What a year 2020 has been!
Sincere thanks to you, my readers, for your support. Based on conversations through various channels it seems more and more people are becoming increasingly open-minded to the diversity of wines now on the market while also supporting small businesses - be it producers or through independent wine stores, long may this continue.
I've had the privilege of reviewing over 760 wines in 2020 - by far my busiest year. I thank the winemakers, wineries, reps, and marketers for their ongoing support.
I don't get paid to review these wines, but from time to time I have been gifted all sorts of things from producers such as socks, FruChocs (that's a South Australian thing), and T-Shirts among other bits and pieces. However, I do receive a small commission on sales from Langtons, Wine Selectors, The Wine Collective, Vinomofo and Catch. If you do consider buying from any of these businesses, please access via the links and a little pocket money gets thrown my way from any sale made. Graci.
The diversity of wines I get to taste never ceases to amaze me. There are some incredibly gifted winemakers out there. Some just smash the basics, others want to push boundaries. In all, the pool of deliciousness continues to get deeper and I'm happy to swim in it.
I've been able to travel through a range of regions this year including Coonawarra, Granite Belt, Waipara and Central Otago in New Zealand as well as helping out during vintage in the Hunter Valley, McLaren Vale and Barossa Valley. A shout out to those who made my time in their region memorable - I'm most grateful for your time and hospitality.
But as for the best of 2020, it is hard to narrow down 750 odd reviews to a just few. Here are what I thought were some of the best wines that came across my tasting bench this year.
Wishing you all the best for 2021!
Summer vibes:
Ballandean Estate Malvasia 2019
Golden Grove Estate Vermentino 2020
Raidis Estate The Kid Riesling 2019
O'Leary Walker Polish Hill River Riesling 2020
Oliver's Taranga Vermentino 2020
Ripping Rosé:
Medium Bodied Deliciousness:
Comyns & Co Shiraz Pinot Noir 2018
Silkman Shiraz Pinot Noir 2018
The glory of Grenache:
Dodgy Bros Juxtaposed Old Vine Grenache 2019
Hayes Family Wines Block 2 Grenache 2019
Oliver's Taranga Grenache 2020
Yangarra Estate Old Vine Grenache 2019
Charming Chardonnay:
Bird on a Wire Chardonnay 2017
First Creek Winemaker's Reserve Chardonnay 2018
Flametree SRS Wallcliffe Chardonnay 2019
Montalto Estate Chardonnay 2019
Seville Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2019
Singlefile The Vivienne Chardonnay 2017
Soumah Equilibrio Chardonnay 2019
Something a bit different:
Born & Raised Malakoff Nebbiolo 2017
Golden Grove Estate Nero d'Avola 2019
Hidden Creek Prieto Picudo 2020
La Petite Mort Qvevri Saperavi 2019
O'Leary Walker Seasonal Release Pinotage 2019
Smidge Pedra Branca Saperavi 2018
Zema Estate Sparkling Merlot 2018
Age-worthy reds:
Redman Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Soul Growers Gobell Single Vineyard Shiraz 2018
Shiraz!:
Hayes Family Wines Block 1 Shiraz 2018
Yelland & Papps Second Take Shiraz 2019
Thomas Wines Elenay Shiraz 2018
The beauty of New Zealand:
Burn Cottage Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017
Maude Mt Maude Pinot Noir 2018
Mt Difficulty Ghost Town Bendigo Syrah 2017
Wooing Tree Sandstorm Reserve Pinot Noir 2014
Value Picks:
Berton Vineyard Winemaker's Reserve Fiano 2019
d'Arenberg The Footbolt Shiraz 2018
Wild Game The Duke Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Deep Pockets:
Mt Difficulty Bannockburn Masons Farm Pinot Noir 2015
Oakridge 864 Henk Vineyard Aqueduct Block Pinot Noir 2018
Patrick Coonawarra Grande Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Pegasus Bay Prima Donna Pinot Noir 2016
Stefano Lubiana Ruscello Pinot Noir 2017
The Year's Best: