Easily the most impressive of Nick Haselgrove's wines to pass the desk recently, this The Old Faithful Cafe Block Shiraz 2017 comes off a block in McLaren Vale planted in …
I haven't been tasting as much this week after Miss 2 brought home a virus from daycare and took out the whole house like a rogue wave at a Nippers …
Not all wines can be great. Plenty are just ok drinks. And some are just bad. Here is a selection of wines that almost made it in March 2021. You can …
Not a super hero, but an ambitious Victorian Super Tuscan take from David Messum. Born & Raised The Super T 2017 sees Heathcote Sangiovese & Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Merlot …
Apparently, 40 is the new 30. Or such. I hit the big 40 on Friday and to celebrate; I've been digging deep into the cellar (and beyond) and using it …
Mount Gambier has a surprising volume of Pinot Noir in the ground. Limestone soils too. But Pinot country? Yeah nah. The delicacy is almost never there. Even for the Coola …
Woah. Deadly serious Yarra sparkling is this Seville Estate Blanc de Blancs 2017. Wild fermented, barrel matured, spends 10 months in old barrels, 30 months on lees and zero dosage. …
Not all wines can be great. Plenty are just ok drinks. And some are just bad. Here then is a selection of wines that almost made it to a pass mark …
Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays. Joyous Festivus (take your pick of chosen intro). This has been a very weird Christmas for us. Here, situated in the only part of Australia in lockdown, Christmas …
Yarra Valley in full luncheon claret mode. That's the pitch with this Zonzo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 in all its leafy, elegant glory. It's understated, driven by acidity, elegance and …
Ambitious Nebbiolo from the Willoughby Bridge Vineyard. Spends 54 days on skins and 16 months in barrel. Light coppery red, the nose is quite floral, if tinged with brick dust …
Fun fact: Shiraz makes up over 25% of all winegrapes crushed in Australia, and South Australia has the largest vineyard area with 76,292ha (Wine Australia figures 19/20). But what I want …
Old vines is the angle behind this Tahbilk Old Vines Cabernet Shiraz 2017, of which Tahbilk has no shortage. The first note here is alcohol. Then the palate kicks in with …
I feel like a broken record, but this Blue Pyrenees Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 is another gruff and robust Cabernet. The pick of the estate range, which is full of gruff …
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