Category Archives: Wine Musings

Chapel Hill Red Wine Workshop 3.0

Last week I attended the third Chapel Hill Red Wine Workshop in Brisbane, hosted by head winemaker Michael Fragos. I’m not a huge fan of ‘cattle’ trade tastings, although I do get along to a few each year. The atmosphere … Continue reading

Posted in Articles, Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra, Margaret River, McLaren Vale, Shiraz, Wine Events, Wine Musings | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Yalumba Library Tasting Brisbane 2012: A Night at the Museum

I first read about Yalumba’s famed cellar in an article by Campbell Mattinson; “The mystery room, the locked door, and the Yalumba wine library“. An inspirational piece. You’ll need a subscription to read it but the quote which stuck with … Continue reading

Posted in Articles, Cabernet et al, Cabernet Sauvignon, Clare Valley, Coonawarra, Eden Valley, Fortifieds, Port, Riesling, Riesling et al, Shiraz, Shiraz et al, South Australia, Viognier, White Blends, Wine Events, Wine Musings | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Shaw + Smith Chardonnay Summit 2012

Or workshop. But I think summit sounds far more exciting and important. Yesterday, Michael Hill Smith MW and David LeMire MW dropped by Brisbane with a swag of Chardonnay covering the Adelaide Hills, the Mornington Peninsula, the Margaret River, Tasmania … Continue reading

Posted in Adelaide Hills, Burgundy, Chablis, Chardonnay, Margaret River, Mornington Peninsula, Tasmania, Wine Events, Wine Musings | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Elevation…don’t go to my head: A Granite Belt Tasting

Sitting at the bar of a well known establishment in Brisbane with a bowl of rosemary salted chips and a glass of Dönnhoff Riesling, I casually mentioned to a staff member that I was heading to a tasting of Granite Belt wines … Continue reading

Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Durif, Gewürztraminer, Granite Belt, Petit Verdot, Shiraz, Tempranillo, Vermentino, Wine Events, Wine Musings | 17 Comments

Barolo, Brunello and Brisbane: The Three Bs

‘The Three Bs’ – depending on your background that phrase may evoke Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms or booze, babes, and buds but last week it was all about Barolo, Brunello and Brisbane. Sommeliers Australia have been holding comparative tastings around … Continue reading

Posted in Barolo, Brunello, Italy, Wine Events, Wine Musings | 3 Comments

Wirra Wirra’s Woodhenge Cup: Stay Low and Pull don’t Push

Adelaide Here I am, living in Australia, writing about wine, talking about terroir and until earlier this month I’d never set foot in South Australia. Heresy! I’ve always been a bookish type, gathering my thoughts and impressions from ‘secondary texts’ but … Continue reading

Posted in Adelaide Hills, Australia, Cabernet et al, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Grenache, Grenache et al, McLaren Vale, Moscato, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, South Australia, Wine Events, Wine Musings | Tagged , , | 13 Comments

A Whole Bunch of Action at the Yarra Valley Wine Program

A WILD RIDE  It’s my life It’s now or never I ain’t gonna live forever The words were Bon Jovi’s but they rang out loud and clear from a very unexpected source; wine writer Winsor Dobbin’s mobile phone. On the … Continue reading

Posted in Arneis, Blogging, Burgundy, Cabernet et al, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Gamay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Rosé, Syrah, Tempranillo, White Blends, Wine Events, Wine Musings, Yarra Valley | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Better

My hiatus afforded me time to contemplate the shortcomings of my writing; and tasting notes in general. As much we might try to evoke a wine, to textualise it and ultimately to capture it, our efforts are always already in vain. It … Continue reading

Posted in Wine Musings | 7 Comments

2009 De Iuliis Steven Vineyard Shiraz

Hunter Valley 13.0% Screwcap $40 This wine was sent to me as part of a six pack intended for a “taste and tweet” event organised by Wine Communicators Australia (I am not a member). I’d like to mention a few things … Continue reading

Posted in Articles, Hunter Valley, Shiraz, Wine Events, Wine Musings | 16 Comments

Cirillo Vertical

Marco Cirillo typifies the sort of person I like to see making wine in Australia at the moment. Equal parts opinionated and generous with honesty & integrity being key to his apporoach to vinous matters & life in general. He’s one … Continue reading

Posted in Barossa, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Grenache, Wine Events, Wine Musings | 4 Comments