Yarra Valley Cabernet that has a foot in both camps - this Boat O’Craigo Braveheart Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 isa little Yarra claret, a little more contemporary riper style. Pencil shavings, leafy …
Never shy are these Blue Pyrenees reds, and this Blue Pyrenees Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 screams its origins. Nothing wrong with that either. Spearmint, dark berries, some eucalypt, minty firm tannins. …
Pyrenean or Pyreneean? Both sound dangerously close to perineum. Anyway, that's the only lingering question about this Blue Pyrenees Estate Shiraz 2018, which is a poster child for what makes …
This Eldridge Estate Clonal Blend Pinot Noir 2018 is a blend from 4 barrels, covering all seven clones of Pinot Noir planted at Eldridge Estate. It's ripe, generous and silken, although …
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 July and August 2021. Sometimes …
I wasn't drinking when I opened this Bicknell FC Applecross Pinot Noir 2018 and regretted it. This sort of seduction, this effortless Pinot style is what I want to be …
While this Yangarra High Sands Grenache 2018 is the pinnacle of the Yangarra Grenache tree in price, it's not always my favourite wine in the lineup. Call it personal tastes, …
A soft, slurpable, likeable and rather classic big brand Barossa red is this Orlando Printz Shed Northern Barossa Shiraz 2018. And great to see the use of Orlando too! Good to …
I'm still confused by the heirachy here, as there is this Taltarni Estate Shiraz 2018 and a Taltarni Estate Old Vine Shiraz 2019. They look the same too. It's not …
Bendigo via St Emilion? Nah. This Balgownie Estate Merlot Cabernet Franc 2018 is a very Aussie big red. Plenty of plums, a dash of eucalypt, the palate chunky, a bit minty, …
Sangiovese, from a region not known for Sangiovese (Bendigo), but looking everything bit as autentico as you'd want. Good, drinking fare in this Balgownie Black Label Sangiovese 2018. It's cliche, but …
Long live the richer, more buxom style of Mornington Peninsula Chardonnay. While modern, finessed, 'no malo here' Australian Chardonnay has its place, there is a lot to be said for …
Ahhh, the Viognier paradox. How can such a fabled grape be such a hard sell? Jess Hill Smith was exasperated about Viognier's challenges at the Yalumba The Caley vertical a few months back, …
It's fascinating to see how the wines of Yangarra have evolved in the last few years. They were always good, but now they feel speccy. And you can see it …
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