It's halfway through spring. Already. That escalated quickly... As the name suggests, these are the best pink/blush/salmon orange/reddish coloured Australian rosé to pass the Australian Wine Review tasting bench this springtime. …
I'm now officially back from holidays and have spent too many hours staring out the window and thinking about where I was just a few days ago - this beach …
I’m on holidays this week for the first time in a year (and it feels very very good), but I wanted to take a brief 5 minutes to point you …
Following closely after the superb Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz comes another revelatory release. This Terre à Terre Crayères Vineyard Cabernet Franc Shiraz 2018 is a blend of 63% Cab Franc to …
The latest step forward into premium wine for Bill Calabria and family, this Calabria Alternato 2017 is an unusual blend of Barossa Durif, Nero d’Avola, Montepulciano and Shiraz. Blackberry fruited, warm …
Easily the most embryonic Curly Chard I've had in some time, with this Curly Flat Chardonnay 2018 looking definitively cool climate. Caramel nougat over a palate that is tighter, leaner, snap …
Jason Schwarz's typically approachable Meta wines in good form again. This Schwarz Wine Co. Meta Mataro 2019 is handpicked Barossa fruit, wild fermented with 28% whole bunches. A berry delight …
This Tapanappa Whalebone Cab Shiraz 2016 sure packs in flavour, but it would be more compelling if it was less ripe. 85% Wrattonbully Cabernet and 15% Adelaide Hills Shiraz (from the …
Just like any of the recent vintages (like this, or way back here) this Wirra Wirra Church Block 2018 is a success. A reminder that affordable, widely available reds don't …
McLaren Vale Cabernet is most underrated. Or, it's just a bit forgotten in the Vale hierarchy, even though the region's Cab is amongst the oldest in South Australia. This Penny’s …
Perhaps the least natural winner of the Thorn-Clarke Single Vineyard Selection range (behind wines like the Shiraz), but what do you expect for a Barossan Malbec? Actually, this Thorn-Clarke Single …
Modern Yarra Pinot be damned, this Seville Estate Pinot Noir 2019 is smoky, smouldering, meaty and tangy, the style lifted by acidity and morello cherry with a little bacon on …
Thick, purple fruited Pyrenees Shiraz with deep, chunky and powerful purple berry fruit and layered with sweet oak. Oh yes, this Blue Pyrenees Section One Shiraz 2018 makes a big …
While not quite in the same echelon as the Mataro, this Thorn-Clarke Single Vineyard Selection Grenache 2018 is handy drinking. From the 'Old Vine Block' it's all bright red raspberry Grenache …
Matt East from Rouleur normally comes and visits at this time of year with all of his new releases in tow. We talk about wine, a bit of cycling, the …
Mark this Forty Paces Pinot Noir 2017 on the 'try me ' sheet. Setup by Jason Peasley in 2001, Forty Paces is a 1.5ha plot at Pipers Creek in the Macedon …
While not quite of the same calibre as the exceptional Tiers, this Tapanappa Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay 2018 is another solid Adelaide Hills Chardonnay. Tight and citrussy lemon butter style, the palate …
This Hickinbotham The Nest Cabernet Franc 2018 or the regal Cab Sauv? It’s a toss-up on first glance as both wines are so impressive. The straight Cabernet ultimate rises above, …
Always like Jason Schwarz's Meta wines. Barossa drinkability plus. This Schwarz Meta Grenache 2019 is a bright, light and vibrant style, sourced from old vine fruit, and all tank matured …
This Longview Devils Elbow Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 is solid Adelaide Hills Cabernet, but honestly, the Saturno brothers should just graft this over to Nebbiolo (which they do so well). Dusty and …
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 environment.
Twenty years later and I spend my days wearing many (wine) hats, mostly as a writer, presenter and marketer.
I now judge at wine shows around the world, sit on the Australian Wine List of the Year awards panel and was once a Wine Journalism Young Gun (but baby that was years ago).
Currently, I write features for a variety of publications including National Liquor News, Gourmet Traveller WINE and the RAS, plus I'm a former Lifestyle FOOD channel wine expert.
In 2019 and 2020 I was voted in the Top 30 Best Wine Critics in The World, and in my spare time, I'm a sucker for punishment and run trail ultra marathons, much to the delight of my long-suffering family. Read more about me here or get in touch to book your next wine event with me here