The premise with this collection is very very simple - I've been hitting the sample pile hard over the past week or two, and these 30 wines were not only the most quintessentially smashable Australian …
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 …
This edition of the Almost Club is a few days late as I was busily not doing much in Noosa (photo attached. We love Noosa). Here than are 20 wines that almost hit the mark in …
Brave Souls The Able Seaman GSM 2016 My pick from the Brave Souls releases. Just to recap, Brave Souls is ulia Weirich with the Sons of Eden crew making quite classic Barossan wines in good packaging …
There isn't much that Stepen Pannell - aka S.C. Pannell - hasn't done. Here's a winemaker that has won a Jimmy Watson Trophy (twice if you count Hardys). Worked for a big company and then gone …
From solid drinks to faulty train wrecks (and everything in between), the Almost Club is for wines that didn't hit the Australian Wine Review 'recommended' mark (17/20, 90/100) in August 2018. Note that there is friendly …
After getting stuck into Penfolds this week for a lack of authenticity in their mooted new releases, I figure it's only right today to highlight a producer that is making genuine wines. Schwarz Wine Co. is …
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 …
Chapel Hill Parsons Nose Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre 2016 Another runaway bargain from Chapel Hill. Hearty and even a little rustic, the style driven by blocky tannins rather than just fruit. Indeed its chewy, licoricey and so much …
Here are a few of the wines that have passed the desk this month and almost made the grade. Some weren't far off the mark, others are absolute disasters. A few big disappointments of note: The …
I love Christmas. Here in Sydney town the sun shines, the water sparkles and life seems a little brighter - which is so welcome after another rough week (an infected wisdom tooth. I'm cursed). These Atze's …
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 …
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, …
Here's a producer that consistently overperforms in the value stakes. Sons of Eden is the brand of ex-Pinnacle Drinks/Dorrien Estate winemaker Corey Ryan and noted grapegrower and viticulturist Simon Cowham (ex-Yalumba) - two well-known figures in …
I've been engrossed in moving house this month so less wine than usual. Will be rectifying that this week. Eden Road The Long Road Canberra Pinot Gris 2016 A 'ramato' style skin contact Pinot Gris from Team Eden …
Old Jarvie 'The Even Hand' Grenache Shiraz Mataro 2015 Old Jarvie is the new Hither & Yon label dedicated to Admiral John Jervis, the First Earl of St Vincent (whom South Australia's Gulf of St Vincent …
Chapel Hill The Parson Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre 2015 The Wine Formerly Known As Parsons Nose. This is exactly what you'd want in an inexpensive South Aussie red too. Bright, juicy, primary purple fruit, a hint of nuts …
Exclusive to Dan Murphys. Clever little wine this - taps into the easy attractiveness of juicy Barossa Grenache (and the rest)... Deep ruby, the nose is all red fruit and little oak, with the Grenache dominating …
Grenache is the future. It's not quite at the 'so hot right now' critical mass of cool, but Grenache and Grenache blends are well on their way to becoming a trend. I'm calling it now... It's not …
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.