Happy New Year! I'm celebrating the start of 2019 with a little tasting note house cleaning, how about you? Actually I'm mainly at the beach. Before we crack out the towels for today, here are 15 …
From near misses to faulty junk. Here is a collection of the wines that almost won me over in October 2018. A special, frustrating mention to the two Leasingham wines. I grew up worshipping the mid …
The title says it all, these are 10 of the best Shiraz to pass the desk this month. This isn't a comprehensive last, as I probably taste somewhere between 6000-7000 wines a year (average 16-19 wines …
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 …
Here's a selection of wines that were almost great. Some are just good, solid wines that are occasionally unready, through to slightly underwhelming/unexciting, and rounded out with a few wines that miss the mark completely. Why post …
It feels like I've had a lot of premium Cabernet over the past few weeks, especially after the Voyager extravaganza and the Margaret River 50th Anniversary tastings. But no point in stopping now is there? This collection …
While I struggle through the man flu and can't smell anything, here are a few Shiraz/Syrah to pass the desk recently. Leeuwin Estate Art Series Margaret River Shiraz 2014 This is the best Art Series Shiraz I've …
Following on from my post about 2015 vintage generalisations, here is a roundup of a swag of 2015 reds from Victoria and South Australia that have passed the desk recently. Mornington and Yarra the winners here, …
Q: Have you noticed any trends among the wines this year? A: 'The quality of the 2015 vintage in South Australia and Victoria'. That's James Halliday, talking trends in an article on the Wine Companion website. …
Balgownie Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Ripeness. That's the focal point in this Balgownie Cabernet, which flirts with some of the rum and raisin dried fruit characters seen in other '13 Vic reds, but saved from the …
The Story Grampians Shiraz 2014 Rory Lane's latest Shiraz and it's a beauty - if in need of another 2 years minimum to show it's best. Sourced from three Grampians Shiraz vineyards - Rice's Vineyard, Hyde …
If there is one winery whose new release wines I'd like to see with more bottle age it is Balgownie. There's a sturdiness to the structure of the Bendigo reds which suggest they'll a) live …
Balgownie Estate Old Vine Shiraz 2013 The pointy end of the Balgownie Range and from a dry, warm vintage. This comes off the oldest 12 rows planted in 1969 and spends 24 months in oak. Every bit …
Balgownie aren't classically known for their Chardonnay, but the classically full-flavoured style of the Balgownie Chard has won plenty of friends over the years. On that point, I'm still amazed at the disconnect that exists in …
A few alternate reds from the week. Lino Ramble Tom Bowler McLaren Vale Nero d'Avola 2014 Another smart wine under this label. Handpicked, biodynamically farmed grapes that were wild fermented, basket pressed and then bottled unfined with …
On the back of a week of Victorian Shiraz (including top wines from Lethbridge and Willow Creek), I thought it only natural that we carry on the theme this week, with a collection of Victorian …
Easing back in with three bold Balgownie Shiraz I managed to sleep all the way through overnight, gladly not waking up at 5am again. Take that jet lag! Tonight I'm celebrating with a beer and three Shiraz …
Balgownie Estate Black Label Bendigo Sangiovese 2013 Tony Winspear from Balgownie wrote a great letter to accompany this Sangio, where he described the parched spot where the Balgownie Sangio is planted as 'lizard country'. Love it. There's much …
Balgownie Estate Old Vines Shiraz 2009 (Bendigo, Vic) I've not seen this wine before, but certainly the background story is solid. Sourced from the best rows of Balgownie's original 1969 Bendigo plantings the fruit hand picked, hand …
Turners Crossing Shiraz Viognier 2012 (Bendigo, Vic)14.5%, Screwcap, $25 This Shiraz spends between 30-60 days on skins, which is quite rare for Australian Shiraz (where short warm ferments and early pressing off skins are the norm). …
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.