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A shedload of wine for $28: Pikes Traditionale Riesling 2024
Merle is the Pikes hero Riesling, but the ‘Traditionale’ Riesling is really not far behind at all. Forgive the broken record repetition, but widely available, sub $30 wines like this Pikes…
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The Silkman situation – the ‘other’ super white wine label of the Hunter Valley?
Despite making 260 (mostly Hunter Valley) wines a year, a former dux of the Len Evans Tutorial, and only recently crowned as the 2025 Halliday Winemaker of the Year, Liz Silkman…
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Masterstroke or master medal winner? This Taylors red divides the room
Even in a modern era of increasingly sceptical shoppers, gold medals and trophies on wine bottles sell products (although not always, as this paper examines). Today’s wine-on-the-desk is festooned in ’em…
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Zonzo Estate Pinot Noir 2022
The Zonzo Cabernet was a bit too stern, the rosé really smart, and this Zonzo Estate Pinot Noir 2022 is perhaps the best of the lot. There we are, a wrap…
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Yalumba Bush Vine Grenache 2022
This is bright and juicy Barossa Grenache with easy appeal. Slightly syrupy raspberry fruit, no oak, all red fruit and a little warmth. Really open pleasure and yet has an old…
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All Margaret River class with the Juniper Cornerstone Wilyabrup Chardonnay 2023
That grapefruit acid line is unmistakable. Margaret River Chardonnay, in all its flourish, has a really distinct personality that I love. It’s not a neon sign that says, ‘fuck yeah, Margaret…
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Review: Paisley Six Strings Tempranillo 2023
I like how much flavour all these Paisley wines have for just $25. Maybe I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating. This Tempranillo is a lightish wine for Paisley –…
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X-factor Grenache: Juxtaposed Shadow Creek Vineyard Grenache 2023
On the authenticity scale and in terms of grape and place, modern Australian Grenache is a pretty great thing. That’s likely because it’s still an underdog grape, despite all the positive…
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Review: Crittenden Peninsula Chardonnay 2023
Peninsula is the affordable range of Mornington wines from Crittenden, but the style here feels much fancier than something entry-level. Then again, we’re talking about a $39 bottle of Chardonnay, so…
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This comes with a sorry note: Limefinger Solace Polish Hill River Riesling 2024
I wrote this note a few months back and never published it, and now the wine is sold out. Apologies, everyone. Do yourself a favour and get in early for Neil…
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The Grenache-y joy of the Yalumba Vine Vale Grenache 2023
Modern Australian Grenache is such a pleasure. Yalumba’s line of wines is excellent, too. This Vine Vale red comes from 1949-planted vines, which is magnificent in itself. Juicy, open, with no…
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Could you pick a Petit Chablis from a Chablis? This Chablis winemaker couldn’t (nor could I)
It was a beautiful day to be tasting crisp French white wines. Thursday’s late February afternoon sun was firmly in the ‘summer is not over yet’ burn-y category and the small…