Opawa Pinot Noir 2017 Marlborough Pinot from the Nautilus empire - easy attraction here and well priced. It's a little lean, complete with a dash of mint. But that's part of …
Bugalugs Shiraz 2018 This is good, inexpensive, bright and juicy modern Barossa Shiraz. Plum juice aplenty in an affable style. Minimal oak, minimal tannins, just genuine, simple Barossa Shiraz. A bit …
Millon Estate The Royal GSM 2017 Every time I see Millon Estate I write Million Estate.... This is a tick up on the Shiraz, if also a little syrupy. 12 months …
Millon Estate The Royal Shiraz 2016 A new name to me that looks to be export-focused, with the wines made by Angus Wardlaw (Brothers at War). Based on the Millon Wines …
Soumah Al Fiori Rosato 2018 Soumah can make decent Italian rosé too. This Rosato is a blend of Yarra Valley Nebbiolo and Cabernet Sauvignon wild fermented in barrel with a little …
Pirathon Gold Shiraz 2016 Following on from the Black Shiraz comes the top dog Pirathon red. Interestingly, I preferred the Black, but that's just me. From the De Fazio and Hillview …
Pirathon Black Shiraz 2016 Just when you thought the luscious, mega ripe, sweet-oaked 'Parker-style' Barossan reds have disappeared, up lobs the Pirathon reds. But for all the largesse, these are very …
Ubertas Shiraz Cabernet 2017 A new name for me, and plenty of promise. Ubertas is the label of the brothers Kevin and Phil Liu who bought a vineyard at Nurioopta. This …
Brothers at War The Old Man Eden Valley Syrah 2017 Another well balanced release from Angus & Sam Wardlaw and well priced. This is sourced from their Pendee Farm vineyard just …
Auld Family Wines Wilberforce Barossa Cabernet Shiraz 2015 The Auld family name is synonymous with South Australian wine, with William Patrick (Pat) Auld known as one of the early Adelaide vignerons. …
Tim Smith Eden Valley Viognier 2018 Easily one of the best Viognier in the country, although it's a shallow pool as so many producers get the V-weed so wrong. What I …
Two Hands Gnarly Dudes Shiraz 2017 I always like the Two Hands packaging. Proprietary bottle and cool names. This is agreeable Shiraz too - a plump Barossa red in a classic …
Barossa Valley Wine Company Gravel Track Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre 2017 The Mataro/Mourvedre contrast goes on. I've seen it called either in either region now. Mataro is more Australian for mine. Anyway, …
A quick update - from today, and well into the month of July, I'm bulk posting a huge backlog of tasting notes, just to get on top of the sample …
For once, you can judge this Longview The Piece Shiraz 2016 by its label. Here's a wine that cohesively matches up concept, packaging and product. I love it. View this post on …
When I first landed in the wine industry nineteen years ago, the Peter Lehmann Stonewell Shiraz was one of my benchmarks. As a wide-eyed 19 year old I lusted over …
There are few more blue chip names in Australian wine than Steve Pannell (aka S.C. Pannell). Son of Moss Wood founders Bill and Sandra Pannell, Steve is the only winemaker in …
Not all wines can be great. In fact plenty are just ok drinks. And some are just bad... Here's a selection of wines that didn't quite excite me in May. Several …
There isn't much local Sangiovese that floats my boat/turns my knobs/insert analogy here. But this Pizzini Forza di Ferro Sangiovese 2016 is good. Real good. Importantly, there's this ferrousness here, a …
Sometimes, it's the wonky wines that you really want to see. In a world sodden with characterless, 'safe' premium drinks, it's things like this Topper’s Mountain Touriga & Tintas 2018 that …
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.