𝑨𝒍𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒃𝒂𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝑹𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒈 𝑹𝒊𝒆𝒔𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑲𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒕, 1983

In perfect shape, this Riesling blew my mind. It was alive, mature but still very young with lots of freshness.

The aromas were very expressive and ripe, offering notes of preserved lemon, ripe peach, syruped kumquat, wax, wet stones, old eraser and mild smoke (like the oldschool cap guns with smoke - a little matchstick-like). No extreme petrol.

On the palate, it was medium-bodied, off-dry, highly acidic but very rounded on the edges. Lemon wine gum, lemon zest, a hint of honeycomb (but not sweet), tangerine, ginger sweets and salt in the finish.

Such a pure wine! In love with these +30 years old Rieslings, where the marriage between sweetness and acidity is reaches a unique level.

• “Kabinett” is one of six designated German wine classifications and indicates the lightest style of German wines. The grapes are picked at normal harvest, typically in September when they have ripened, and shows an off-dry style, unless “Trocken” (dry) is mentioned on the label as well, which indicates a longer fermentation leading to less residual sugar content (a drier wine) and a bit higher alcohol.

Behind this label is a story of the great Staatsweingute (state wineries) of Germany, which are owned by the state and works like umbrella wineries, where smaller wineries finished their vinification. This label refers to the old state winery Niederhausen-Schlossböckelheim, founded in 1901, but by the A.P. Nr. on the label (1 750 053/10/84), the 750 refers to the bottler/the specific winemaker, which is Gut Hermannsberg.

Since 2010, the winery has worked under the official name of Gut Hermannsberg. They are also founding members of VDP.

 ⭐️93+/100⭐️ 𝑨𝒍𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒃𝒂𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝑹𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒈 𝑹𝒊𝒆𝒔𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑲𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒕, 1983

“𝑷𝒖𝒍𝒊𝒏” 𝑪𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑺𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒊 𝑹𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒐, 2015

🍇 70% Granaccia / 20% Syrah / 10% Barbera

Nice dark and muddy look - beautiful color. The bouquet is very dark and spicy, offering blackberry, blackcurrant leaves, black olive, sweet liquorice, tar, smoky game meat, black pepper and wood. Some Mediterranean herbs and a funny hint of tonka bean.

The palate is rich and full with medium acidity and easy going tannins, offering blackcurrant, baked plums, charcoal, vanilla, black pepper and dill in the finish.

The alcohol is definitely present on the palate, but it’s well integrated.

• Fermented in steel tanks (10 days maceration and three daily pump-over)

• Aged 13 months in 2nd and 3rd use barrique followed by 11 months in the bottle

• The variety of Granaccia is a local variant of Alicante, that’s very close to Grenache (Alicante is an old cross between Grenache and Petit Bouschet)

• In local dialect, "Pulin" means "last born," as this wine is aged longer than any other Bruna wine

Bruna, established in the 1960s, is located in the village of Ranzo Borgo (not far from Imperia and Savona) in the beautiful mountains of western Liguria with the famous terraced vineyards.

They work organically in their 7,5 ha vineyards and use only a tiny amount of sulfites when needed.

Colline Savonesi wines, like this Pulin, tend to lie at altitudes between 400 and 700 meters. All local varieties are allowed in the blend in any proportion - most often with Granaccia as the lead singer.

 ⭐️88/100⭐️ “𝑷𝒖𝒍𝒊𝒏” 𝑪𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑺𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒊 𝑹𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒐, 2015 📍Ranzo Borgo

Innovative and always experimenting, the guys at Cantina Indigeno are obsessed with making primal/wild wines.

Spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts without temperature control. Skin contact for 8 days in open vats, followed by ageing on the lees for 8 months in fiberglass tanks.

Foggy orange-gold in colour, very aromatic with grapefruit, lemon zest, sea spray, musk, baked pear, clover honey, wildflowers.

Lightening tanginess and racy acidity fuse with apple, lemon, grapefruit and nectarine.

Nuttiness accents the saline mineral finish.

Cantina Indigeno ‘Bianco’ Vino Bianco 2020

 Innovative and always experimenting, the guys at Cantina

Dedicated to organic and biodynamic methods, childhood friends Marco Giuliani and Davide Gentile are constantly experimenting and learning.

From a 1 hectare vineyard with vines 25 years in average age, with clay/limestone soils. Hand-harvested, destemmed, overnight maceration with the skins, spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts in stainless steel, aged in stainless steel, unfined, unfiltered, no added SO2.

Pineapple, peach, green apple, basil, lemon, orange, nutty trace, drizzle of honey accented by tangy acidity and gauzy green tea tannins.

Lemon zest, nectarine, and thyme infuse the crisp mineral finish.

 Uva e basta [100% Grape] 💥 Dedicated to organic and

“𝑰𝒍 𝑭𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒕” 𝑳𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒉𝒆 𝑵𝒆𝒃𝒃𝒊𝒐𝒍𝒐, 2005

📍Monforte d’Alba, Barolo, Piemonte, Italy🇮🇹

Beautiful color with a fine orange rim that doesn’t seem too oxidized.

The bouquet started offering notes of port, brown apple and prunes, but after a bit of air it blew off and revealed quite a youthful and fresh Nebbiolo for its age. Strawberry (fresh and candied), dried sweet cherry, pressed flowers, orange peel, tar, thyme, mint, charcuterie and rusty metal followed on the nose. The oak is clear too.

The palate was medium(+)-bodied with well integrated tannins and a vibrant acidity. Cherry, cranberry, raw liquorice, dark chocolate, cloves, spicy vanilla and mint. A taste of chalk and iron in the finish.

• “Il Favot” means “the favorite”

• Grapes from different small (and younger) parcels at Bussia

• Fermented in steel tanks (8 days skin contact - brings a deep color but lower tannic level) with indigenous yeast

• Aged a few months in steel tanks followed by some months in barrique

• No clarifying and filtration before bottling

An estate of the elite in the Barolo area. The history dates back to 1969, when Aldo left him and his brothers (Giacomo Conterno) wine business to start his own adventure with more modern philosophies, following Angelo Gaja, meaning shorter maceration and some barrique next to the large Slavonian barrels.

Aldo Conterno passed away in 2012, leaving the winery to his three sons, France, Giacomo and Stefano, who were all working with their father during his last yeast.

They work organically without certification, farms 25 ha with very low yields - a total of 80.000 bottles pr. year.

 ⭐️90/100⭐️ “𝑰𝒍 𝑭𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒕” 𝑳𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒉𝒆 𝑵𝒆𝒃𝒃𝒊𝒐𝒍𝒐, 2005 📍Monforte d’Alba

4th generation winemaker, Professor of Viticulture, Tenerife native, Juan Jesus has spent the past 25 years dedicated to preserving the indigenous grapes of Tenerife.

Ungrafted vines are 100+ old in volcanic soils, 300-700 meters in elevation in the northwestern part of the island. Hand-harvested, spontaneous fermentation with wild yeasts, aged 3 months in used 225L French oak barrels.

Concentrated layers of black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, red currant, roasted sage, black pepper, licorice, smoky earth framed by fine grain tannins and fresh acidity.

Black currant and blueberry linger on the smoky finish.

Viñátigo Listán Negro Tenerife DOP 2019

 4th generation winemaker, Professor of Viticulture

Pioneering winemaker, clay amphora innovator Francesco Cirelli farms 23 hectares of certified organic land in the sandy hills of Colline Teramane, near the Adriatic Sea.

From a 2 hectare vineyard with calcium and clay soils. Grapes are destemmed, gently pressed with maceration on the skins. Spontaneous fermentation with wild yeasts in stainless steel followed by 3 months ageing in stainless steel. Unfined and unfiltered

Wild strawberry, cherry, hibiscus, sea spray, shake of white pepper, cinnamon glossed by tangy acidity.

Light, dusty tannins fuse with cranberry and cherry on the saline mineral, crisp finish.

Cirelli La Collina Biologica Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC 2020

 Pioneering winemaker, clay amphora innovator Francesco

Pinot Blanc, not all that common but could be a new ‘go to’ white variety. Described by

 as “the white cousin of Pinot Noir”, it is a creamy lemon, citrus delight with a texture that provides instant happiness. A crisp finish that makes you demand more…simple…

 Colours of the South by Purple Hands Wines 2020 Barossa

Antonio and Daniela di Gruttola save indigenous, old vineyards in Irpinia that were at risk of being abandoned or uprooted.

Grapes are from a 70 year old vineyard located 450 meters in elevation. Spontaneous fermentation on the skins with wild yeasts for a couple of days, followed by 1 year in chestnut casks. Unfined, unfiltered, no added sulphur. ➖

Intricate tiers of grapefruit, peach, nectarine, plum, lavender, clover honey, saline minerality flanked by green tea tannins and tangy acidity.

Pear, white pepper, ginger, wildflowers, smoky earth infuse the salty finish. Dynamic, vibrant, compelling.

Cantina Giardino ‘Paski’ Coda di Volpe Campania IGP 2018

 Antonio and Daniela di Gruttola save indigenous, old

Another ♦️from iconic Alsace winemaker Christian Binner

‘Si Rose’ was inspired by Roman winemaking in which white wine was made with macerated grapes, along with the increasing temperature in Alsace, causing difficulties with slow ripening varieties.

Grapes are from are from 2 consecutive vintages, from south facing hillside vineyards with limestone soils.

20% macerated for 8 months, 80% macerated for 8 days, bottled in autumn 2020. Unfined, unfiltered, no added So2.

Bright coral-orange in colour, very aromatic; with mango, rose water, melon, grapefruit, nutmeg, orange. Delicate Bergamot black tea tannins and tingly acidity accent layers of blood orange, strawberry, peach, grapefruit, mango, nectarine, lavender, candied ginger.

Thyme, orange and citrus zest infuse the crisp, mineral finish.

Domaine Binner ‘Si Rose’ Vin de France NV

 Another ♦️from iconic Alsace winemaker Christian Binner ‘Si

A little comparison between two French varieties made by Mitchelton Estate Wines.

I had a side by side tasting with some friends and the jury was split 50/50 in which they liked better. All agreed both are very good for the price and $50 for both, it is was a great little comparison between two varieties.

The Marsanne was fresh and perfect for that upcoming spring lunch.

While the Roussanne gave a little more power and felt like an older traditional balance of flavours. I think the Marsanne will age for many years and only get better.

I personally liked the Roussanne better, but that was only by the slimmest of margins…simple…

 for the opportunity to taste and review these beautiful wines.

 Mitchelton Estate Wines A little comparison between two

What wine do I pick prior to fasting for a colonoscopy? Well I want something that is;

This one ticks, ticks and ticks all of those wants.

Grown in the Angaston foothills of the Barossa Valley,

 has made a beautiful sexy wine that is truely an expression of how these grapes are given the upmost respect.

 JC’s Own Angaston Foothills Grenache Rating: B+ Price: $50

Produttori del Barbaresco is renowned for their quintessential, traditional Barbaresco.

Grapes are from various vineyards in the Barbaresco DOCG, with a mix of limestone, clay, sandy streaks, calcium rich soils. Aged 24 months in large oak casks.

Transparent garnet in colour, with aromas of rose, cherry, strawberry, tarry earth, trace of baking spice.

Fine grain tannins and fresh acidity frame strawberry, blackberry, rose petal, white pepper, cigar box spice and a wisp of cedar smoke.

Subtle spice and tarry earth linger on the red fruit finish.

Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco DOCG 2017

 Produttori del Barbaresco is renowned for their

A blend of Savagnin Chardonnay creates this truely different and exciting wine. Strap yourself in and enjoy the ride.

It’s a multiple vintage blend of Savagnin from 2019 and Chardonnay from 2020. With no filtration and no sulphites you get a wine that has plenty of character. Apples and lemon for days…simple…

 Scintilla Wines MV Ə'LEKTRIK Rating: B Price: $36

📍Sant’Angelo in Colle, Montalcino, Toscana, Italy🇮🇹

Very old school Brunello with a bouquet slowly opening up revealing well matured notes of baked red fruits (a bit aged tawny-like), dark cherry, old leather, cinnamon, anise, dried herbs, sweet tobacco and old coffee grounds. It’s quite dusty as well and has some iron and blood-like scents coming through.

On the palate, it’s medium(+)-bodied with powdery tannins and medium acidity. Notes of dark cherry, prunes, baked tomato, cloves, oak, dark chocolate and rosemary/thyme-like herbs. The finish is long and balsamic, and the alcohol is (maybe a bit too) present. Not as floral as expected.

• Grapes are hand-harvested from the winery’s oldest vineyards (150-450 meters altitude)

• Fermented in steel tanks with indigenous yeasts

• Aged in big French oak barrels (30-50 hectoliters) for 3 years

An iconic winery in Toscana, still owned by the Francheschi-family since the establishment in 1890.

They own 600 ha of land, of which 125 are vines and 70 are olive trees, in the area next to the village of San’tAngelo in Colle, which is known as being one of the best terroirs in the Brunello di Montalcino-area.

Il Poggione is a winery with great quality, that delivers pretty much in all vintages. And the prices are not bad…

 ⭐️90/100⭐️ Tenuta Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino, 2012

Anneliese and Werner Michlit live in harmony with nature, agriculture and viticulture in the middle of a World Heritage Site in Seewinkel, on the eastern side of Lake Neusidl in Burgenland

Spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts with skin maceration for about 20 days in concrete eggs, aged on the lees for 1 year

Orange, pink grapefruit, apricot, apple, mango accented by tingly acidity.

Green tea tannins fuse with peach, mango and citrus zest on the crisp mineral finish.

Field Blend of Gewürztraminer, Gelber Traminer, Roter Traminer

Meinklang ‘Konkret’ Weiss Burgenland 2016

 Anneliese and Werner Michlit live in harmony with nature

Melding experimentation with minimal intervention and organic viticulture in Abruzzo...

Grapes are from a north-facing cru vineyard in Atri, at 400 meters in elevation. Destemmed and soft pressed, spontaneous fermentation with wild yeasts, 7 day maceration on the skins, aged in fiberglass tanks

A gleaming fusion of mango, orange, lemon, sea spray, candied ginger, hibiscus, grapefruit, super light fizz framed by green tea tannins and citrus acidity.

Apricot, lemon, nuts linger on the salty finish.

Cantina Indigeno ‘Calanchi’ Vino Bianco 2020

 Melding experimentation with minimal intervention and

𝑫𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒂 𝑪𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒊 𝑻𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒊, 2018

📍Castiglione Falletto, Barolo, Piemonte, Italy🇮🇹

First time tasting a Derthona. Lovely wine offering aromas of kiwi, quince, melon rind, raw white mushrooms, marzipan, chamomile  and mild petrol, resin and beeswax. There’s a mild scent of white flowers and a nice mineral touch of wet sea stones.

The wine is dry, medium-bodied and has a refreshing acidity on the palate. It brings notes of fresh pear, green gooseberry, kiwi, tangerine, ginger, stones from peach and cherry and green bitter salad.

* Grapes are harvested from vineyards located around the town of Monleale in Colli Tortonesi DOC.

* Fermentation takes place in steel tanks, ceramic containers and wooden casks.

* Aged 10 months in steel tanks, ceramic containers and wooden barrels on the lees - frequent batonnage.

The area of Colli Tortonesi DOC (eastern Piemonte) is most famous for wines based on Barbera, but the ancient, and almost extinct, variety of Timorasso is gaining a lot of attention these years. A real cult variety for those who know it.

Wines labeled as "Derthona", which is the traditional name (in the local dialect) for the town of Tortona, after which the Colli Tortonesi DOC is named, are always made by 95-100% Timorasso.

Walter Massa might be the main figure when it comes to the rise of Timorasso, but for sure giants from Barolo (like Vietti, La Spinetta and Borgogno) are helping to spread the “news” with their recently achieved vines.

 ⭐️90/100⭐️ 𝑫𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒂 𝑪𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒊 𝑻𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒊, 2018 📍Castiglione

Atop a hill overlooking the town of Faro in the northeast corner of Sicily, Giovanni Scarfone tends to 2.5 hectares of old vine vineyards.

Dedicated to expressing the land and traditional methods of winemaking, he farms using organic and low intervention methods.

Vines are 10-80 years in age at 820-1000 feet in elevation, with layered clay and sandy limestone tuff soils. Spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts with 12 hours on the skins, aged 6 months in stainless steel. [Giovanni uses extended skin maceration time as this was “the way Southern Italian peasants used to make their rosé”.]

Crisp, funky and focused; with cherry, blood orange, smoky minerality, grilled herbs, tangy acidity gliding across light Darjeeling tannins.

Earthy spices and wild berries linger between each sleek sip.

Blend of Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Nocera

 Atop a hill overlooking the town of Faro in the northeast

A collaboration born from a unified commitment to preserving the land, grapes, traditions and people behind the wines.

La Viranda dall’Alto Cooperativa in Monferrato and Valli Unite Cooperativa in Alessandria, A Vita is in the Cirò hills of Calabria.

Golden layers of fig, pear, nectarine, delicate fizz glossed by citrus acidity. Light, green tea tannins fuse with herbs and citrus zest on the crisp finish.

Blend of Cortese, Pecorino, Timorasso, Chardonnay

Il Collettivo Strade Sterrate ‘Bolle senza Frontiere’ Vino Bianco Frizzante

 ‘Bubbles without Borders’ A collaboration born from a

A picture says a thousand words…simple…

 Soumah Equilibrio Chardonnay 2018 Rating: B+ Price: $70

𝑬𝒏𝒌𝒊𝒓𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝑬𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒓𝒖𝒃 “𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆” 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒏, 2018

📍Traben-Trarbach, Mosel, Germany🇩🇪

The wine was decanted a few hours before first test.

Very dark and golden color - probably from the late harvested grapes and the tiny maceration.

The aromas are powerful and delicate, offering ripe pear, lemon peel, beeswax, baked lemon, mild petrol, old eraser, dark honey, lemon wine gum, wet and smoky stones and lees.

On the palate, the wine is rich and creamy (not heavy) with a sick acidity to balance the body. Ripe pomelo, nectarine, lemon peel, a mild green bitterness, lemon verbena, honey (without being sweet) and white wine gum. Very fine minerality, lots of salt and a hint of salmiak in the finish.

• Hand-harvested from the famous and steep Enkircher Ellergrub vineyard

• Naturally fermented in 8-year-old barrique

This is the first Ellergrub “Reserve” wine from Weiser-Künstler, and probably the last for a long time, since it was kind of a (happy) accident. In the very hot vintage of 2018, Konstantin Weiser and Alexandra Künstler were waiting and waiting for the humidity causing the botrytis - but it never came. The vines were actually ment to be used for an Ellergrub Auslese, but instead, the overripe and very sweet grapes (still in perfect condition) resulted in a dry Riesling Reserve with high alcohol for its kind.

Konstantin and Alexandra started the winery in 2005, and quickly they were on the lips of the biggest international wine personalities. They farm a little morethan 4 ha of Riesling, all biodynamic and with a low amount of sulfur.

 ⭐️91/100⭐️ 𝑬𝒏𝒌𝒊𝒓𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝑬𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒓𝒖𝒃 “𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆” 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒏, 2018

Expectations exceed, considerably! Curtis Family Vineyard’s Martins Vineyard Shiraz 2016 is a beaut... serious quality on show here. -

Blackberries and plums, hints of blueberry combined with anise and a touch of vanilla. Fresh, definitely in no way dense or jammy, there’s a real elegance here. The body is full, palate rich, texture perfect, and the fruit shines. Blackberry, plums, dark chocolate richness that’s silky and smooth. There’s oak, American, but it’s extremely well integrated giving the slightest vanilla notes, more complexity than expected, and super velvety tannins. What a ripper!

 Expectations exceed, considerably! Curtis Family Vineyard’s

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

What’s your go-to red for under $30? This might just be my newest addition.... Pikes Eastside Shiraz from the Clare Valley, more specifically from Polish Hill River, is such an easy wine to drink. Plums and black cherry aromas, verging on blueberries after time in the glass. The medium bodied palate shows layers of black cherry and plum, with earthy undertones adding a savoury edge and structure. It’s a really well put together wine at a great price-point. The perfect cellar staple!

 What’s your go-to red for under $30? This might just be my

If you’re like me and haven’t had the greatest experience then I can highly recommend Campbell’s The Barkley… this is a totally different proposition! It feels like a proper wine, if that makes sense at all. Super expressive nose of dark fruits and savoury spice, big but not “wow here comes a headache” big. On the palate it is rich, opulent, and elegant with a velvety texture. Plenty of ripe dark fruits, blackberries and black cherry, followed by graphite-like, leathery, liquorice savoury layers. One for the cellar, but also very fun now!

 What’re your thoughts on Durif? If you’re like me and

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!!⁣