Australian Wine and Drinks Review

A delicious micro-production Sapling Yard Braidwood Riesling

Braidwood is a town (or village) on the NSW Great Dividing Range NE of Canberra. It’s better known as truffle country rather than for wine, although my memories are weirder after…
The classy Zonzo Estate Rosé 2023

A barrel-fermented Yarra Shiraz and Merlot rosé. Gently creamy, with very light coppery pink fruit and a fresh, cleverly textured palate. It’s rosé that is better than the rest. A slightly…
The dead serious Zonzo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Zonzo Estate is most famous for Limoncello Spritz, but the rest of the Caroline Mooney-crafted range of Yarra wines can be serious indeed, like this Zonzo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2021. Mulchy,…
Swoon over the MMAD Vineyard Grenache 2023

Now we’re getting very serious. From the MMAD Vineyard of Martin Shaw, Michael Hill Smith MW, Adam Wadewitz, and David LeMire MW in Blewitt Springs comes another compelling (and fancy-feeling) McLaren…
And now a Hunter Valley Cabernet: Sweetwater Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Cabernet, the other other red meat of the Hunter Valley. Lake’s Folly makes the best Cabernet-based wines in the Hunter, and there is a smattering of other plantings, but this grape…
First look at the promising Two Bud Spur Gamay 2022

Despite all the Australian love for Gamay (perceived or otherwise. Maybe it’s just me), there still isn’t much planted of this wondeful grape in the ground locally. A smattering in NSW…
Getting more of those Jura feels from Soumah’s Wild Savagnin No. 3

‘(We) wanted to see what a wine made from this ancient grape would have tasted like a thousand years ago’. That’s the fun mission statement for this Soumah Wild Savagnin No.3,…
Nothing tardy about the Slow Wine Co. Reserve Pinot Noir 2021

We’re starting the week off with bad wordplay and a quality Orange Pinot. This Slow Wine Co. Reserve Pinot Noir 2021 comes from the Johnson family’s vineyard planted in the 1990s,…
Come back in a decade for the Terre à Terre Crayères Vineyard Reserve 2020

It’s been a day or so of big dog reds at Australian Wine and Drinks Review, and today’s wine comes from Xavier Bizot & Lucy Croser’s Terre à Terre label. A…
A better d’Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz?

It’s frustrating that d’Arenberg’s Dead Arm Shiraz is a mercurial has become. This is a storied McLaren Vale Shiraz from a storied producer. But hey, variability only makes it more welcome…
M Burton Shiraz 2023 – a 50 dozen Canberra super red

Naming a wine after yourself really builds up the expectation. But this heavy bottled cloaked, micro-production (just 50 dozen – two barrels worth) Canberran super red delivers. I think the heavy…
Another win with the Crittenden Zumma Pinot Noir 2022

I am almost through the impressive Crittenden 2022 range now, and the hits keep coming. Quality Mornington wines at every turn. and this Crittenden Zumma Pinot Noir 2022 is rock solid.…