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 to a pass mark …
Skin contact white wines work. Getting the balance between acidity, fruit and phenolics isn't easy, but when the stars align, a little skin transforms neutral white wine into textural playground. This …
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's 3 days late I know, but here are a few wines that almost hit the mark this month. Some are just good, simple drinks. Others are genuinely average to …
Here are a few wines that almost made it in February (and a day late I know). A few serious disappointments here, and a few solid, simple wines. That Ferngrove was …
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 …
I'm calling it now. Vermentino should be the hero white variety of Langhorne Creek. It's not because of fashion, or the perceived attraction of 'alternate varieties', more just the suitability …
di Lusso - great pizza and solid, varietally correct, Italian inspired wines. Now there's a good recipe for a cellar door experience, and Mudgee's di Lusso do it well. Only challenge …
There's promise for Vermentino in the Hunter, with the acid retention of this Mediterranean grape a boon for Hunter whites. Fiano might get there too. This is definitely a step in …
What a disappointment this lineup was. So many boring wines, with too many edging towards flavourless, acidic water territory. Obviously price plays an important part here, but that doesn't excuse …
Angullong Fossil Hill Vermentino 2014 Good to see Vermentino being planted in areas beyond our warmer bits (this is Central Ranges/Orange sourced). Unconventional for the grape, but good to see. There …
Seppeltsfield Barossa Vermentino 2014 This is one of the better Australian Vermentinos to pass the tasting bench. Water clear, it carries distinctive green melon and cucumber aromatics, a touch of Gardenia florals …
October tasting notes roundup These are some of the odd hits and misses from the ozwinereview tasting bench this month, all coupled together in a collection of tidbits. Tscharke The Master Montepulciano …
From the notebook: Grand Italian Wines from the Grandi Marchi Masterclass I was doing a little tidying tonight of some old unpublished notes and discovered this little gem - a collection …
De Bortoli Bella Riva Pinot Grigio Vermentino 2012 (King Valley, Vic) 12.5%, Screwcap, $18Source: Samplewww.debortoli.com.au My, my this is a clever wine. Actually, De Bortoli's King Valley wines all seem to carry …
Pala Crabilis Vermentino 2007Whilst I can understand the attraction of rich and textural Vermentino, this quite well regarded wine feels like an 'also ran'. I'd be interested in seeing a …
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