 in the Barossa. Both regional blends from some serious top tier addresses in the region, Stonewell, Ebenezer, and Moppa to name a few. Can’t wait to get stuck into these! Cold weather = Big, bold, Barossa Shiraz and these ought to do the job nicely! -

 New arrivals from @pirathonwines  in the Barossa. Both

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

Pretty decent line up for a Monday night! Thanks

Ochota Barrels Fugazi 09, 10 years young and still shining... just. Gorgeous deep plummy, stewed fruity, reduced balsamic goodness. If you still have some drink up!

Spring Vale Pinot 17, a stunner from Tassie. Stems and complexity in buckets. Herbal, spicy characteristics everywhere even a slight gunpowder note. 30 mins open and it was singing!!

Serrat Shiraz Viognier 17, a young one, but a star in the making. Orange blossom, white pepper, lifted florals. It’s about as addictive a nose as I’ve experienced. Insane acidity, structure and grippy tannins. This will be epic in 5-10 years!

 Pretty decent line up for a Monday night! Thanks

This is an interesting little number from Purple Hands Wines. ​Montepulciano from the Barossa Valley? You heard right! Not an Aussie varietal I'm that familiar with to be honest and I'm pretty impressed. Sweet black fruits introduce themselves up front before the herbal savoury notes come to the fore. The tannins are firm, the acidity is bang on giving it good length. For me, it's definitely worth looking out for next time you're searching the bottle shop.⁠

 This is an interesting little number from Purple Hands

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

. Sunday arvos don’t get much better than this! Not one, but two stunning Standish Wine Co wines from 2016. The Standish and Relic are mind-blowingly good… maybe the best Shiraz I’ve had this year. Is there a better producer of Shiraz? If so, please let me know!

 Oops… #thishappened . Sunday arvos don’t get much better

This International Grenache Day is looking awesome! 🙌

 Produce some of my favourite Grenache out there from some of the oldest vines in the Barossa. The Tri-Centenary vines are a mind blowing 130 years old! Epic. Now, where do I start!! -

 This International Grenache Day is looking awesome! 🙌

. Classic Barossa, intense colour, full bodied and fruit forward. Less oak than I was expecting, but the power and concentration more than suffice. Blackberry, spices, chard meats and a feint fennel edge, balanced brilliantly with crisp acidity and grainy tannin. Quality find! If you see it grab a couple, it’s bloody good 🍷🙌

 Magical Moppa Hill by @laughingjackwines . Classic Barossa

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

*MAGNUM ALERT* Rockford Basket Press 2012. 1.5Ls of iconic, truly Barossan goodness. Now... there are a lot of producers in the Barossa making stunner Syrah style wines which I love, LOVE, but there's always a place in my heart for a traditional blockbuster Barossa Shiraz. ⁠

The Rockford wineworks and apparatus on Krondorf Road at Tanunda date back to the 1850s. Parcels of the best dry grown old vine Shiraz, some of which were planted in the nineteenth century, from a select cabal of growers, operating vineyards in the Barossa, Kalimna and Ebenezer, Moppa Springs and the Eden Valley, are treated to an ancient basket press followed by vinfication in old fashioned open fermentation vessels.⁠

The batches are matured in a selection of mostly well-seasoned French and American oak barrels, before a rigorous selection to determine the final assemblage. Deeply coloured wine. A dense bouquet of aromatic dark fruits and berries with a twist of spice efore the most engaging palate of reductions, power and richness over⁠

 *MAGNUM ALERT* Rockford Basket Press 2012. 1.5Ls of iconic

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

​I’m having American tonight, what’s in your glass?  This is my first foray into the New World wines of America and kicking off with a banger! (So I’m told) The blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot traditionally delivers superb full body wines. Structured, velvety  tannins with a long and intense finish. Sounds bloody great!⁠

The Ridge history begins in 1886, high in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the initial plantings of the Monte Bello estate vineyard were set out, and winery construction begun. The first vintage from the young vines followed in 1892. During Prohibition (1920-1933), the vineyard was not fully maintained; some vines survived into the late 30’s,⁠ but by the 1940s they were effectively abandoned. Eight acres of cabernet sauvignon were replanted in 1949. These were the source of the first Ridge Monte Bello (1962). Since then, the historic vineyards on the ridge have gradually been replanted.⁠ Fantastic history! -⁠

 ​I’m having American tonight, what’s in your glass?  This

My Tasmanian odyssey continues with this absolute gem from Jonny and Matt Hughes of Mewstone under their Hughes and Hughes label. -

Firstly, the colour is a joke. Screams red fruits, cranberry freshness and twiggy goodness. All but confirmed by an enticing perfume which is barely contained by the glass. It’s as if it wants to escape, amazing really. Enjoyment factor increases with the first sip. There’s a sweet / tart balancing act going on as the red fruited and twiggy herbaceous notes mix with juicy acidity. Reminds me of a sour cherry lolly, just less sour and buckets of deliciousness. Add it to your list of Tassie gems to get your hands on!! ⁠

 My Tasmanian odyssey continues with this absolute gem from

 range with this 2017 Aglianico from the northern Adelaide Hills. Aglianico, late ripening, spends a few weeks on skins and sees a mixture of older oak and stainless steel. The result? Zippy, cherry, candy-cane on the nose. Slight touch of fresh greenery, yum. Excitable palate as the cherry, sweet sour combo of fruit goodness gets a boost of fine tannins. For a varietal I’m not that across this is a bloody tasty little number! ⠀

 ​Continuing my exploration of the @spinifexwines  range

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

What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon! Jean-François Ganevat Chardonnay "Les Chalasses" Vieilles Vignes Côtes du Jura, what a wine! Woody, apply, zesty scents unfurl and collect in the glass. The palate, oh my. Salty and lemony, with a stunning minerality late on. One problem... one bottles not enough!! -

 What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon! Jean-François

I’m getting my fill of hearty Barossan reds this winter and this Calabria Bros Old Vine Shiraz is such a find. Dark, inky purple with magenta hues. Medium to full bodied, fitting the traditional Barossa Shiraz style effortlessly. Lots of dark fruit. Less fresh, more stewed and rich. Great oaky characters, obvious but well balanced. Grippy tannins and persistent flavour. For under $30, it’s a classy and impressive Barossa Shiraz.

 I’m getting my fill of hearty Barossan reds this winter and

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

If you’re a fan of Temprenillo then get your chops around this. From the Strathbogie Ranges near Bonnie Doon, ah the serenity,

 produce this Tempranillo and a Reserve. Firstly, this is a beaut of a wine. Ruby and garnet in colour, complex brambly, pomegranate and earthy aromas with hints of mushrooms... interesting. The Zalto captures it so well, smell, sip, wait, repeat and it evolves each time. The palate has powdery tannin, pomegranate again, spices and plums, with sherry notes adding complexity. It intrigues brilliantly. Can’t wait to try the reserve!

 If you’re a fan of Temprenillo then get your chops around

​There are serious (and I mean serious) smile inducing qualities about this wine from

. For me, possibly the best characteristics any wine can have. What makes this such a beautiful wine? The vineyard for starters. The Pinot Noir is grown on a north-facing slope, as south as south can be in Tasmania, with maritime influences throughout the growing season. ⁠

The wine? Pinot with body. Pinot for Shiraz lovers⁠ who say they don’t drink Pinot. Lusciously deep. Hits all the dark fruits imaginable and oozes earthy complexity. Whole bunches used to add structure and a genius acid profile complemented by beautiful oak. It’s in my top two reds of the year for sure, might push top spot if I can save some for tomorrow. ⁠

Plus, it’s a magnum, hands down best format for a wine but⁠ enough about that.

 ​There are serious (and I mean serious) smile inducing

Artwork goals! Everything’s on point... and it’s a magnum!

 are doing everything right here. If I had space in carry on it’d be coming home for sure. Maybe next time.... 🍷

Production = Dry grown from our single vineyard little block in Yallingup. Hand harvest & basket pressed straight into the amphora pots. Wild ferment & natural malo. Hand bottled direct from pots, sealed under cork with wax top. 🍷 ​

 Artwork goals! Everything’s on point... and it’s a magnum!

When wines like Grange, Hill of Grace, Runrig and the like costing anywhere from 3 to 8 times the price of the Standish Wines you really have to ask yourself the question.... which would you rather have, 1 Grange or 6 Standish? I’m in the Standish camp, cost/quality ratio is insane. This, 'The Standish' Shiraz 2016 is stunning, in every sense a beautiful wine. Long live the king! 🍷🙌 -

The wine itself, the 'The Standish' Shiraz, is made from fruit farmed by the the Laycock family in the Greenock sub-region of the Barossa Valley. Dan has worked closely with this great vineyard since 2005, with previous releases of  Standish 'Andelmonde’ and ‘Borne Bollene’ coming from this site. I’ve tasted wines from different producer who produce using the same grapes. How he’s able to surpass those other wines is insane. Pure genius! -

 When wines like Grange, Hill of Grace, Runrig and the like

This Sauvignon / Semillon blend is the business with Italian Sausage & fennel sauce and homemade pasta. Such a ripper wine from the Hunter Valley! -

 This Sauvignon / Semillon blend is the business with

This has accelerated my love for Tasmanian wine, magnums, and Riesling. Insanely addictive acidity, as if your tucking into a perfectly ripe Granny Smith with flinty goodness chucked in for entertainment. It’s concentrated, powerful really. Mixed citrus fusion with a crispy finish. Total banger! Awesome

 This has accelerated my love for Tasmanian wine, magnums

Everything about my recently delivery of Quin wines has impressed me. From the packaging and tasting notes, right through to the bottles and labels. If this tastes half as good as it looks it’s going to be awesome!

The wine… Single Vineyard Eden Valley Shiraz. Latitude: 34⁰32’06”S  Longitude: 139⁰02’46”E. 450m above sea-level and planted in 1982. The fruit is traditionally handed and sees 10 months of French oak.

 Everything about my recently delivery of Quin wines has

How can you go wrong when you have these two to choose from! ⁣

Bruno Rocca Langhe Nebbiolo 2016, possibly my best find of the year. It's a very classy Neb made from the youngest vines Bruno Rocca have. Crisp, floral, full of red cherries and that lovely Nebbiolo tannin. A great find! try it, it's bloody good stuff. ⁣

Vietti Perbacco 2016, the competition! 2016 was a cracking year in ​Piemonte and these wines highlight that. Perfumed and vibrant, the Perbacco shows the classic rose petals and fresh red cherry. Almost all of this fruit is destined to be Barolo so grab yourself a bargain! ⁣

 How can you go wrong when you have these two to choose

Sydney in November is simply stunning and it’s a very similar story with my recent find, Municipal Wines Home Vineyard Shiraz. This wine comes from the Strathbogie Ranges where Matt Froude, the Winemaker, applies a minimal intervention approach to managing the vineyard. The Shiraz vineyard is dry grown, unpruned but managed, and hasn’t seen a chemical for over 3 years. I absolutely love this approach to winemaking.

The wine itself is a 12.7% medium bodied ballet of flavour. Perhaps more Syrah in style than that of a traditional Aussie Shiraz, which is no bad thing at all. Dark plum fruit flavours intermingled with raspberry and hints of violets on the nose. The palate is medium bodied with bright acidity, dark fruit flavours, aromatic spices and soft woody notes. It’s a seriously enjoyable wine to drink with a real sense of purpose and place.  You can’t ask for more than that, It’s awesome!

 Sydney in November is simply stunning and it’s a very

This box tickingly banging Barossa Shiraz from

 that might be one of my new "go to" wines for under $25. Glass staining deep magenta, and violet on the swirl. Dark and brooding sitting in the glass. Very impressive nose, classic Barossa, of dark fruits and Xmas cake spices. Subtle oak too. Full bodied, rich, and luscious, smooth on the palate. Dark fruits give great volume and depth. The lovely oak and soft tannins adding balance perfectly. It's impressively long, took me by surprise to be honest, great drop!

 This box tickingly banging Barossa Shiraz from

Anyone tried these yet?? North, East, South and the regional Dr Edge 2018 Tassie Pinot Noir. All 777 clone to allow the individual regional personalities shine through, love that. Haven’t tried any yet, only heard great things... This’ll make an epic tasting night! 🍷

 Anyone tried these yet?? North, East, South and the

Clonakilla can do no wrong in my eyes. Their Shiraz Viognier is exceptional. However, perhaps not an everyday wine. This Hiltop’s Shiraz, 2017, on the other hand is a ripper. Everything about this wine from the sight, smell and taste is awesome and for its price it takes an awful lot to beat. Buy! 🍷