For the back half of this working week, I'm in our nation's capital, Canberra, to judge at the Winewise Championship. This is one of my favourite wine shows on the calendar, …
Chardonnay - aka the king of white wines (which makes Riesling the queen) - gets pride of place in the Graham household, regularly jumping the barrier from 'tasting' to 'drinking' …
Domaine Tissot Château-Chalon Vin Jaune 2009 Now here is a wine that deserves it's reputation. I'd put it up against the fine wines of the world, sitting alongside the greatest Burgundy, …
Some very brief highlights from Rootstock 2016 I only managed a single morning session at Rootstock 2016 (the sustainable wine/food fair - see previous iterations here or here) this year, mainly because I …
Domaine de la Pinte Savagnin 2007 Old school Jura Savagnin style, this spent 5 years in oak. It's every bit the fusty oxidative style, with mothball and a hint of decay, …
Les Chais du Vieux Bourg L'Etoile QV d'Etoiles 2011 A blend of Chardonnay and Savagnin, this comes from Ludwig Bindernagel - recently called one of the most exciting producers in the …
Les Chais du Vieux Bourg Jura Poulsard 2011 At what point does a fault become too much? Or to put it differently, what faults are an instant turnoff for you? Personally, I …
Domaine de l’Octavin Vin de France Pamina Chardonnay 2012 The only 'mainstream' variety in the l'Octavin range and also the most boring. There, I said it. Really quite volatile, which is surprising …
Domaine de l’Octavin Vin de France Dorabella Poulsard 2013 Following on from the oddity of the Trousseau, this looks almost 'conventional'. Sort of. Sourced from fifty year old vines, this Jura Poulsard …
Caves Jean Bourdy Chateau Chalon 1995 Vin Jaune has to be one of the more challenging classic wine styles out there. The famous 'yellow wine' of the Jura is an obscurity in …
Domaine de l’Octavin Vin de France Corvées de Trousseau 2013 Welcome to the pointy end of natural wine. This Trousseau is instantly fascinating and divisive, all at once. The low alcohol (9%) …
Domaine l'Octavin Vin de France Foutre d'Escampette 2014 It seems that everyone is getting on the 'pet nat' (Pétillant Naturel - a style of rustic sparkling produced by bottling fermenting grape …
At 18, I started working in a small suburban bottleshop, largely to buy cheap beer. It was my first year of university, slogging through physics and chemistry, so a liquor shop seemed like fun. But then, I fell in love with wine and craft beer, and it took over my life.
Twenty three years later and I spend my days wearing many beverage hats and judge at wine shows around the world...Read more