There are relatively few Australian wineries that can boast consistent high level quality like Oakridge. More to the point, these are wines I want to drink. On a normal day …
Immediately attractive Yarra Pinot from Brad Atkins & Matthew Davis' Dixon's Creek vineyard. All the Steels Gate wines are sapid and vital but this is a step up in weight. Sappy, …
First came the Gamay, now meet the Rising Pinot Noir 2019. This release comes from the rocky soils of the Rising Vineyard, and from the outset it aims high. 33% whole …
Rising is an offshoot from the Sticks winery, centred around a vineyard in the Christmas Hills subregion of the Yarra Valley. As an aside, what a great name for an (unofficial) …
Entry level Yarra Cabernet from Soumah and it's an easy drink. Proudly leafy, yet not unripe at all. it's light, lithe, tannic and well made, the alcohol a little noticeable, …
Classy Yarra Valley claret mode in an arch-traditional, mid-weight style. Pencil shavings, understated fruit, balanced acidity. It’s perhaps lacking the killer blow - and the fruit is light and leaning …
Nailing the ripeness in early picked reds is hard. Go too early and you get thin, lean, sometimes green wines. Go too late and it's not early picked anymore, and …
It's always daunting/exciting when the first barrel-aged reds from last year start rolling in. It's a sign that the year is getting on... and holy fuck it's April already! Luckily this …
Everything old is new again. Three decades after 'Burgundy' style light dry reds disappeared from our shores and suddenly they're back in vogue again. And I'm here for it. I'm here for …
Following closely on the Top 20 Chardonnay comes the Top 20 Shiraz of February 2020. For this lineup I dug deeper into the sample pile, searching - perhaps blindly - for …
Chardonnay, like it or not, is still the most important white grape in the country, making up over 45% of all white grapes crushed, and 20% of total grapes crushed, …
I like feedback. Even negative feedback is useful if it's not abusive. So if ever you agree/disagree/take issue with something I've written, email me and let's chat about it. Or …
In what has become a semi-annual event, I ventured out into the Armageddon-esque sideways rain on Saturday to taste the trophy winners (and more) from the Sydney International Wine Competition. You're …
Oakridge Vineyard Series Barkala Chardonnay 2018 This feels like a repetitive post. Andrew opens Oakridge Chardonnay. Andrew loves Oakridge Chardonnay. Rinse. Repeat. The 2018 releases from Oakridge feel like proper balancing work …
The 2017 Giant Steps wines are magnificent. Pinot, Chardonnay, Gamay et al. All in ‘best ever’ territory. I haven’t liked the riper ‘18s as much, but hot dog this Giant …
Here are 24 tasty white and pink wines for your immediate drinking pleasure. Wines that, to my tastes at least, are in the prime of their lives and should be consumed …
This is just a taste of the finest big reds that passed the desk this November. Background notes in italics. Oakridge Original Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 Spends 3 weeks on skins post …
Why stop at just 10 great Shiraz for the month? Here is the follow on list of the best 11-34 Shiraz to pass the desk in October 2019. Terre à Terre …
As it says on the tin, here are ten of the best Shiraz to pass the tasting bench this October. A special note to the breadth of Hunter Shiraz from …
Oakridge 864 Funder & Diamond Chardonnay 2017 The Oakridge 864 Funder & Diamond Chardonnay 2017 was announced as the winner of the James Halliday Chardonnay Challenge last week, and by sheer …
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, 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.
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.