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Brendan Black

Brendan is a Melbourne-based writer, filmmaker, playwright and composer. Since 2013, he has been published in national and regional Australian titles such as Halliday Magazine, Gourmet Traveller Wine, Grapegrower and Winemaker, Gippslandia, Gippsland Lifestyle, Yarra Valley and Ranges and Gippsland Country Life magazines. Brendan was a finalist for 2024 Wine Communicator Awards in the ‘Best Published Feature Article or Wine Column’ category. He has completed the WSET Level 3 course (gaining a Distinction) and has a passion for small producers of wine, beer and spirits. He is also the co-editor of ‘I’m Not a Film Star: David Bowie as Actor’ for Bloomsbury Academic.
Lane's End mL Chardonnay NV small

Lane’s End Macedon Ranges Chardonnay 2024

This is a stellar release from Lane’s End that was immensely enjoyable from beginning to end. It welcomes you with...
Purple Hands Barossa Valley Aglianico ()

Purple Hands Barossa Valley Aglianico 2024

Aglianico is a tannic grape at home in southern Italy yet it’s great to see it spreading across Australia now....
Purple Hands Barossa Valley Montepulciano

Purple Hands Barossa Valley Montepulciano 2024

I’m a huge fan of Aussie Montepulciano and always look forward to trying another one. The Purple Hands is complex...
CotS Rosso

Colours of the South Barossa Valley Rosso 2023

A beautiful blend of Montepulciano, Aglianico and Negroamaro, the 2023 shows lovely fruit immediately upon opening the bottle and a...
Deep Purple Hands Barossa Shiraz

Purple Hands Barossa Valley Deep Purple Shiraz 2024

I was quite surprised to see the price of this wine as I expected it to cost a lot more,...
Purple Hands Barossa Valley Shiraz

Purple Hands Barossa Valley Shiraz 2024

The Purple Hands Shiraz is one of the most reliable Barossa Shirazes around and I enjoy it every vintage. Rich...
Melba Amphora NV

De Bortoli YV Melba Amphora 2023

A bit of a tangent to the usual Melba Cabernet, this wine was fermented and matured in 1,000L clay amphorae....
La Boheme Syrah Gamay

De Bortoli YV La Bohème Syrah Gamay 2025

At only $22, the La Bohème offers tremendous value with its supremely fruity offering of boysenberry, strawberry, blueberry, red cherry...
The Estate Vineyard Chardonnay NV

De Bortoli YV The Estate Vineyard Chardonnay 2023

This is a tasty and unassuming drop from a cool season that drinks well by itself or with food. It...
The Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir NV

De Bortoli YV The Estate Pinot Noir 2024

Sourced from vines planted in 1971 on the estate, this Pinot is starting to come together into a cohesive unit,...
Melba Amphora NV

De Bortoli YV Melba Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

This is a rich and satisfying drop which impresses from the first sniff. It shows lovely aromas of blackberry, mulberry,...
Devil's Lair Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon

Devil’s Lair Margaret River Cabernet 2023

No doubt the first thing you’ll notice about this wine is the colour: opaque yet vibrant with a purple hue....
DL th Chamber Chardonnay

Devil’s Lair 9th Chamber Chardonnay 2023

Margaret River and Chardonnay were born for each other, and the 9th Chamber typifies that relationship. There is so much...
BGSociety VR GrandMaster PNoir CentralOtago AUS FB SC

Black Grape Society Grandmaster Pinot Noir 2024

The vintage conditions were all over the place yet the end result for the Grandmaster was still terrific. A concentrated...
BGS VR NZ Master CO PNoir FL AUS SC

Black Grape Society Master Pinot Noir 2024

Hailing from Central Otago, it has everything you’d want and expect from a New Zealand Pinot. There are lovely florals...
Seppelt Mount Ida Shiraz

Seppelt Mt Ida Shiraz 2023

Mt Ida is a beautiful spot overlooking the Heathcote wine region to its south and west. While it can get...
SEP ShowSparklingShir GreatWestern AUS FB Cseal

Seppelt Show Sparkling Shiraz 2012

Without a doubt, the Seppelt Show Sparkling Shiraz has to be one of Australia’s best sparkling wines, let alone one...
SEP NV StPeters Shz FL AUS SC ()

Seppelt St Peters 2023

Despite the difficult vintage conditions (lots of rain and low temperatures), there are no jagged or faulty edges to this...
SEP NV Drumborg Chard Drumborg AUS FB SC

Seppelt Drumborg Chardonnay 2023

I love the adaptable nature of Chardonnay, able to tolerate the cold while also thriving in warm regions. The Seppelt...
Leo Buring Leonay EV Riesling

Leo Buring Leonay Eden Valley Riesling 2025

Just the name “Eden Valley” conjures up images of untouched beauty, so it’s no surprise that such an incredible Riesling...
SEP NV Drumborg Ries FL SC

Seppelt Drumborg Riesling 2025

For those in the know, Drumborg elicits images of frosty, foggy mornings in one of Australia’s coldest subregions, and it’s...
Leo Buring Leonay EV Riesling

Leo Buring Leopold Tasmania Riesling 2024

Stemming from just a single block in the White Hills vineyard southeast of Launceston, vintage conditions allowed for excellent and...
Saltram Edward Salter Cab Sav

Saltram Edward Salter Cabernet 2023

This is one of those wines that’s only made when all the little duckies get in a row, and despite...
Saltram The Journal

Saltram Journal Shiraz 2023

Coming from vines planted in 1895 (yes, you read that right), this is the Barossa Valley at its best. I...

Stories

Tope

Topé Clare Valley Riesling Duo

Topé Clare Valley “100 Osmond” Riesling 2024 – $28 – 93+ points Topé Clare Valley “Dual Citizen” Riesling 2024 –...
IMG ()

The Trapeze Artist

You may know Brian Conway as one of the founders of Barossa-based winery Izway, started in 2003. After selling his...
BFCED E EF DF CFE ()
Yelland & Papps is the brand of husband-and-wife duo Susan (née Yelland) and Michael Papps, based in Nuriootpa in the...
BiancaKatePhotography Dreambird BeachShoot
Dream Bird is the label of WA-based winemaker Kym Carr. After a degree in horticulture, Kym travelled to Europe, where...
Alex handpress

Head, Heart & Home

It’s quite understandable that Alex Head became somewhat obsessed with the Shiraz-based wines of the Northern Rhône. With a background...
Amphora Ambar
Raquel and Hugh Jones of Weathercraft in Beechworth both came to wine from property-related industries, realising they wanted to do...
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