There's always questions when the founder of a famous winery leaves. Will the wine style change? Prices go up? Labels disappear? No matter how many times the new owner says that it will be 'business as …
It's almost like Spain doesn't exist. Here in Australia we bow down at the feet of the best French and Italian red wines, willingly forking out mega dollars for Burgundy and wads of cash for Barolo. …
I love it when interesting new wines from unknown wineries (to me at least) turn up at the door. It's like wine Christmas. Brackenwood is a vineyard at Kuitpo in the Adelaide Hills owned by ex-somm …
From great value quaffers to absolute train wrecks, this month's compilation of 'almost' wines is a biggun'. I'm always conscious of my prejudice against overripeness and heavy-handed oak, but I call both as symptoms of poor …
Following on from last month's focus on other reds and Shiraz, this May I'm all about red blends. It's always frustrating that we seem so singularly focused on mono-varietal wines in Australia, as it often makes for less …
For the final post in my 'wines that moved me in April' series comes this final collection - that I'm calling the 'better reds that aren't Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz or Pinot Noir'. As a primer, check …
Following on from my Cabernet compilation on Monday, let me introduce you to the Shiraz/Syrah selection. Twenty of the better Shiraz to pass the desk in April, all in one handy place. I particularly like the diversity …
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 …
Goodman Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2015 There's a great freshness to this new range of wines from Kate Goodman. Understatement, low alcohol, purity. They're Yarra wines of old, but not fusty. Just elegant. This Pinot is the …
Warramate Shiraz 2015 Gently spicy, understated Yarra Shiraz with delicacy and lovely juicy fruit. It's richer than the 13% alcohol suggests, fractionally lifted up by oak sweetness, but with a palate that beautifully balances out freshness …
Soumah Equilibrio Syrah 2015 If you've got a vineyard in the lower parts of the Yarra Valley (ie Valley foor) and you aren't grafting over to Shiraz (and Gamay for that matter) then you're missing a …
Main Ridge Half Acre Pinot Noir 2015 What will happen at Main Ridge? That's the question looming large when you pour this Pinot. Actually, there's many questions. Will the Sexton family, who bought the estate in 2015 do 'the …
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.