For those unfamiliar with the brand, Kooyong are one of the top new generation wine producers on the Mornington Peninsula. Principally known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, this is an estate marked by thoughtfully made wines …
It's impressive to see the volume of Rhone whites in this lineup of Yarra Wines tasted recently. A reminder that the Yarra Valley is more than just Chard/Pinot/Cab/Shiraz and makes some of the best Viognier/Marsanne/Roussanne …
I wish more German Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder) would come to Australia. But it doesn't. We get the odd sniff - a wine here and there - but little more. That's why it was bloody exciting to …
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 …
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.
One of my other caps is as co-founder of Sydney's best wine tasting business The Tasting Glass.
Crowned the 2009/10 Wine Communicators of Australia Wine Journalism 'Young Gun', I have a Masters in Wine Technology & Viticulture from Melbourne University, have judged at numerous wine shows and learnt how to write dumb things in copywriting school.
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.
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