To call this release bittersweet would miss the mark by miles. Nothing can make up for the tragedy of losing vigneron Frédéric Mabileau so young and so suddenly. What this does represent is continuity… and that is some kind of solace. Frédéric was killed aged 53 in a light aircraft accident in Saumur on the eve of harvest 2020. And harvest ensued. We have to reckon with the loss of a bright star of the Loire, but the fruits of his labour are here to…

Exciting times at Balnaves! We’ve always loved everything about this venerable grape-grower, terra rossa cheerleader and all-round fab family. And with spring in the air, the sense of renewal adds a thrilling frisson to the mix. Outgoing winemaker Pete Bissell leaves the range on absolutely top form. Pete’s consistency across the range was remarkable, and in recent years he added to his perfectly executed classics with a few modern twists. The Entav Bordeaux blend is a modern, stylish and bright take on Coonawarra, while his…

The Vaira family of Vergne has firmly established itself as one of Piedmont’s most assured, stylish and elegant producers. The Vairas effortlessly straddle the line between tradition and modernity, celebrating the beauty of their home and its alluring grape varieties while serving up wines that are expressive and downright delicious. Their G.D. Vajra and Luigi Baudana labels have their feet planted in the communes of Barolo and Serralunga d’Alba respectively. Both bear a small but perfectly formed range of wines that is recognised and revered.…

"Aromatic white wines and Te Whare Ra are synonymous with the phrase ‘high quality’. They just seem to nail it all the time. Organic grown, made by legends." Mike Bennie, The Wine Front The mishaps of 2020 have really clipped the wings of biodynamic Marlborough producer TWR, which deserves to be riding the crest of a wave. Jason Flowerday, one half of this inspiring husband-and-wife team, was named NZ Viticulturist of the Year back in February by Gourmet Traveller WINE. A few months later, the estate…

Spring is in the air! Dare we be hopeful? Hell, yeah! For what else is there to do? And here are some wines to fuel optimism. We have a few high-profile releases this month, led on the mainland by the sensational second coming of Julian and Alana Langworthy of Nocturne‘s sub-regional wines from Margaret River. And then, from Tasmania’s Tamar Valley, we have the annual release of the Stoney Rise and Holyman wines from Lou and Joe Holyman. From New Zealand, PJ Charteris has released just his second Chardonnay in four years,…

The year 2020 marks the second of our partnership with Lou and Joe Holyman of Tamar Valley’s Stoney Rise and Holyman labels. This, more importantly, is the second spring release of the full range – and range is an apt term, given the array of delights on offer. It begins with the naked immediacy of the ‘No Clothes’ Pinot Noir, made with no SO2 and bursting with newness and nowness. Grüner Veltliner, meanwhile, flies the flag for alternative varieties. It’s a grape that has shown…

A new Chardonnay – PJ’s first since 2014 – is a great reason to crack out the Charteris and celebrate this Kiwi who’s become a jovial giant of the Aussie wine scene while allowing his heart to reside in Central Otago. It’s a single-vineyard Chardonnay from 2018, and hails from the VanderMark Vineyard perched 400m up in Bendigo. Its arrival comes at a time when PJ’s 2018 Central Otago Pinot remains a head-scratcher, offering unparalleled quality for its price in the realm of great Central…

It’s hard to believe that the fifth release of Nocturne is upon us. The support and love shown for our first four releases was astounding. This year the big man himself - the one and only James Halliday - gave us two lots of 97 points and a lazy 96 for last year’s releases, not to mention the title of Australia’s best Rosé! This year’s sub regional wines are pretty damn cool. It’s fair to suggest that the 2019 season was not as strong overall…

We’d really love to brighten up your month. August can be beautiful but heading into the third month of winter with ominous news in the air, we’re sending you our warmest wishes. So onto the wines, then! We have a few high-profile releases this month. These are led on the mainland by the sensational second coming of Rob and Gen Mann’s Corymbia Cabernet Sauvignon from Calgardup in Margaret River. Philippa Farr‘s single-vineyard 2018 Pinots from Gippsland and Mornington Peninsula are also out, as is the 2017 Moonlight Race…

Steve Lubiana is a perfectionist. In the world of wine he’s not alone in striving for the best. But even at the extreme, there’s a spectrum. The Stefano Lubiana estate would be perched at the extreme end of that. Striking out for Tasmania – the end of the earth and final frontier of Aussie cool-climate winegrowing – was pretty extreme back in 1990, when Steve and Monique began their dream of growing world -class traditional-method sparkling wine. The mastery of fizz was followed by a…

Star quality. Welcome second-generation Tasmanian vigneron Marco Lubiana who is just releasing his debut wines from 2018. A powerful, complex Chardonnay and a stunning Vosne-like Pinot Noir. - Nick Stock We are family at CellarHand. So much of the growth of the portfolio – and the strength, character and fun of the enterprise – has come from deepening and extending roots that are planted firmly in existing, evolving friendships. Such is the case with this new member of the band, Marco Lubiana. His parents Steve and…

Visceral Margaret River energy: crunchy, minimalist and natural of feel. Cabernet done deftly. Light of touch. Lovely drink. Kudos, Corymbia. - Ned Goodwin MW The inaugural release of this wine, from the 2018 vintage, was one of those jaw-dropping moments for the CellarHand team. There was no doubting the pedigree. But it was released so darn young. And though Rob and Gen believed in the site and had worked their socks off to bring it up to scratch, the question remained: How much could you really…

Among the headlines on the home front, we’ve celebrated the release of Onannon’s single-vineyard wines and a big win for their cool-climate Victorian stablemates Shadowfax. On the bright white side TWR of Marlborough has been fêted once more, plus we have a new vintage of Corymbia's Swan Valley Chenin Blanc. If it’s something skinsy you’re after, Airlie Bank‘s 2020 Pinot Gris is out now. And we bid farewell to the great Pete Bissell of Balnaves, who bows out after a glorious 25-year reign at the Coonawarra estate, handing…

The latest vintages from the Farr family are always eagerly awaited and the 2019 whites and 2018 reds justify the anticipation. They are all lovely, and the By Farr Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs and Shiraz continue to be Australian benchmarks for these varieties. Ralph Kyte-Powell, The Real Review Much as the layperson likes to imagine the wine critic’s life a charmed one, in truth it’s often a repetitious slog through a seemingly unceasing conveyor belt of samples. Even the most jaded scribe is, however, open to…

The 2018 vintage marked 10 years since the vines for Mount Mary’s “Rhône Project” – whence RP1 and 2 get their name – went into the hallowed turf of this Yarra Valley icon. It was a relatively warm and dry vintage that provided the perfect endorsement of the Middleton family’s decision to embark on this endeavour in the first place. The seven Rhône varieties – Marsanne, Roussanne and Clairette for the white, Grenache, Shiraz, Mourvèdre and Cinsault for the red – were selected for their…