More birthday wines (2021 edition)
February 17, 2021
This is where I was for the past week: Well, not right there, but just a few clicks off to the right on the beautiful NSW South Coast. Would you look …
Review: Meerea Park Alexander Munro Aged Release Semillon 2011
January 21, 2021
Always a pleasure to check in on older Sem and this Meerea Park Alexander Munro Aged Release Semillon 2011 is in a good place. Gentle, rounded and toasty, the flattering palate …
2011 Blain Gagnard Le Montrachet vs a declassified 2011 Tapanappa Chardonnay. You’ll never guess the winner!
November 17, 2019
Actually, there wasn't really a winner between these two. It was a tie. And what a talking point. This was one of several matchups served over lunch at the 40 year …
Why drink industrial NV Champagne when you have Adelaide Hills sparkling like this?
November 4, 2019
Q: You have $50 to spend on sparkling wine. Do you: a) Buy a bottle of discounted, ‘big house’ NV Champagne? b) Spend the dollars on a premium, likely vintage Australian sparkling? It’s …
Working With Wine 2019 Bordeaux – feat. vertical of Haut-Bailly & the epic 2015 Cos d’Estournel
April 30, 2019
Biennially, Australian wine importer and distributor Negociants Australia put on what is arguably the greatest wine education/seminar series in the country, the Working With Wine Program. Today is the first day, …
Sydney International Wine Competition 2019 – a look at the (unusual) winners
February 28, 2019
I'm finally getting back into some sort of normal programming this week, or whatever that means when you're a new parent. The little one is sleeping, but the days now …
Checking in with Louis Jadot
February 25, 2019
It’s been fascinating to watch the revival of the big Burgundian negociants. Historically, names like Faiveley, Chanson and Louis Jadot have been treated with a certain disdain here in Australia, tagged as …
Six offbeat Shiraz Blends (and not just from South Australia)
November 8, 2018
For this week's entertainment, I thought I'd pull out all the Shiraz dominant blends that aren't your usual suspects and ended up with these six wines. Some are just slightly unconventional …
d’Arenberg The Athazagoraphobic Cat 2011
October 12, 2018
d’Arenberg The Athazagoraphobic Cat 2011 Quirky name and an odd blend of Sagrantino and Cinsault. Montefalco meets the south of France. The price doesn't fit either, but that's by the by. …
Craggy Range Le Sol Syrah 2002-2016 vertical – a massive style evolution
September 14, 2018
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 …
NZ First Growth: Te Mata Estate Coleraine vertical 1982-2016
September 12, 2018
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. …
The one memorable wine from my Hawaiian holiday… that came from home
July 2, 2018
After just over two weeks in the Hawaiian warmth I'm back at the desk and into the grind today, labouring through Sydney's chilly mid-winter with sunshine but a dream. Despite trying …
Castello Di Brolio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2011
April 4, 2018
Castello Di Brolio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2011 Most Gran Selezione leaves me a bit cold. This, again, has too much oak. But it's sexy oak. Does that help? Luxurious oak. Cadbury …
More top tier Australian Nebbiolo from Virago
January 4, 2018
I first tasted the Virago wines back in 2015, describing it as a 'label to watch'. After retasting the range now in 2018, I'm noting that down as a great call …
About me – Andrew Graham
.
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
