A wise man once said “I like it, I like it a lot”, and that’s exactly how I feel about the

 Brothers Shiraz, named after Malcolm and Colin Campbell, the top-shelf drop from the Rutherglen producers. What’s not to like…  big blackberry fruit flavours, subtle hints of vanilla, savoury, almost leatheriness going on that’s well balanced by the tannin and acidity. No shrinking violet here! It’s certainly at home in glass, or the cellar.

 A wise man once said “I like it, I like it a lot”, and

Things are starting to get a little serious... ⁣

Drink or cellar, that's the question?!⁣

 Things are starting to get a little serious... ⁣ Drink or

​Sorrenberg Chardonnay, you beaut! Easily one of my favourite producers out there using biodynamics to produce stunning wines. Fairly limited numbers made so I’m pretty happy to have grabbed a few for the cellar!⁣⠀

 ​Sorrenberg Chardonnay, you beaut! Easily one of my

I’ve tried some stunning Chardonnays this year; By Farr Three Oaks, Bass Philip Premium, Toolangi Block F, and recently Rochford Premier that are all exceptional in my book. Does it really get better? -

 Is this Australia’s best Chardonnay? - I’ve tried some

Hands down my favourite shiraz producer in Australia, and a Greenock Shiraz of supreme class. Inky, meaty, spicy, and savoury with incredible depth and length. Laced with stunning tannin and purity of Shiraz fruit it’s a total pleasure to drink. Enjoyed over 4 hours and every sip showed something new. Magic in a bottle! -

 Hands down my favourite shiraz producer in Australia, and a

Block 6 at its magical 124 year old best. Dense, full, and effortless this is a Mclaren Vale shiraz of serious quality with a tannin structure and texture that’s a real standout. All in all, a beauty thanks to the strength of those ancient vines planted in 1892.⁣ ⁣

 Block 6 at its magical 124 year old best. Dense, full, and

They don’t come more mysterious, cult-like, and iconic than this Wendouree Shiraz, 2012. Ancient vines planted by A.P. Birks in 1893 produce low yields and coupled with a more hands off approach to winemaking the results⁣

are mesmerising. These wines will go the distance but it’s always worth having a little look sooner rather than later! The 2012 is a beaut, fantastic concentration, dense deep fruit flavours, and awesome tannin and all signs that this will sing decades from now! Good job I have a few more tucked away!!⁣

 They don’t come more mysterious, cult-like, and iconic than

Is bigger better? When talking wine, my answer is most definitely yes. Aging at slower rates the large formats produce rounder, lusher wines with age yet retain freshness. What’re your thoughts... is bigger better? ⁣

Certainly no shrinking violet here, just pure Barossa class at its best. Grant Burge Meshach 2008, magnum, 1500ml of outstanding grape juice from 100 year old Barossa Shiraz vines. Awesome stuff! ⁣

Surely it’s almost time to see how this beauty has developed! Just need to find some willing drinkers to join me!!⁣ 🙌 🔥 ⁣

 Is bigger better? When talking wine, my answer is most

If you’ve ever thought Durif just isn’t for you, give Scion Fortrose a go, it’s bloody great and incredibly smashable especially with this cheeky little Sicilian Pasta dish. It’s easily the best Durif I’ve had to date and from a producer who’s one of my best finds of the year. If you’ve not tasted any Scion Wines, you really should 🍷🙌🙏

 If you’ve ever thought Durif just isn’t for you, give Scion

Golden Autumn day complimented with the magical inky Spinifex Syrah 2018. Second bottle in week and this is rapidly becoming a firm favourite! Wouldn't mind laying a few down to see how they evolve but I think the temptation would get the better of me! ⁣

 Golden Autumn day complimented with the magical inky

Paradise IV Chaumont 2013, one of my all-time favourite producers and blends here in Australia. If there’s one wine or producer you should try this year, Paradise IV would be my suggestion. I’m going to put my phone down (momentarily), sit back, and enjoy this. It’s a stunner 🍷

 Paradise IV Chaumont 2013, one of my all-time favourite

Vine Vale Grenache, one of the Juniors in the Yalumba line-up but don’t let that put you off for a second. Sweet aromas of fresh wild strawberries, cherries, cola-like botanicals. Thirst-quenchingly moreish, light-medium bodied, on the palate with the red berry fruit profile blending with whole bunch savouriness effortlessly. This will disappear very quickly!

 Vine Vale Grenache, one of the Juniors in the Yalumba

Domain A Pinot Noir 2005 from the Cool River Valley in southern Tasmania...

It’s deep, layered, spicy and savoury all at once on the nose. Age has treated this very well. On the palate the primary fruit flavours of dark cherry, plum and rose petals have begun to integrate into the more savoury side with underbrush and dried herbs. Long, long finish to round things up. It’s a very classy wine. I wish I had a few more left! ⁣​

 Domain A Pinot Noir 2005 from the Cool River Valley in

I’ve waxed lyrically over the past few months about Aussie Rizza so bear with me for one more post! It’s a bargain variety here!

Vickery produce some serious Riesling, and despite being the entry into their range this Eden Valley example is about as classic as it gets. Pale straw in the glass with fresh limes and lemon rind on the nose. Intense citrus fruit on the palate, very concentrated and crisp, with lively acidity bringing it all together nicely. It’s light, dry, sweet and sour, refreshing and moreish. A candidate for the cellar and who can argue with the price, cheap as chips!

 I’ve waxed lyrically over the past few months about Aussie

Hard to beat a cheeky trip to Magill Estate when you’re in town. Bin 150, it's a pretty classy drop. ⠀

 Hard to beat a cheeky trip to Magill Estate when you’re in

Curtis Family Vineyards Limited Series 2016 Grenache 94 Points according to Halliday… Now that I’ve covered all that’s on the label, points and all (not a fan), this is a superb Grenache… very, very nice. Stunning nose of cherries, florals, thyme and oregano-like dried herbal notes. Medium to light bodied, fantastic blueberry and raspberry notes, Allen’s frog confectionary before a sweep of savoury spices and dried herbs. Fine tannin, crisp acidity and great length round off what is an unbelievably easy wine to drink.

 Curtis Family Vineyards Limited Series 2016 Grenache 94

Week done and bottle in hand... finally! The bottle?

 1961 Block. Quite simply, it’s a sensational Riesling by any standard, home or away... end of! Love it 🍷🔥

 Week done and bottle in hand... finally! The bottle?

That feeling when you definitely shouldn’t, but you do. My excuse, you don’t see these very often! Straight to the cellar! ⠀

 That feeling when you definitely shouldn’t, but you do. My

It’s hard to imagine that this wine is produced from 167 year old vines... planted in 1843. Putting it in perspective, in 1843 Charles Dickens published “A Christmas Carol”, Hong Kong was pronounced a British colony, and the typewriter was patented...

 Staggering to think that these very vines were planted that same year. Simply put, an Aussie icon and a total pleasure. It’s a must try 🙌🍷🔥 🍷

 It’s hard to imagine that this wine is produced from 167

I’ve now found the second hardest label to photograph after Giaconda, Jack West’s Western Barossa Shiraz. The 2017 is a quintessential Barossa Shiraz and all the better for it. Dark fruits and dried herbs on the nose. Medium to full bodied Shiraz character on the palate with plenty of plum, blackberry, spicy and slightly peppery notes going on. It’s a smart drop for the $$$, we’ll worth checking out 🙏👍🏽🍷

 I’ve now found the second hardest label to photograph after

​⁠Now this is how you wrap up a Monday! Paradise IV, one of my favourite, semi-unknown, producers out there making seriously good wines. I heard the vineyard had been sold, if anyone knows let me know!⁠

The wine, Chaumont 2014 Bordeaux blend. Matured in barrels from Sirugue Cooperage, Nuits St George, has a stunning nose. Blackcurrant, cedar and leather, all underpinned with lovely subtle vanilla notes. ⁠It's complex on the palate. medium bodied at best with fine grained tannins and balanced acidity. The fruit, beginning to fade as the tertiary character comes to the fore, is still showing black fruits, hints of blue as it opens. It definitely needs a few hours in a decanter to fully express itself, once open it's a decent, classy drop. For my taste it's at the limit of its aging potential which is bloody great because I now have guilt free drinking ahead! Well worth trying, and I've heard the Dardel and Chardonnay are exceptional as well!⁠

 ​⁠Now this is how you wrap up a Monday! Paradise IV, one of

Found a great wine this year? Let me know, I’d love to check it out! -

These little beauties were my Xmas present and they’re one of my favourite finds this year. They’ll get a year or two to chill before they’re opened... if I can find them 😂

 Found a great wine this year? Let me know, I’d love to

Found a great producer this year? I’d love to know who! -

These are two of my favourite producer finds from the last 6 months, Quin wines and Saint Petri (Calabria Family Wines), from the

. Both are producing serious quality and classy wines that I can’t recommend highly enough! If you see them they’re well worth trying!

 Found a great producer this year? I’d love to know who! -

Last post of the year and my Second NYE drop, Rusden Black Guts Shiraz, one of my favourites from the Barossa. All manner of dark fruits and spice on the nose with a cherry cola-esque richness. Powerful and elegant on the palate. Dark berries, violet, fizzy cola sweets backed by roasted coffee, a touch of oak and chewy tannins. It’s bloody great, and it’s only a baby. Give it a few years and it’ll be even better!

 Last post of the year and my Second NYE drop, Rusden Black

I love finding new producers and quality Pinot Noir to try. Hence trying the 2017 Santolin 'Gruyere' Pinot Noir which, at first impressions, is a very attractive Pinot! It has a nose of fine red berries, black cherry, and raspberries with a whole bunch, slight funk note going on. On the palate, fruit forward flavours of strawberry, raspberry Allen’s frogs and concentrated black cherry adding depth. With medium acidity and super fine tannins it’s very smooth, and incredibly moreish. If you open it, it will get drunk! -

 I love finding new producers and quality Pinot Noir to try

Do you have a favorite producer that you stock up on each year? -

My top 5 in no particular order are; By Farr, Sami-Odi, Serrat, Standish Wine Co, and Sorrenberg. Clearly not everyday wines, but they’re my collection staples. Typically I buy a range from each, low to high in price, and open them both young and old. For me, nothing beats trying the same wine from the same producer, 3,5, even 10 years apart!

 Do you have a favorite producer that you stock up on each

Woodlands “Russell” Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 is a masterpiece from West Australia. The colour sets the scene. Impenetrable with a dark, black red core and dark red rim. Aromas of ripe blackcurrant and liquorice send your tastebuds into overdrive. There’s a vanilla characteristic, perhaps imparted from the 19 month stay in medium toasted French oak barrels, which passes to reveal earthy spice flavours. On the palate the class continues as the generous tannins support the wine through to the finish of classic blackcurrant and mulberry goodness. This is a superb wine now, and will only get better with age.⁣ 🍇

 Woodlands “Russell” Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 is a

Beautiful, back and front. It’s hard to find a better “package” out there in my opinion. Year on year, they get prettier and prettier! Can’t wait to see what’s install for the next release. For now though, these will do VERY nicely! ⠀

 Beautiful, back and front. It’s hard to find a better

Here’s a bit of vertical love for your Thursday evening. If you could pick a vintage, which one would it be? 🍷 ​

 Here’s a bit of vertical love for your Thursday evening. If

Three of my absolute favourites and Australia’s best made their way into my cellar today. Both the Wendouree and

 are built for the long haul, enjoyable now, but become outrageous with time. Serious stuff. .

The By Farr CG Chardonnay 2015, the first release of this wine, received fantastic reviews. I like my Chardonnay with a few years on it, so I’ll come back to it around 2020 to see what all the fuss was about!⁣ 🍷

 Three of my absolute favourites and Australia’s best made

This Grand Cru Pinot Noir from New Zealand’s iconic producer

_rangi is simply sublime. It’s the result of the legendary gumboot clone, a single Pinot Noir cutting taken from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti in Burgundy, smuggled into New Zealand in the mid-1970’s. This legend provides both pedigree and a degree of mystery to the wine.⁣

Distinctly pinot noir on the nose with lifted florals, red roses, delicious cherries, spices and savouriness all in one. You could sit and smell this for days... To taste, it’s a dream pinot. Refined, medium bodied, very long, encompassing power and finesse all at once. It’s a complex wine for sure as the dark cherry, dried fruit and herby almost stalky flavours unite and seductive your tastebuds. There’s a real energy about this wine which the flavours, acidity and tannins express from the moment you smell right through to the long, long, finish. Simply stunning!⁣

Let me know what you think of this New Zealand gem! And if you believe the legend...⁣

 This Grand Cru Pinot Noir from New Zealand’s iconic

Kicking-off the week with a medium- bodied McLaren Vale Shiraz, courtesy of Curtis Family Vineyards. Lots to like here. Plenty of fruit, great  concentration, powerful yet quite elegant all up. It’s a quality drop that’s playing in a pretty serious pool of wines from that neck of the woods and doing a very good job! -