Welcome to NSW Freedom Day! While that is yet another half-arsed slogan, in an era of half-arsed slogans, after 4 months of lockdown nobody cares. There is, instead, a pulsating desire …
I like these Masterstroke wines. Hearty. Substantial. Intriguing that this Taylors Masterstroke Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 feels more balanced than the St Andrews Cab tasted in the big dog Shiraz & …
An 'Exploration of Australia’s Distinguished Sites'. What a lofty title for this Zoom tasting, held last week by a group of prominent Australian family winemakers (all of whom are in the …
Not all wines can be great. Plenty are just ok drinks. And some are just bad. Here is a selection of wines that almost made it in September 2021. Thanks, also, to …
Chardonnay - aka the king of white wines (which makes Riesling the queen) - gets pride of place in the Graham household, regularly jumping the barrier from 'tasting' to 'drinking' …
It would be fascinating to put this Hickinbotham Trueman Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 up against 707 or the like. It sure has the guts. An absolute top shelf McLaren Vale Cabernet, …
Yarra Valley Cabernet that has a foot in both camps - this Boat O’Craigo Braveheart Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 isa little Yarra claret, a little more contemporary riper style. Pencil shavings, leafy …
It's that time again - what wine and beer are you buying, drinking and loving this month? And what's on your 'must-buy' radar? I couldn't help myself and bought a brace …
Enter, the latest majestic McLaren Vale red the Hickinbotham stable, the Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard Brooks Road Shiraz 2019. For anyone who loves Penfolds Shiraz, this is the alternate choice - a …
No smoke here! Another Hunter white (following this very good Shiraz) from 2020 with no taint, this Hungerford Hill Dalwood Vineyard Chardonnay 2020 is easy going. Taut, lemon citrus style that …
One of the country’s best Neros in fine form. This Eldorado Road Comrade Nero d’Avola 2019 is a success because it's deceptively complex. In the vineyard, Paul & Laurie have now …
Soumah’s Chardonnay is the star, but this Soumah Equilibrio Pinot Noir 2019 is dead serious stuff. Almost too serious. It's firm, stemmy, meaty and rather hulking Yarra Valley Pinot that pitches …
I always find it fascinating when a brand gets a PR agency. While previously it would just be a winemaker reaching out to say 'want to try my wines?', now …
Never shy are these Blue Pyrenees reds, and this Blue Pyrenees Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 screams its origins. Nothing wrong with that either. Spearmint, dark berries, some eucalypt, minty firm tannins. …
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, so a liquor shop seemed like fun. Needless to say, I discovered wine, and my life evolved with a unique dual focus - wine and the environment.
Twenty one years later and I spend my days wearing many (wine) hats, mostly as a writer, presenter and marketer. and judge at wine shows around the world...Read more