Believe the hype, the 2014 Hunter Valley vintage really is that good. Or at least that's what I wrote back in 2015, when it was being bandied about as 'the vintage of the century'. But three years …
From great value quaffers to absolute train wrecks, this month's compilation of 'almost' wines is a biggun'. I'm always conscious of my prejudice against overripeness and heavy-handed oak, but I call both as symptoms of poor …
Following on from my Cabernet compilation on Monday, let me introduce you to the Shiraz/Syrah selection. Twenty of the better Shiraz to pass the desk in April, all in one handy place. I particularly like the diversity …
Margan Shiraz 2016 Classically proportioned Hunter Valley Shiraz. Easy to overlook wines like this, but they'll always satisfy. Sweet plum earth, some background oak sweetness, plenty of acidity and a plummy savouriness. The appeal here is …
It's 3 days late I know, but here are a few wines that almost hit the mark this month. Some are just good, simple drinks. Others are genuinely average to poor... Hand Crafted Montepulciano 2016 From Geoff …
I'm in research mode this week, gathering information about the 2018 vintage in the Hunter (which looks pretty promising based on early accounts). The bad news for me personally is that I still can't drink - …
The title is pretty explanatory - here are 24 Chardies that hit the mark over the past few weeks, plus a few that almost made it but fell short. The Hits Bay of Fires Chardonnay 2016 What a …
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 …
Did you get a long weekend last week? I joined in the throng of people making their way northwards in search of sunshine, landing in Noosa (along with half of Victoria's winemakers apparently) for a …
After last week's feedback I'm going to be sticking to just one roundup a month on site going forward (thanks everyone for the feedback). This roundup features a kaleidoscope of Australian Shiraz to have passed the …
Aged Clare Riesling and aged Hunter Semillon - two superb Australian wine styles that deserve more love. Here's a pair of fine examples, both released as mature wines. Thomas Wines Cellar Reserve Braemore Hunter Valley Semillon …
While the perception of value is different for everyone, there are some times when the equation is unequivocal. Enter this Andevine Hunter Valley Semillon 2017. Andevine is the label of Andrew Leembruggen, the ex-McWilliams Mount Pleasant and …
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.