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 …
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.