For all the hype, Mataro/Mourvedre from the Barossa is still a grumpy thing. It's the dark, moody, reductive, fortified grape that helps fill out blends and only enjoyed a solo …
Tasting young Cabernet on release is occasionally unfun, with tannins working against drinkability (and costing Cabernet some fans for sure). This Juniper Three Fields Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 is a great …
Could 2024 be the last-ever vintage for Balgownie's famous 1969-planted Bendigo vineyard? Will the vines be flattened for houses? It doesn't look good. In October, it was announced that the owners …
Harewood makes superb Riesling. World class. The reds can be pretty smart, even if they're a bit ripe. The occasional Chardonnay works, too. There's even a drinkable, well-priced Pinot, which …
There are very few Australian Pinot releases where you crack a bottle open and think, 'This needs six years'. It just doesn't happen. Bindi, maybe, some of the structured Yarra …
The Custodian price hasn't changed in a decade, which is a good thing, but the style also looks a little creaky, which is less good. Iron and red earth are …
2023 was a tricky, wet year in the Yarra; even the smartest producers weren't immune from the challenges. Martin at First Foot Forward has still delivered a fine Chardonnay, though. …
372 days. Just over a year. That's how long this Yalumba The Tri-Centenary Grenache 2022 sat on its 'skins' (which means it stayed as a combination of grape juice and …
Light and airy basic Burgundy of solid appeal. Has plenty of funk, white peach, clay and crisp lemony flavour. It’s underpowered and a bit lean, but the mode is pleasant …
From a Coravin-sealed mini-bottle, as explained here. Sourced from a 2.4ha walled close fully owned by Nuiton-Beaunoy. This is a ripe year Burgundy, if quite embryonic. Gentle, syrupy, a teensy bit …
The good people at Single Vineyard Sellers have been decanting a selection of premium imports from their portfolio into Coravin-branded sealed mini bottles, which I'm totally ok with. It sounds …
The next few years will be an interesting ride for Australian Shiraz. It's certainly been an up and down over the last few years, and the drama has played out in …
