It's time to get serious. Serious, about Barossa Shiraz. Typically we don't drink much Barossa Shiraz in this house, purely because fighting through some of the oak and alcohol excesses isn't …
(This is a version of a print article on Western Australian wine published earlier in the year. The world has changed since, but there are some stories in here worth …
Don't mind me, I'll just be over here banging on about how good Barossa Grenache is (again). This red is a year old than the Vine Vale and a different …
Wirra's Scrubby Rise are now all regional releases, which is impressive for a sub $20 Shiraz. I'm less of a fan of the Scrubby Rise white, but this goes well. …
Mike & Colleen from Mérite are probably better known for their dead-serious approach to Merlot, but I don't mind this Malbec blend too. It's a ripe, plushly oaked Wrattonbully red, …
Grenache is one of the most exciting varieties in the country. Australia is blessed with a wondrous resource of old vine Grenache and it's only in the last decade or …
At about this time every year, I take a look back in time and cringe. That's because it's officially the twelfth birthday of this website, Australian Wine Review, which means I …
Grenache is the hero at Yangarra, but the Shiraz gets all the airtime. The previous iteration of this Yangarra Shiraz 2018 was wildly popular for a reason, and I can …
Tricky to get Shiraz ripe consistently in Pemberton. Or at least that's the perception based on wines like this. Hard to pick what is the hero variety for the region …
This Bellvale Pinot Noir 2019 is one of the best $25 Pinot Noir you'll find in Australia. Period. Crucially, this packs an intensity that isn't normally found in $25 Pinot. Maybe …
Entry level Yarra Cabernet from Soumah and it's an easy drink. Proudly leafy, yet not unripe at all. it's light, lithe, tannic and well made, the alcohol a little noticeable, …
No. No, I can't see the joy in this Dead Arm. Conceptually, it's easy to appreciate the appeal of a handpicked, basket-pressed, foot trodden, super-premium McLaren Vale Shiraz in this mode. …
Way back in the time before COVID19 rendered the events industry null and void, I used shapely Eden Riesling like this Thorn-Clarke Single Vineyard Selection Riesling 2019 in tastings as …
Pinot Noir from Riesling country. It's hard to leave my prejudices at the door, but that's what it always feels like with Porongurup Pinot. It's typically ripeness that is the challenge, …
Just a little underwhelmed by these '19 Hill Smith Estate whites. They all need more ripeness to be convincing. Anyway, this has promise, with a wild ferment and some barrel …
Last week it was the excellent Eldorado Road Chardonnay, now comes the Eldorado Road Quasimodo Nero d’Avola Durif Shiraz 2017 and it's a winner. This is a lot of wine for …
While Jason Schwarz's most recent releases are very much nouveau Barossan in style - vital, mid weight wines - there are still a few arch-traditional winners in the Schwarz range, …
From the Millon Wines stable, though I've never seen a bottle of this Clare’s Secret Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 locally. Export special? Inspired by Lasingham Bin 56, this is chunky, rustic …
As a winemaker, what you do when tastes change and the style of wine you make is no longer fashionable? Answer - you get everyone to start pouring your wine over …
At 18 I started working in a small suburban bottleshop, largely to buy cheap beer. It was my first year of university, slogging through physics and chemistry, and a liquor shop seemed like fun. Needless to say I discovered wine, my uni degree morphed into something completely different and wine/beer took over my life.
Twenty years later and I currently spend my days wearing many (wine) hats, mostly as a writer, presenter and marketer.
While wearing my writer cap I write features for the likes of National Liquor News, Gourmet Traveller WINE and the RAS plus I'm a Lifestyle FOOD channel wine expert. Read more about me here or get in touch to book your next wine event with me here.