Australian Wine and Drinks Review

10 of May 2025’s best Shiraz, Syrah and Shiraz Cabernet + a few full-flavoured reds for dessert

Australian Shiraz is a much more diverse world than it gets credit for. Globally, there is still this shortsighted assumption that Barossa Shiraz is what our entire continent makes, as if…
Hello #ChardoMay 2025: A look at top Australian Chardonnay from Tapanappa, Curly Flat, Shaw & Smith etc

Today is #ChardonnayDay, which joins the ranks of the other made-up ‘grape days’ created by wine marketers (like me, on occasion) looking for any leverage to drive more wine sales (which…
Gundog’s lavish Rare Game Shiraz 2023 + plenty more Gundog variety

Matt Burton from Gundog Estate does love to tinker. Whether that’s new wines, new takes on old wines, or the constantly evolving Indomitus lineup, there is always something new happening at…
A Dom Pérignon vertical 2012-2015 and more fanciness for the Canberran sign off

There’s an excellent viral video floating around at the moment that shows how a single drop of whisky can kill millions of bacteria. My body is typically fuelled by wine and…
The annual Canberra wine show pilgrimage yields wines worth talking about

I’m in Canberra this week for what is one of the few wine shows that I really love judging at – the Winewise Championships. This show is my absolute favourite (and…
Holm Oak’s Fearless Tassie Pinot + more new releases

It felt like an old mate returning home when a few bottles of Holm Oak wines lob up on the Australian Wine and Drinks Review doorstep. It’s been a few years…
Happy 17th birthday Australian Wine and Drinks Review

Just like that, this website is 17 years old. Close followers will know the story, but I like repeating it so I don’t forget. Circa May 10th 2008, I started a…
Visiting Champagne Veuve Fourny

In Australia, we have such a polarised Champagne market. Grower Champagne gets plenty of (fine wine) attention, but with small volumes and high prices. ‘Big house’ (ie famous brand) Champagne gets…
A proud bit of Hilltops style with the Hungerford Hill 2023 Shiraz

There are a handful of Australian wine regions that are famous, but not famous enough. Hilltops is such a place. With a long history of viticulture, a kaleidoscope of grape varieties…
The lush and proper affordable Chapel Hill The MV Shiraz 2023

$25. That’s how much this Chapel Hill The MV Shiraz 2023 is going for in retail land right now. It’s far too good for so few dollars. Slick, purple, with this…
Superstar Grenache with the new Juxtaposed Smart Vineyard Grenache 2023

As ever, my ham-fisted photography does Wes Pearson’s info-heavy Juxtaposed labels no justice (which Wes reminds me about all the time), and no change here. Lucky, the wines are top shelf.…
Reaching for Bordeaux with the Stockman’s Ridge Signature Range Left Bank 2022

Before we start on this wine, the regional commentary on it’s brother wine stands yet again. Someone argue me down about Orange’s Bordeaux grape focus, yeah? This Signature Range Left Bank…