One of those "off to dinner and drop into the bottleo" reliable wines. A classic Cabernet Merlot blend.
One of those "off to dinner and drop into the bottleo" reliable wines. A classic Cabernet Merlot blend.
Another impressive Grenache from the Thistledown team. It's sleek with a little more weight in its carry than its siblings.
A Pet Nat made with Topper's Mountain Shiraz and Gruner grown in Gamilaroi Country - New England, NSW. A sapping fizz awaits with a little touch of yeastiness still loitering.
I was recently asked what I wanted to drink more of in 2022. Among a couple of others, Hunter Valley Chardonnay was one on my list - it's so underrated. Get out there and dip your oar into this ocean of beauty. This Sisters release from a new small producer is a ripper. Get around it.
Named after the matriarch of the family, Lorraine Schild was a tireless worker behind the scenes. A fitting tribute. As I sip this, all I can think about is roast beef or lamb chops on the coals.
It's not easy tasting wine with Karma, karma, karma, karma, karma chameleon on repeat in your head. But I took a hit for the team. This is a Sem Sauv that will make a lot of people very happy. It beams happiness and sunshine. Thank goodness it's not beaming red, gold and green...
A traditional medium dry alcoholic cider reflecting the style of apple wine produced in the eastern English counties when labourers were paid in cider back in the 17th century. This is a smart alternative to a crisp white wine.
Hearts and Minds is the top-tier range from Clandestine Vineyards. The fruit was sourced from Jericho's Blewitt Springs vineyard planted in 1950.
Sagrantino is bold. It just doesn't know any other way. I suspect the three sisters behind this Fierce III label are quite bold too creating a label to celebrate their coming back together in the family business. A smart wine this.
There is a first for everything, and after more than ten years of reviews, this Alcohol Removed Pinot Grigio is the first non-alcoholic wine to grace these pages. Bravo! With the non-alcoholic drinks market suggested to increase its market share by up to 30% by 2024, I suspect I may be posting a lot more of these drinks in the future.
Such a pretty expression of Grenache, I just want it all - Freddy Mercury style. An excellent wine hands down.
A melting pot of sorts that brings Syrah and Pinot Noir together from three regions - Canberra, Central Ranges and the Hilltops. An interpretation of the Hunter River Burgundy perhaps that seems very much in vogue at the moment.
From a new range of wines released by Lou Miranda, this dry Rosé has picnics and charcuterie in its future.
Eat Italian food and drink Italian wine - life doesn't need to be complicated. This is a wine made exclusively for Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers, a chain of Italian Restaurants.
Barrel fermented Rosé made with Shiraz grown in Wiradjuri Country. Isn't it great to see producers acknowledging the First Nations people on their labels?
Lacy pleasure. Delicate and curvaceous. Gee, we are blessed with the high standard of Rosés available on the shelves. Considered winemaking continues to push the bar higher. Here is a brilliant Rosé from Gundog Estate.
Gee, this is one out of the box! A superb Rosé from a producer you may not have on your radar. Afternoon chills just got that little bit better with this in the glass.
Vintage Brut made in the traditional method. This is a great drink for fizz lovers without burning a hole in your back pocket. With an RRP of $33, it's currently on the website for $28 while members pay only $21. The members are the winners here.
Garganega is the key to Soave. If you've had the chance to come across Shannon Burgess-Moore, the muscle behind Grandis Wines, you would know he is a suave kinda guy. This wine and Shannon are peas in a pod really.
When seeking some inner pleasure, this is a great wine to turn to. So often Cabernet and Shiraz get that privilege yet this Mataro fills the brief admirably.
I'm reliably informed the Slurpy Puppy GSM is by far the top-selling wine in the Pirate Cru range. It's easy to see why given it oozes crowd-pleasing appeal.
The top Grenache from Pirate Cru Wines. This wine is a barrel select that sees 3 years in French oak, 40% of which was new.
Fancy finding a $25 wine that comes from 100 year old+ vines. An entry-level wine for Pirate Cru Wines, the crowd-pleasing appeal here is sky-high. It even picked under a full blood red harvest moon.
Sourced from Centenarian vines from the Vine Vale sub-region, I could sip on this all night. This is a very good Grenache that oozes moreishness.
I spent some time with Jennifer Graham and Dirk Pettigrew from Pirate Cru Wines earlier this week. Their passion for the Barossa and their brand is infectious. There is a terrific story behind this wine. Jen and Dirk are very well researched and the links to their wines is impressive. This Ban Shé refers to the Victorian period with "romantic" being the keyword. Romantic in terms of dreaming and what's on the horizon Dirk tells me. A period of enlightenment you could say. This Grenache provides enlightenment. Ten years old without a splinter of oak. Gee, it looks good. Very good.
Australian singer Deni Hynes has an album called the Delicious Collection. This should be on the front cover. Yummo!
The fruit sweetness is what grabbed me from the outset here. It's not overly sweet, don't get me wrong, but there is enough to take note.
Malbec is a variety that is a cracking drink when done well. A generous and brooding type, this release comes from the Margaret River region.
Super smooth. Super enjoyable. A great McLaren Vale Cabernet to curl up to. These Dr Plonk wines continue to impress.
Tempranillo directed by La Petite Mort and filmed on location at Bents Road Winery. I only know this because this is what a very clever back label says. Oh, and this is a very approachable wine that screams (can I say that?) for food.
Casual sips on an overcast afternoon to pizza and pasta night. This is a neat Sangiovese driven by pleasing savoury characters.
Not all wines can be a runaway success, but this Shiraz from Lemon Villa shows solid wines have their place. Medium-bodied, this is well done.
Welcome to 2022! A couple of weeks away from the keyboard and it's time to get back into it. Best we start with a Grenache - heck, why not? This release from Yalumba is rock star material in the making, so much so I bought six. You probably should too.