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 …
It's roundup time! These are some of the odds and ends that haven't quite made it up on to the site so far this month. Wines are listed from higher to …
Paul Mas Sauvignon Blanc 2011 (France)12%, $7.99 (Exclusive to Dan Murphys) While the Chardonnay has some winemaking cleverness to cover up the holes, this looks like ordinary grapes laid bare. Green and …
Paul Mas Chardonnay 2011 (France)13.5%, Screwcap, $7.99 (Dan Murphys exclusive) Forget Chile or Brazil, the real cheap wine onslaught is going to come from a more traditional sources - such as …
Marcel Deiss Riesling 2011 (Alsace, France)Cork, circa $40Source: Tastingwww.marceldeiss.com From Marcel Deiss' 'fruit' series, this looks particularly rich and botrytised this vintage, apparently representative of a year with quite a bit …
Paul Mas Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 (France)13.5%, Screwcap, $6.99 Source: SampleA Dan Murphy exclusive apparently, the most importantly thing to notice is the price. $6.99 is cask wine territory and …
Charles Heidsieck - my new favourite NV Champagne That title is a bit of a misnomer actually. The Charles Heidsieck 'standard' NV is not actually all that new to me. Indeed, …
Domaine de la Grange des Pères Blanc 2007 (Languedoc, France) 13%, Cork, $150+ Source: Dinner Guest Apparently French restaurateurs fight to get this cult white, such is its heralded reputation. The appeal is …
Delamotte Blanc de Blancs 2002 (Champagne, France) 12.5%, Cork, $135 Source: A glass from someone else's bottlewww.salondelamotte.com The Champagne you're having when you're not having Salon, Delamotte is usually a wine of some …
Tasty modern Cornas: Vincent Paris Granit 30 + 60 I'm a genuinely big fan of Cornas, the hearty, rugged charm and depth of the better wines not lost on me …
Abbotts & Delaunay Cumulo Nimbus Minervois Syrah Carignan 2010 14%, Cork, $40 Source: Sample www.fourthwavewine.com.au This is what Minervois is all about - rich, meaty, rustic and hearty flavours. Bring on sausages and ribs …
Chant Du Midi Syrah 2008 (Minervoise, France) 13.5%, Screwcap, $21 Source: Sample www.echelonwine.com.au From Minervois and proudly wearing the rusticity of the region with pride. Neutral, dirt and old oak nose. Slightly meaty, pongy and …
Bright eyed and bushy tailed Chablis Billaud Simon Chablis 2010 (Chablis, France) 12.5%, Cork, $25 Source: Retail www.billaud-simon.com I've got no shortage of time for good, simple AC Chablis. That purity, that acidity, that freshness …
Dard & Ribo Note the hand written labels in the background there. Dard & Ribo Hermitage Blanc and Rouge 2009 René-Jean Dard and François Ribo first established their domaine in 1984 and now …
More old goodies: 98 Petit Cheval, 90 Montrose, 83 Unico + more.... As mentioned here, I've been helping to 'drink out a cellar' recently, a task that is - given the …
Chateau Riotor Rosé 2009 (Provence, France) $21, Screwcap Source: Sample www.chateauriotor.com A poster boy for the rosé revolution if ever there was one. This vintage sees it in blinding form too.Yum yum. Classic Provence …
A Rosé threeway 3 X pink love I'm feeling capricious tonight, hence the provocative title, but I really couldn't help myself with this little rosé comparo (too many pink references I think …
Bécasse Cellar Night + Grower Champagne Inside Bécasse. Good wine list too I've just returned from a superb dinner at Sydney's Becasse restaurant which celebrated the launch of the new 'Bécasse Cellar Night', an …
Carmes de Rieussec 2005 (Sauternes, France)Cork, $30, 14%The second label of Rieussec and produced in the same manner as the grand vin, this is 85% Semillon, 10% Sauv Blanc & …
Jean Foillard Morgon Cuvee Corcelette 2007 (Beaujolais, France)$55, Cork, 13.0%Ahh, lovely. Natural wine done good. This is the companion to the Cote du Py tasted earlier this year, this wine …
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