I didn't expect to like the Thorn-Clarke single vineyard wines so much. But they work. Old school weight, delivered with polish and a deft hand. From the Canyon Block at Thorn-Clarke’s …
Between 2000 and 2010, Tempranillo was going to be the Next Big Thing, as the fastest growing (by vineyard area planted) variety globally. While the Temp. train has slowed a …
The name is quite a mouthful. But this Schild Estate Edgar Schild Old Bush Vine Reserve Grenache 2018 is just approachable and easy. Bright, ripe and glossy mod. Grenache. All mid palate …
While not in the same tier as the other Yalumba Grenache this Yalumba Bush Vine Grenache 2018 is such affable drinking. From dry grown vines at Vine Vale. this generous, …
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 over the past few …
What a joy these Yalumba Grenache wines are. Pure celebrations of old vines, and complemented by winemaking that is deliberately understated. Well fucking done. This Yalumba Tri-Centenary Grenache 2015 is the top …
Enter another satisfyingly Barossan red. This stubby bottle of Schild Estate Narrow Road Vineyard Shiraz Cabernet 2017 lobs up an unending decadence that is undeniably attractive. It's not subtle, oak plays a …
It's time to get serious. Serious, about Barossa Shiraz. Typically we don't drink much Barossa Shiraz in this house, purely because fighting through some of the oak and alcohol excesses isn't …
Don't mind me, I'll just be over here banging on about how good Barossa Grenache is (again). This red is a year old than the Vine Vale and a different …
Grenache is one of the most exciting varieties in the country. Australia is blessed with a wondrous resource of old vine Grenache and it's only in the last decade or …
While Jason Schwarz's most recent releases are very much nouveau Barossan in style - vital, mid weight wines - there are still a few arch-traditional winners in the Schwarz range, …
We love Grenache Shiraz blends at Graham HQ. It's a formula that satisfies often and typically at affordable prices, this quintet of Shiraz/Grenache-based blends can be evidence. They're not superstars, …
Following closely on the Top 20 Chardonnay comes the Top 20 Shiraz of February 2020. For this lineup I dug deeper into the sample pile, searching - perhaps blindly - for …
In what has become a semi-annual event, I ventured out into the Armageddon-esque sideways rain on Saturday to taste the trophy winners (and more) from the Sydney International Wine Competition. You're …
Line 'em up, these two full bodied reds pack in an awful lot of flavour for $30 or less. Strictly speaking these aren't quite what I'd go for on a …
Here are 24 tasty white and pink wines for your immediate drinking pleasure. Wines that, to my tastes at least, are in the prime of their lives and should be consumed …
Meta: An abstraction from a well-known concept It's easy to get jaded about Shiraz, and particularly Barossa Shiraz, when you're exposed to a lot of it. The singularity of 'plums, alcohol, …
This is just a taste of the finest big reds that passed the desk this November. Background notes in italics. Oakridge Original Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 Spends 3 weeks on skins post …
Why stop at just 10 great Shiraz for the month? Here is the follow on list of the best 11-34 Shiraz to pass the desk in October 2019. Terre à Terre …
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 environment.
Twenty years later and I spend my days wearing many (wine) hats, mostly as a writer, presenter and marketer.
I now judge at wine shows around the world, sit on the Australian Wine List of the Year awards panel and was once a Wine Journalism Young Gun (but baby that was years ago).
Currently, I write features for a variety of publications including National Liquor News, Gourmet Traveller WINE and the RAS, plus I'm a former Lifestyle FOOD channel wine expert.
In 2019 and 2020 I was voted in the Top 30 Best Wine Critics in The World, and in my spare time, I'm a sucker for punishment and run trail ultra marathons, much to the delight of my long-suffering family. Read more about me here or get in touch to book your next wine event with me here