Xabregas are one of the better proponents of off-dry Riesling in Oz, even though I prefer the less-sweet bottlings. This Xabregas X2 Riesling is classified as 'sweet' on the back …
'Arguably the best value variety from Australia in decades' That's the Decanter opinion on Australian dry Riesling, a wine that - despite endless coaxing from wine writers, sommeliers, retailers and producers …
So, I'm happy to announce that the official Australian Wine Review sample pile is now nearing a manageable level! That's a very welcome improvement from the point it was at …
It feels like anything but Riesling weather in Sydney this weekend and I can only feel for the producers at the Wine Island festival who would have endured three days …
Hot on the heels of my ranty response to a rant on Australian Chardonnay styles, and Jancis' very complementary piece on modern Australian Chardonnay, let me present to you a …
Plantagenet Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Interesting to taste this up against a varied squad of Cabernet competitors. A surprisingly marginal wine to be honest, reflecting in this wine's variable reputation. The Plantagenet …
Xabregas Mad Men of Riesling Devolution 2014 'This is devolution'. To be honest, this is less wild and crazy than expected. It's just really fucking good - the best of the new …
Xabregas Artisan Riesling 2014 A worked, dry style Riesling fermented in neutral barrels on fine lees for texture. You can see the step-up over the standard Xabregas Mount Barker, with more …
Alkoomi Black Label Frankland River Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 It's Cabernet day here at Australian Wine Review, which means I really should have some cheddar on hand. Or goose, as a Bordeaux …
X by Xabregas Figtree Riesling 2014 The drier of the two X by Xabregas '14 Rieslings and, for mine, the better balanced wine. pH 3.22 Ta 7.35 RS 11g/L. Water green. Slightly …
X by Xabregas Spencer Riesling 2014 Light straw coloured, this 'medium dry' (according to the IRF scale on the back) Mount Barker Riesling has an old fashioned lemonade lemon juiciness on …
Xabregas Mount Barker Riesling 2014 Essential stats: pH 3.08, TA 7.8g/L, RS 4.2g/L. There's a broadness in these 2014 Great Southern Rieslings that I'm not enamoured with. A warm year, producing chunky, …
Houghton Jack Mann Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 I opened this alongside the Devil's Lair in a WA flagship death match, and they couldn't be any more different. Sourced exclusively from the Justin Vineyard …
Plantagenet Great Southern Riesling 2014 The forgotten Western Australian Riesling king, in fine form here. I do wonder why Plantagenet has lost some shine in recent years, for the Riesling, in …
Quick under $20 red wine shootout There's too few 'good value' wines here on Australian Wine Review, a situation that needs addressing. Hence why I quickly pulled together this lineup of sub …
Houghton fineries - verticals of Jack Mann, White Burgundy and more This article appeared in print earlier this year. Seems only right to reprint it here now and include the tasting …
Xabregas Mt Barker Shiraz 2011 (Great Southern, WA) 14.2%, Screwcap, $25 It's not hard to appreciate the savoury, evolved styling of Xabregas' wines. Much more complexity in every mouthful. Even this wine, …
Ferngrove Cossack Riesling 2013 (Great Southern, WA) 12.5%, Screwcap, $23 That this is just $23 is almost criminal. Australian Riesling is ridiculously good value. This has an Initial big hit of free sulphur, …
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.