A self explanatory title, here are 12 of the best 12 Chardonnay to pass the desk in July 2018. If anything, this list just highlights the high standard of Chardonnay in Australia. Still our most planted white …
Bannockburn Extended Lees Contact Geelong Chardonnay 2011 Here's a wine that fits somewhere in between experiment and frankenwine (depending on your perspective). It's a Chardonnay from Bannockburn in Geelong that spent an astonishing four lees in barrel/tank …
Bannockburn 1314 A.D. Pinot Noir 2016 The last vintage of Bannockburn's entry-level (ish) 1314 Pinot I had was wild. Polarising wild. With 100% whole bunches, it was a sappy, bitter beast that had depth, but was way …
Xanadu Reserve Margaret River Chardonnay 2014 Xanadu's run of great Chardonnay continues. This is superb modern Margaret River Chardonnay, of the type that makes people wax lyrical about Chardonnay from the region. There's a depth of …
The tasting of the year is back again. By my count this is at least the fourth, possibly fifth time I've been to one of Voyager Estate's annual masterclasses and, again, it remains one of the …
Here's another new name to add to the list. Livewire is the label of Anthony Brain, a former chef who has spent time as winemaker for Bellarine Estate and De Bortoli (amongst others). Ant's been focused on …
Now this is a fun concept. Austins & Co. have decided to explore just how much impact the 'hand of man' can be, have by inviting two winemakers to do what they want with two identical …
Lethbridge Allegra Geelong Chardonnay 2012 This sits on the cusp of greatness. Sourced from the ultra low yielding Rebenburg vineyard at Mount Duneen, this was produced from handpicked grapes, whole bunch pressed to new oak, the natural …
Between Five Bells Geelong White 2013 'For no other reason than to be delicious'. That's the catchtag on David Fesq and team's Between Five Bells wines, but that's selling things very short. For these are thoughtful, creative …
Lethbridge Pinot Gris 2014 (Geelong, Vic) Apparently there are now more Pinot Gris than Riesling vines in Australia (and more in Australia than France) according to this Lethbridge label. Sad state of affairs really as Riesling …
Lethbridge Indra Shiraz 2012 (Geelong, Vic)14%, Screwcap, $95 I'll never grow tired of the little thought piece on the front of the Lethbridge labels. The font is small, which may put off some with average eyesight …
Between Five Bells Red 2013 (Geelong, Vic) 14.5%, Cork, $32 The Between Five Bells label is the only wine label that I've ever got lost in. Like a Where's Wally of the wine world, nothing quite beats the …
Lethbridge Pinot Noir 2012 (Geelong, Vic) 12.5%, Screwcap, $42 This is a triumphant wine, from a winery doing very good things. The eternal challenge with Pinot Noir is to balance ripeness with delicacy, and this Lethbridge nails it. …
Lethbridge Que Syrah Syrah 2012 (Geelong, Vic)12.5%, Screwcap, $30 A divisive wine this, really pushing the cool clime Shiraz/Syrah wagon. I like, but not for all. Mulchy and suggestively whole-bunch yet 100% destemmed (apparently). Lively flavours of …
Lethbridge Chardonnay 2011 (Geelong, Vic) 14%, Screwcap It takes a special site, careful viticultural and some serious skill to make a smart wine in a hard vintage. Hi-five Ray Nadeson and team. Loads of bubblegum funk here …
Lethbridge Pinot Noir 2011 (Geelong, Vic)13%, Screwcap, $40 'It is in the difficult years that skill in both viticulture and winemaking is actually required'. Wise words on the bottle of this Lethbridge. Actually, the wordy Lethbridge labels …
Lethbridge Indra Shiraz 2010 (Geelong, Vic) 14%, Screwcap, $95 www.lethbridgewines.com I did a double-take when I saw the price of this. $95? Woah. That's some serious dollars, even for as celebrated a producer as Lethbridge. Lucky this is damn …
Two fine new 2012 Pinots: Gibbston Valley 'School House' and Clyde Park 'Block D' I'm on a bit of a Pinot Noir kick this week, with two new Pinots open on the bench tonight (more on that …
Lethbridge Ménage a Noir Pinot Noir 2012 (Geelong, Vic) 13.5%, Screwcap, $30 Source: Sample www.lethbridgewines.com Intended to be 'good value, approaching and interesting' and I can't disagree. Produced from handpicked Bellarine and Moorabool Valley grapes, this carries a lovely pinosity …
Austins Chardonnay 2012 (Geelong, Vic)12.5%, Screwcap, $30Source: Samplewww.austinswines.com.au 'Pristine natural acidity' says the label. 'restrained' and 'light oak' also feature. For mine, I think this wine just tips a little too far into restraint and heads …
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.