100 points)

Bruce Dukes has been making wine in Margaret River, WA for over 30 years and he knows a thing or two about quality chardonnay. Duke’s career started with a degree in Agronomy (the science of soil management and crop production) from the University of Western Australia and then a masters degree in Viticulture and…

ByCrispySeptember 20, 20230Comments

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Pinot Noir

WINE > Dry River Pinot Noir 2020 (96/100 points)

The Dry River vineyard was established in 1979 by Dr Neil and Dawn McCallum and was one of Martinborough’s first wineries and over time it has become one New Zealand's most iconic wines. It was named after one of South Wairarapa’s earliest sheep stations, Dry River rests on the very arid, gravelly, free-draining soils near…

ByEd ItorSeptember 5, 20230Comments

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Pinot Noir

WINE > Domaine Tollot-Beaut Chorey-Les-Beaune Protégée 2018 (93/100 points)

I am very fond of the flavour profile found in Burgundy wines made from grapes grown in Beaune, and while this wine is described by the maker as a "classic rustic red wine" I think it deserves more love and recognition because it is a lot better than that. THE WINERY The Tollot family have…

ByCrispyAugust 30, 20230Comments

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Pinot Noir

WINE > Yeringberg – Pinot Noir 2019 (93/100 points)

THE WINERY Yeringberg and the de Pury family are original pioneers of wine making in the Yarra Valley of Victoria. The original vineyard was established in 1863, though many of the grapes were pulled out with vines replanted in the 1970s. In 1969 Guill and Katherine de Pury (already the 3rd…

ByCrispyAugust 28, 20230Comments

DRINK > WINE

WINE > Roberto Voerzio – Disanfrancesco Nebbiolo 2020 (93/100 points)

In recent years Roberto Voerzio has become somewhat legendary for his Barolo wines some of which are attracting huge prices (€900-€1200 per bottle at release and much more at auction), the wines are known for the depth of flavour and showing less of the tannin and oak that other well known Barolo wines might have. …

ByAl ManakJuly 22, 20230Comments

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Riesling

WINE > Mac Forbes RS20 Strathbogie Riesling 2022 (90/100 points)

Mac Forbes makes some great wines from fruit grown in the Yarra Valley; Pinot Noir and Chardonnay released as Single Vineyard, and Village. As well as Cabernet and Merlot released under the 'Hugh' label. But for me the most interesting stand out has been the RS range of Riesling which predominately comes from the Strathbogie…

ByCrispyJune 21, 20230Comments

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Pinot Noir

WINE > Chatto ‘Bird’ Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021 (93/100)

Its the beginning of winter and for me that always means a range of delicious foods come onto the menu. It is a time to enjoy anything with truffle, slow cooked meats, rich pate, sharp smelly cheese, and warm soups. And being a pinot-phile I am drawn to drinking Pinot Noir over any other varietal,…

ByCrispyJune 15, 20230Comments

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Chardonnay

WINE > Yeringberg Chardonnay 2020 – (95/100 points)

At lunch at Melitos in the Yarra Valley over the weekend I had the pleasure of ordering the Yeringberg Chardonnay, a wine that I had tried before but not had the opportunity to enjoy over food. Yeringberg a winery with incredible pedigree (one of the first in the Yarra Valley) makes excellent wines and…

ByAl ManakJune 6, 20230Comments

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Pinot Noir

WINE > Hurley Lodestone Pinot Noir (2021)

I only recently reviewed the 2020 Hurley Lodestone Pinot Noir (see below) which rated 96/100 but as 2023 marks the 21st birthday for Hurley Vineyard and as a big fan of the wines I was extremely keen to see how this release is tasting. As I write this I have not found any other reviews…

ByJames CampbellMay 31, 20230Comments

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Pinot Noir

WINE > Terra Sancta – Shingle Beach Pinot Noir

PREFACE The first think you notice with Terra Sancta wines is how the label jumps out at you, it is both bold and totally different to what you find from most Australian and New Zealand premium wines today and yet this could easily be a classic European bottle with its styling. This feels reflective…

ByCrispyMay 24, 20230Comments

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