Some good news. Wine Australia today announced that they are dropping the tasting panel element from export approval. Getting export approval has been a big problem for natural winemakers in Australia,…
At the Australia Day tasting
Some great wines on show today at the Australia Day tasting in London’s Saatchi gallery. Great venue for wine tasting: lots of natural light, and big airy spaces. Couldn’t have…
Funniest label of the year, so far
Caught a glimpse of this new wine label from D’Arenberg, for a celebratory sparkling wine they are releasing. It’s very funny indeed. (For those who don’t get the joke, see…
Evoi The Satyr, a serious Margaret River red
This is a serious Bordeaux-style red from a small producer in Margaret River. ‘Evoi’ is, apparently, the ecstatic scream of joy uttered by the Maenads, who were the female followers…
A couple from Ben Glaetzer
I’m a hypocrite. I go on all the time about how I love balance and elegance; I sing the praises of low alcohol, lightweight reds. And then I come across…
Yalumba Viognier 2010 Eden Valley
Impressive stuff from Yalumba who have pioneered this variety in Australia. They also do an excellent cheaper Viognier in their Y series which is almost as good. But this version,…
Picardy – elegance from Western Australia
I have just written up the fabulously stylish Picardy wines from Western Australia’s Pemberton region. You can read the full review here. They’re just so elegant, and probably my favourite…
Two lovely wines from St Hallett
Impressed with these wines from Barossa producer St Hallett. The Faith Shiraz is riper and quite seductive, but with lovely fruit purity. The more expensive Scholz is deeper coloured, but…
Jamsheed Silvan Syrah is a beautiful wine
This is the new face of Australian wine. Wines from distinguished sites, naturally made, with personality, elegance and a sense of place. It’s from Jamsheed, a small producer making wines…