Welcome to tranche 2 of the #MonthofAndrew wines. I probably haven't hit the cellar as hard this birthday with the imminent baby arrival (just over two weeks until due date), but this collection - opened at …
This is Part 2 of the Coleraine vertical described here. Actually, while Coleraine had top billing at the tasting, the vertical of Craggy Range Le Sol Syrah was probably even more intriguing. Le Sol first surged …
Usually, verticals have a purpose. An excuse for the winery to show off a wine, launch a new one, or just to remind everyone how good something used to be. But sometimes, a vertical has …
As close followers would have noticed, I've been on a mission this month, trying to get the sample pile back into shape. Now we're nearing the end of April and I'm still behind, so it's time …
Here are a few wines that almost made it in February (and a day late I know). A few serious disappointments here, and a few solid, simple wines. That Ferngrove was notably unbalanced - what's happening …
Here are a few of the wines that have passed the desk this month and almost made the grade. Some weren't far off the mark, others are absolute disasters. A few big disappointments of note: The …
Following on from the Chardonnay and Riesling hits of the summer, it's only fair that the other most popular grape at Graham HQ get's a post too. Below then is a list of the 22 Pinot …
Two years ago Xavier Bizot of Terre à Terre held a tasting comparing a selection of the 'old world' of the new world. A group of wines that you'd call Cabernet classics, vs some newer …
Here's a selection of wines that were almost great. Some are just good, solid wines that are occasionally unready, through to slightly underwhelming/unexciting, and rounded out with a few wines that miss the mark completely. Why post …
After last week's feedback I'm going to be sticking to just one roundup a month on site going forward (thanks everyone for the feedback). This roundup features a kaleidoscope of Australian Shiraz to have passed the …
In 1966 a research paper by University of WA agronomist Dr John Gladstones was released that declared Margaret River's climate of wet winter, moderate dry summers and gravelly soils ideal for viticulture. Inspired, Perth cardiologist Tom …
Aged Clare Riesling and aged Hunter Semillon - two superb Australian wine styles that deserve more love. Here's a pair of fine examples, both released as mature wines. Thomas Wines Cellar Reserve Braemore Hunter Valley Semillon …
Alkoomi Blackbutt 2010 Blackbutt is Alkoomi's top red, and always released with plenty of age under it's belt. How's this for precision - the exact blend on the back label is given to one decimal place! …
I opened this on Vignoble Dampt Les Preuses Chablis Grand Cru 2010 on Christmas Day with high hopes. Preuses is one of my favourite Grand Cru, and all the '10 Dampt Freres wines were drinkable at …
Working With Wine Highlights: Sweet Wines Flight 1 It seems like the second half of 2016 has passed by in a flash. Year. Gone. It's only now, however, that I'm finally in control of things. Kinda. Anyway, I'm going …
Following on from yesterday's 'Sangiovese in situ' post, today it's the turn of Chianti Classico. This lineup was presented directly following the Sangiovese bracket and follows the same format. Again, comments from Albiera and Paolo are …
I'm in catchup mode here, as this tasting was part of Seminar 1 of the Working With Wine series, and Seminar 2 is happening this week. Excuse my tardiness. Essentially this 'Sangiovese in situ' bracket was …
It's that time again. These wines haven't quite made a full write up this month. Odds and ends... Sunshine Creek Yarra Valley Cabernets 2013 No back label. Feel the mystery! Not quite in the same realm as the …
I googled Tignanello this afternoon while on the hunt for some information about alcohol percentage (didn't learn much), and discovered that the name is better known as a handbag brand than as a wine label. I'm …
It always surprises me how much interesting Italian wine come to Australia. Loads of it. The only problem is that much of the best doesn't leave the 'on-premise' (restaurants and bars) market, which means that unless …
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.