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

TRAVEL TRAVEL > AUSTRALIA

TRAVEL > Astra Falls Creek is Snow Paradise

Regulars to Falls Creek Ski Resort in Victoria are probably very familiar with Astra, because frankly it is a super stylish hotel that continues to set the standard for snow hotel accomodation. Its not just us saying that they have managed to collect awards for best boutique ski hotel in Australia for the past 7…

ByJames CampbellMay 23, 20230Comments

TRAVEL

TRAVEL > A stylish designer hotel in the middle of a beautiful European winery – yes please.

The Loisium group have taken the concept of wine travel to new levels with incredible modern architecture in their designer hotels (built in the winery), outstanding cuisine, stunning furnishings and design in some of the worlds most beautiful wine regions. As you can imagine that has ticked a whole lot of our boxes (already in…

ByAl ManakMay 15, 20230Comments

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Cabernet Sauvignon

WINE > Petaluma Coonawarra – Evans Vineyard 1985

Recently I had the opportunity to collect a few vintage magnums of the classic Petaluma Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon Merlo blend, I was interested to see how well the wine was holding up especially in at the magnum format - I always recall some years back wine writer Phillip Rich saying to me "wine always tastes…

ByAl ManakMay 15, 20230Comments

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Merlot

WINE > Paternoster ‘Heaven’s Door’ Merlot 2001

Ferreting around in the cellar and looking for a nice bottle to share with my father I found a bottle of Paternoster ‘Heaven’s Door Merlot’ sitting on a bottom shelf, it was a 2001 vintage. I vaguely remembered buying the wine from Cloud Wine in South Melbourne after one of Geoffrey’s wine tasting…

ByCrispyMay 12, 20230Comments

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Pinot Noir

WINE > Irrewarra Pinot Noir 2020

The Irrewarra Pinot Noir comes from grapes dry grown on a plot of land planted in 2001 by the Calvert family, in the Western Plains of Victoria. This wine made Nick Farr now also wine maker for ByFarr Wines. Nick Farr readily acknowledges the influence of his father (the legendary Gary Farr who established…

ByCrispyMay 10, 20230Comments

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Pinot Noir

WINE > Paradox Pinot Noir – Zero Alcohol (NV) 60/100 Points

Recently I heard from friends and colleagues that the quality of alcohol free wine had dramatically improved. Given I had set the challenge to my wonderful wife that we attempt to get through a dry May (well mostly dry), it seems that now is an excellent opportunity for us to face the challenge. So we…

ByAl ManakMay 8, 20230Comments

TRAVEL TRAVEL > SPAIN

TRAVEL > The Sights and Tastes of Spectacular Rioja

Just to the south of glamorous San Sebastián and to the south west of the towering Pyrenees Mountains you find the Ebro River. The valley of the Ebro River and its tributaries create the region of 'La Rioja' a part of Spain that is famed for its outstanding wine (predominately Tempranillo), a beautiful region…

ByJames CampbellMay 2, 20230Comments

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