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, …
I've said it before and I'll say it again - winemakers who don't bullshit in their tasting notes make better wines. Tim Shand, Punt Road winemaker, doesn't bullshit. There is enthusiasm, but it's also backed by …
This is the third part of a look at rosé - one of the fastest growing categories in the Australian wine industry. Best to start here. While this is a roundup of 'the rest' what's most …
Following on from yesterday's rosé report, today I've pulled out four of the best pink wines to pass the desk recently. Four standouts in an ocean of simple, sometimes sweet, sometimes dry, often middling wines. Actually, …
Shaw + Smith Pinot Noir 2015 The push towards more elegance in the Shaw + Smith Pinot continues. This, arguably, goes a fraction too far in the early picking stakes, but only just. Making elegant Pinot in …
Stoneleigh Classic Marlborough Pinot Noir 2016 Stoneleigh's 'standard' Pinot, and given the price that it can be available for in discount retail, good drinking. Bright brambly raspberry and cranberry fruit here is the star here with …
Balgownie Black Label Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2015 Discovered in the back of the tasting pile. Always smartly priced Pinot this, and no different in 2015. A light wine, but not in the underpowered way. Just mid-weight …
Even Keel Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir 2015 Even Keel is the second label of Mornington producer Polperro, which apparently has cellar door yoga classes. Diverse. Sam Coverdale's wines are pretty handy too. Wild fermented, and bottled without …
Confuron-Cotetidot Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru 2005 Ah Burgundy, where even the supposedly great wines, from great makers and vintages are underwhelming. I had this alongside the Shaw & Smith Chardonnay and they couldn't be anymore different. One …
Bannockburn 1314 A.D. Pinot Noir 2016 The last vintage of Bannockburn's entry-level (ish) 1314 Pinot I had was wild. Polarising wild. With 100% whole bunches, it was a sappy, bitter beast that had depth, but was way …
Montalto Estate Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir 2015 Smart, ripe year Pinot from a Mornington producer very much in the zone. Dark plum red, this has juicy red raspberry fruit in an open, classic Mornington form. Delicious. Perhaps …
It’s that time of the month again – time to collate a range of wines that didn’t quite make the grade. Plenty opened this month, which is why this list is longer than usual… Bremerton Langhorne Creek …
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.
More than fifteen years later and I currently spend my days wearing many (wine) hats, mostly as a writer, presenter and marketer.
While wearing my writer hat I contribute to the likes of The Retiree; Gourmet Traveller WINE, National Liquor News and the RAS plus I'm a Lifestyle FOOD channel wine expert.
Crowned the 2009/10 WCA Wine Journalism 'Young Gun', in my spare time I'm a wine judge and recently graduated with a Masters in Wine Technology & Viticulture from Melbourne University.
This site (Australian Wine Review or ozwinereview for short) is dedicated to talking about wine, beer and other good things. Largely focused on Australian wine, but with a healthy dose of tasty vino from NZ, France, Italy, Spain.. oh hell, if it's good, I'm in.
Follow me also at twitter.com/ozwinereview or facebook.com/AustralianWineReview or Google+ or instagram.com/ozwinereview.
Also check out my other project, Sydney's best wine tasting business The Tasting Glass.