It's halfway through spring. Already. That escalated quickly... As the name suggests, these are the best pink/blush/salmon orange/reddish coloured Australian rosé to pass the Australian Wine Review tasting bench this springtime. …
Just like any of the recent vintages (like this, or way back here) this Wirra Wirra Church Block 2018 is a success. A reminder that affordable, widely available reds don't …
McLaren Vale Cabernet is most underrated. Or, it's just a bit forgotten in the Vale hierarchy, even though the region's Cab is amongst the oldest in South Australia. This Penny’s …
Matt East from Rouleur normally comes and visits at this time of year with all of his new releases in tow. We talk about wine, a bit of cycling, the …
This Hickinbotham The Nest Cabernet Franc 2018 or the regal Cab Sauv? It’s a toss-up on first glance as both wines are so impressive. The straight Cabernet ultimate rises above, …
As the name suggests, these are the Top 20 Shiraz of August 2020. There was more Shiraz this month, there always is. But these are the wines I want to …
I haven't seen any of the newest d'Arenberg releases, probably because of this review of the Dead Arm. Life is too short to not be brutally honest. Wines like this …
McLaren Vale via Portugal. Just don't call it port or everyone will be pissed. This Dodgy Bros Vintage Fortified 2018 is built in a fashion that is mod-Port too. An …
Wes Pearson's Fiano packs in some intensity. This Juxtaposed Bigger Boat Fiano 2019 comes off the Lacey Vineyard in McLaren Vale. Whole bunch pressed to barrel, fermented wild, kept on …
My expectations for cricket legend Ricky Ponting's new Ponting Wines were very low. That's a hangover from years of experience with consistently shithouse celebrity 'collaboration wine' - like the middling Greg …
This Hickinbotham Vineyard Trueman Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 is irrepressibly fine wine. The Porsche 911 of the McLaren Vale Cabernet world. And not just 4S - this is Turbo level. Actually, I …
Plenty of flavour in the Samuels Gorge range, with this Temp. delivering much at refreshingly low alcohol. This spends 10 months in largely older French oak with 10% whole bunches …
Graciano is still yet to find its feet in Australia - a variety without a local identity. This red goes a long way towards a Graciano baseline. It spends 14 months …
Somehow this slipped through the net. A ball that went through to the keeper, when it should have been slotted through cover for an easy boundary. This Juxtaposed Old Vine …
Not all wines can be great. Plenty are just ok drinks. And some are just bad. Here then is a selection of wines that almost made it over the past few …
This is easily the pick of the new Brash Higgins wines, and reminds that Merlot can be delicious in good hands, even from McLaren Vale (which is hardly Merlot central). …
Wirra's Scrubby Rise are now all regional releases, which is impressive for a sub $20 Shiraz. I'm less of a fan of the Scrubby Rise white, but this goes well. …
Grenache is the hero at Yangarra, but the Shiraz gets all the airtime. The previous iteration of this Yangarra Shiraz 2018 was wildly popular for a reason, and I can …
No. No, I can't see the joy in this Dead Arm. Conceptually, it's easy to appreciate the appeal of a handpicked, basket-pressed, foot trodden, super-premium McLaren Vale Shiraz in this mode. …
You know what I like best about Yangarra's wines? The neck tags that the samples land with. There's no bullshit tasting notes (who cares), no marketing guff. Just facts. And …
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. Needless to say, I discovered wine, and my life evolved with a unique dual focus - wine and environment.
Twenty years later and I spend my days wearing many (wine) hats, mostly as a writer, presenter and marketer.
I now judge at wine shows around the world, sit on the Australian Wine List of the Year awards panel and was once a Wine Journalism Young Gun (but baby that was years ago).
Currently, I write features for a variety of publications including National Liquor News, Gourmet Traveller WINE and the RAS, plus I'm a former Lifestyle FOOD channel wine expert.
In 2019 and 2020 I was voted in the Top 30 Best Wine Critics in The World, and in my spare time, I'm a sucker for punishment and run trail ultra marathons, much to the delight of my long-suffering family. Read more about me here or get in touch to book your next wine event with me here