I give up. I've spent the better part of the evening searching, blindly, for one thing - an organic or biodynamic sparkling wine under $20 that I'd want to drink. So far, I've come up with so …
I'm steadily making a dent in the sample pile at the moment, after getting massively behind after my little one was born. She's 8 weeks old now (and beautiful, in my completely unbiased opinion), so things …
It was just a sip of each, but I managed a quick look at the brand-new 2016 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay & 2015 Art Series Cabernet yesterday. And they're good. Blue chip good, if in …
Livewire Pinot Noir 2017Livewire is the label of Anthony Brain, who must get dumb jokes about his last name all the time. Meanwhile, I end up with 'Hi Graham' (got one today). Do you see …
Shaw Vineyard Estate Merlot 2014 Canberra Merlot. Now there's not a pair of words you see together often. This is surprisingly serious too. Dominant coffee oak, backed by a meaty, mushroomy and ripe palate of quite …
Yangarra Estate Noir 2018 At the end of 2018 I made a wishlist of 3 things I'd like to see more of in 2019. And number 1 on the list was a request for more well-priced …
Let's check in with some recent Shiraz and Semillon releases from the Hunter Valley (and beyond). A pleasure to see more experimentation with traditional Hunter styles too. Making the same wine in the same way every …
Schwarz Wine Co. Meta Grenache 2018 Mark this down as another example of the rebounding fortune of Australian Grenache. The Schwarz wines are always charismatic, and the somewhat experimental Meta wines are even more individual. This Grenache …
The quest for great Australian Nebbiolo continues. I always think it's unfair to compare wines like this Yarra red to Langhe Nebb, but that's the reality of a $50 pricepoint. This Bird on a Wire Nebbiolo …
Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio, you do my head in. Here's a variety capable of textural magnificence. Of mouthfilling richness in Alsace or Central Otago, then pure, saline delicacy and effortless freshness in the Veneto. Yet at the same …
Bellvale Pinot Noir 2017 As the old saying goes, you can either have good Pinot or cheap Pinot. But never both. Except for this Bellvale wine. John Ellis' dry-grown Gippsland vineyard can deliver some excellent, concentrated wines, …
I've been digging in the notebook this week and discovered a choice tasting from last year that didn't get a run here on site - the 2018 Voyager Estate Masterclass. For some context, Voyager hold these …
If you haven't already gone long on 2017 Yarra Valley reds, consider this another reminder. I feel like I say this all the time, but why spend $150 a bottle on variable 1er cru Burgundy when …
Airlie Bank Pinot Noir 2018 Be amazed at the value. Or at least just appreciate how much effort went into a $22 wine. A huge 40% whole bunches in the mix here, and it shows, with …
Soumah Hexham Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017 I'm a card-carrying fan of the 2017 Soumah Pinots. Every egg is a (tasty, varietal) bird. Great colour for this Hexham Vineyard Pinot too. It's a slightly sappy, vinous style …
Castle Rock Pinot Noir 2017 I'm not a massive fan of Great Southern Pinot, purely due to a lack of delicacy. That's a broad generalisation, I know, but convince me otherwise. Meanwhile, this Castle Rock is …
Following on from Monday's article on blends, I thought it only fair to back it up with a selection of the better white and red blends to pass the desk recently. No shortage of interest in …
You know what? Locally, we have a poor attitude towards blends. And it's all the fault of varietal labelling. Over the last thirty years Australia has phased out 'style' labelling - using generic terms such as …
Oakridge Sparkling Meunier 2016 Want an example of the right wine, in the right packaging, at the right price? Little wonder it has now sold out. Dave Bicknell's sparkling Meunier rosé lobs in a style that is …
Leclerc Briant Millesime 2007 Here's a prime example of a good Champagne that could be sublime, but just lacks some vitality. Disgorged in December 2015 and I wonder if sitting around in warehouses and shops since …
At 18 I started working in a small suburban bottleshop, largely to buy cheap beer. It was my first year of university, doing a degree that I didn't really like, 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.
Almost 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.