Ray Costanzo would have to be Australia's best Vermentino producer. Find me another winemaker that consistently delivers super high-quality wines with this variety. Try something new this summer and embrace delicious whites like this.
Wednesday 30 November 2022
Paisley Wines Turntable GSM 2020
GSM is always a good barbecue wine option. This release from Paisley Wines has a meaty profile that asks for it.
Tuesday 29 November 2022
Oliver's Taranga Brioni's Blend 2022
Your face lights up immediately when you meet Brioni. Her infectious smile brightens the room and this wine, much like her, brightens the mood big time. Vibrant and energetic, it's a blend of Mataro, Touriga and Shiraz. Loaded with juicy fruit, it's all party shoes on and let's get dancing. More like this please - it is an absolute beauty.
Huntington Estate Special Reserve Grenache 2022
Tim Stevens has jumped on the Grenache bandwagon and found a comfy chair. A long time fan of the variety, he has planted a heap more vines in recent years. This is a juicy number and a damn fine take on the variety.
Valentine Chardonnay 2021
Dom Valentine knows a thing or two about Chardonnay having spent some time at Oakridge before breaking out to his solo venture. The fruit for this great expression is sourced from the Lone Star Creek vineyard in the Upper Yarra Valley.
Heggies Vineyard Reserve Chardonnay 2018
A very tidy Chardonnay that shouldn't be served too cold so you can experience all of its beauty.
Monday 28 November 2022
Montalto Main Ridge Block Pinot Noir 2021
In the words of LL Cool J, "Paradise is very nice." This is everything Pinot Noir should be. Delicate, lacy and precise, the pleasure factor is supreme.
Mesh Eden Valley Riesling 2022
Effortless. Big love for the flow of this wine. It just cruises about with ease.
Gundog Estate Smoking Barrel Red 2021
A blend of Hunter Valley and Hilltops Shiraz, I'm unsure why it's called a "Red" when Shiraz is actually what it is. It's a great drink by the way, make no mistake.
Valentine Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Fancy piss. This is the type of Sauv Blanc you'd be slinging in Fitzroy with cool beats in the background. It's good gear.
Alkimi Wild Dreams Pinot Gris 2022
A certified organic Pinot Gris from Stu Dudine. The Wild Dreams showcases his inventive hipster side. This is Pinot Gris for those who ride skateboards with their hats on backwards.
Thursday 24 November 2022
Yalumba The Octavius Shiraz 2017
Yalumba's flagship Shiraz. Long and moreish, this Octavius is best suited for those late night D&Ms. Sip slow and stay a while.
Chapel Hill Abacus Shiraz 2021
This is a great Shiraz for the budget conscious. It's dense and generous - get your claws into kinda stuff.
Chapel Hill Abacus Mourvedre Rosé 2022
Straight up and down, there's not a lot of excitement or get up and go with this Mourvedre Rosé.
Yalumba Y Series Pinot Noir 2022
To be released in early 2023, winemaker Sam Wigan is pretty excited about this and sent a pre-release sneak peek my way. This is another Y Series bargain worth keeping an eye out for.
Chapel Hill Organic Small Batch Shiraz 2021
The organic wine market continues to surge and this small batch Shiraz from Chapel Hill is their red wine contribution. Good gear, it flows with ease.
Wednesday 23 November 2022
Brash Higgins Smart Vineyard Grenache 2021
Montalto North One Pinot Noir 2021
The Tuerong single vineyard Pinot Noir is normally the boss but not in 2021. North One stakes a strong claim and deservedly so. Formerly known as 'Red Hill', North One is the block that sits beside The Eleven Chardonnay block. This release has levelled up on 2020.
Hutton Vale Farm Eden Valley Riesling 2022
Wines like this fly the flag and give another reason to demand that you need to drink more Riesling. Another to add to that ever-growing 'must try' list.
Robert Stein Half Dry Riesling 2022
Half dry but 100% supreme awesomeness. I could have more than my fair share of this wonderful wine. Time and again it smashes it and the 2022 release is no different.
Monday 21 November 2022
Montalto Merricks Pinot Noir 2021
Quite a different wine to the Tuerong, this Merricks Single Vineyard is a beautiful Pinot that just hums along.
Sunday 20 November 2022
Robert Stein Dry Riesling 2022
John Mellencamp has the Cherry Bomb but Robert Stein has the citrus bomb. This Riesling is a belter.
Montalto Tuerong Pinot Noir 2021
Quite an intriguing Tuerong, one that is very different to previous releases. A wonderful wine as always, but there are a few shades of contrast that haven't shown themselves prior.
Gundog Estate Indomitus Albus 2022
Something a little different - Hunter Semillon meets Canberra Riesling. Bang! The first whiff slices through you. A smart wine this.
Gundog Estate Gundaroo Riesling 2022
Oakridge Vineyard Series Pinot Gris 2021
Saturday 19 November 2022
Paisley Wines Cashmere Riesling 2022
The Cashmere Riesling 2022 has had a little makeover with the labelling falling in line with others in the range. I must say, it's a good looking label too. From a little producer in Angaston, support small businesses like these and you'll be rewarded with quality wines. As for this, that chalky feel has me hooked. This Riesling is ace.
Oliver's Taranga Tempranillo 2022
Brisket on steamed buns with a glass or two of this. Yes please! Tempranillo is made for food so load up a plate and fill your glass.
Chapel Hill Organic Small Batch Chardonnay 2021
McLaren Vale is a lot of things but a Chardonnay hotspot is one thing it is not. More muted than the Abacus Chardonnay, this is quite a simple drink.
Chapel Hill Abacus Chardonnay 2022
Michael Fragos got in touch to share some new wines. I haven't seen any wines from Chapel Hill for some time so it was good to get back in the saddle. Here we have a Chardonnay with some richness but it's not OTT.
Friday 18 November 2022
Montalto The Eleven Chardonnay 2021
The Eleven. Pat Cummins could be the face of this label, but not so. It's named after the eleven rows first planted back in 1986. Concentrated and alluring, this is just brilliant Chardonnay.
Oakridge 864 Henk Vineyard Aqueduct Block Pinot Noir 2021
We are in elite company here. Yarra Valley on high. Sure it's at a premium price but heaven ain't come cheap.
Thursday 17 November 2022
O'Leary Walker Gruner Veltliner 2022
The last O'Leary Walker Gruner I saw was way back from the 2015 vintage. It has been MIA since but the new winemaking team has brought it back and it's a good thing they did. This Gruner tops. Go here.
Tenafeate Creek One Tree Hill Montepulciano 2021
Cool nights and some comfort food are calling. A generous Montepulciano from Tenafeate Creek.
Wednesday 16 November 2022
Oakridge Vineyard Series Hazeldene Pinot Noir 2021
Like a Pinot with spice? Go to the Oakridge Willowlake. Love the sleek touch? Go to Hazeldene. What a stunning Pinot Noir this is.
Yalumba Paradox Shiraz 2018
From one of Yalumba's best vineyards, this Paradox Shiraz is a brooding wine that glides through with ease.
Tuesday 15 November 2022
Oliver's Taranga Grenache 2022
Dive in, swim, paddle, whatever. Stay a while, that's the message. Grenache glory from Oliver's Taranga.
Oakridge Vineyard Series Henk Pinot Noir 2021
Henk is the boss. The more I see the wines from this vineyard the more I play the fanboy. Yarra Valley Pinot Noir in the zone. Yes!
Oakridge Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2021
Oakridge has the luxury of covering all price points. Slotting in at $30, this Yarra Valley range Pinot Noir is a solid wine.
O'Leary Walker Clare Valley Shiraz 2020
This whisked me away last year and here we go again. Stepping it up a little more, what a fabulous drink this is!
Friday 11 November 2022
Montalto Tuerong Chardonnay 2021
One of the wines I look forward to tasting each year and again there is nothing but joy and pleasure in the glass. A wine of serious quality, Simon Black's pursuit of excellence deserves a chorus of support from Chardonnay lovers.
A vertical tasting of the last decade would be quite something. The detail and precision of the making let alone the quality of the fruit continues to mesmerise.
If you get the chance to share this, don't. It's good to be selfish once in a while.
Anarchy Wines The Catalyst Grenache 2021
These Anarchy Wines are smart. The Rosé really hit the mark and this Grenache isn't far behind. Quality wines from a small producer worth keeping an eye out for.
Pewsey Vale Lighter Riesling 2022
A new addition to the Pewsey Vale range, this Lighter Riesling was picked early to tap into the lighter alcohol market. It's a clever wine too.
Oliver's Taranga Shiraz 2021
That colour! So dense with a brightish hue. Those who love some generosity would be pleased with this McLaren Vale Shiraz.
Oxford Landing Sunlight Shiraz 2021
The Sunlight by Oxford Landing collection is an answer to the global trend in moderation, health, well-being, and sustainability. Globally, 24% of consumers are actively reducing their alcohol consumption by switching to a lower alcohol option.
Of the two Sunlight wines, I prefer this Shiraz. Much like its sibling, it is quite light on the flavour, but there is more to speak of here.
Oxford Landing Sunlight Chardonnay 2021
Tuesday 8 November 2022
Nightfall Leo Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
This Nightfall Cabernet is the business. From clever packaging to a cracking wine in the glass, winemaker Sam Brand excels once again.
Oakridge Vineyard Series Willowlake Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021
Willowlake doing Willowlake things. A wonderfully weighted Pinot Noir from Oakridge albeit with a little more spice this time. I can't recall a similar release but it's still damn slurpable.
Oakridge Original Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Guns 'n' Roses could have sung "Lay me down on a bed of Cabernet" and this bottle could have been on the album cover for that matter. It's just glorious. Find a comfy chair and you navigate the rest.
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