The flagship red for Robert Stein and named after the boat that brought the Stein family to Australia in 1838. The Robert Stein Kinnear 2014 is 97% Shiraz and 3% Cabernet representing the ‘best fruit …
Wine shows cop a lot of flack. You need only read the feedback to my post on the 2018 Sydney Royal Wine Show exhibitors tasting to see that. But is it justified? And indeed do …
Terre à Terre Wrattonbully Rouge 2015 The more approachable end of the Terre à Terre range. But it still needs more time. A blend of Shiraz/Cabernet/Cab Franc in proportions of 44/36/20. Spends 8 months in old barrique …
Here are a few of the wines that have passed the desk this month and almost made the grade. Some weren't far off the mark, others are absolute disasters. A few big disappointments of note: The …
I feel like I'm on an 'icon wine' streak after yesterday's Dom Perignon note. So heck, why not carry that forward. Here are two very different wines that both have Grange in their name. In the Aussie …
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, …
It's that time again - time to roundup a selection of wines that didn't quite make it onto the site. Some because of time and space, others because they failed the grade, this January 2017 …
While I don't always share his point of view (he fired some cheap shots at me years ago and wouldn't print the replies. But that's another story), I read with interest Tony Keys' investigation of …
I'm fighting through one of those nasty hangovers that just attacks your stomach today, the sort of morning after where you just feel like someone has punched you in the guts. How does one slay such …
Quick under $20 red wine shootout There's too few 'good value' wines here on Australian Wine Review, a situation that needs addressing. Hence why I quickly pulled together this lineup of sub $20 reds. It's a slightly odd …
September Tasting Notes Roundup Some highlights (and lowlights) from the tasting bench this September, all in one easy roundup. Dal Zotto L'Immigrante Prosecco 2013 (King Valley, Vic) $36 Pure and clean - really taps into the white flowers …
Hither & Yon Shiraz Cabernet 2013 (McLaren Vale, SA) 14.9%, Screwcap, $35 This is a biggun. Big, slick and ultra ripe with much of everything - black and blue fruit, sweet vanilla oak and raw tannins to finish. It's …
Hither & Yon Shiraz Cabernet 2012 (McLaren Vale, SA) 14.8%, Screwcap, $30Source: Sample www.higherandyon.com.au Tasted: December 20132012 McLaren Vale reds can be slightly challenging to assess now, purely because they are so youthful - they're more like barrel …
On legacy styles and evolution: Elderton super premium releasesIt's not hard to appreciate the Barossa-to-the-core Elderton red wine 'house style'. In some ways it's an old school style, a wine style built upon the notion of …
The original Jacob homestakd The Jacobs Creek Files: The Barossa As I outlined yesterday, I'll be spending much of this week in the world Australian mega brand Jacobs Creek, touring vineyards, tasting wines and talking branding. Today was …
Wirra Wirra Scrubby Rise Shiraz Cabernet Petit Verdot 2011 (Adelaide, SA) 14.5%, Screwcap, $16.50Source: Samplewww.wirrawirra.com Two interesting things to note about this wine. Firstly, the bottle - it's light. Thoughtful. The regional designation too is Adelaide, a …
Taltarni Reserve Shiraz Cabernet 2005 (Pyrenees, Vic) 14%, Cork, $65 Source: Sample www.taltarni.com.au 05 Taltarni Reserve Shiraz Cab Will live forever Even at seven years of age this full bodied red still looks youthful. That's an achievement in any …
Jacobs Creek St Hugo 2008 pair The St Hugo range has grown this year, now encompassing a Barossan Shiraz and two blends - a multi-regional Shiraz Cabernet (a descendant of the Johann Shiraz Cab now?) and …
Woodstock Shiraz Cabernet 2010 (McLaren Vale, SA)14.9%, Screwcap, $18Source: Samplewww.woodstockwine.com.au A quick internet search reveals that this particular red can be picked up from a (good) local retailer for the sum of just $14.95 per bottle …
Wirra Wirra Church Block 2010'Check my bottle out' Wirra Wirra Church Block 2010 (Mclaren Vale, SA)14.5%, Screwcap, $24Source: Samplewww.wirrawirra.com I wrote earlier in the year about how much I appreciate the superstar value and classic honesty of …
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.