tricky Summer ... photo Philip White

High Sands Grenache, nearly ready to pick - a week? Ten days? - Peter Fraser with very special DRINKSTER brothers: from New Orleans, Dr Bob de Bellevue, who came to South Australia to have lunch with us at Fino and kick barrels at Penfolds Magill, and Milton Wordley with his back to the camera, just for a change. Milt's usually looking through it. Napa Cabernet king Chris Carpenter had just arrived at the winery for his vintage, so he showed us his soon-to-be-released Cabernet reds from the Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard. You won't like 'em. We had a real good day. Thanks to Peter and Chris for their time and hospitality, and to the brilliant Sarah and Sharon who massaged our sensories into glory with David Swain's cuisine at Fino ... that's somebody's 2014 Shiraz fermenting, below, oozing out the most beautiful wall of earthy perfume ... yields are down, but the winery seems full of happy bins, barrels, amphorae and tanks ... photos Philip White