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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.
NV Bridgewater Shiraz ()

Passing Clouds Bendigo Bridgewater Shiraz 2022

Red Wine - Shiraz
  • 94
  • $53
  • 2025-2030
At 15% alcohol, on paper it’s quite a monster but it actually comes across as quite a suave and charming...
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Rheola Shiraz NV()

Passing Clouds Bendigo Rheola Shiraz 2022

Red Wine - Shiraz
  • 93
  • $46
Of the two Shirazes tasted, this is the more herbal and earthy one, with a lighter touch than its 14.5%...
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GSC

Passing Clouds Bendigo Graeme’s Shiraz 2022

Red Wine - Shiraz
  • 92
  • $34
Graeme’s Shiraz is named after Graeme Leith, founder of Passing Clouds with his wife Sue, who is now retired. I’ve...
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Nueva Grenache

Passing Clouds Riverland Nueva Grenache 2024

Red Wine - Grenache
  • 92
  • $29
Fruit comes from the Ricca Terra vineyard in the Riverland, South Australia, an area known for its dryness and warmth....
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CA Bendigo Cabernet '

Passing Clouds Bendigo CA Cabernet 2021

Red Wine - Cabernet
  • 95+
  • $64
I honestly couldn’t get enough of this wine. From the first moment I smelt it in the glass, I knew...
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Greanche

Topé Clare Valley Afternoon Roll Grenache 2023

Red Wine - Grenache
  • 92
  • $40
Grenache isn’t a variety you’d usually link to the Clare Valley, but given how the Afternoon Roll has reacted to...
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Cabernet Sauvignon

Topé Clare Valley P+R Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Red Wine - Cabernet - Cabernet Sauvignon
  • 92
  • $32
The P+R comes from the same area as the Dual Citizen Riesling, with elevation between 497 to 550 metres. This,...
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Ninch Riesling

Kerri Greens Mornington Peninsula Ninch Riesling 2024

White Wine - Riesling
  • 92
  • $32
When winemaker Lucas Blanck asked if I wanted to try a few of his new Rieslings, it was impossible for...
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bottle shots pinot

Kerri Greens Mornington Peninsula Foothills Pinot Noir 2024

Red Wine - Pinot Noir
  • 94
  • $50
  • 2025-2030
Like the Citrea Riesling, the Foothills Pinot is a little shy at first, but it comes alive after a few...
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F web KG Hickson chrd

Kerri Greens Mornington Peninsula Hickson Chardonnay 2024

White Wine - Chardonnay
  • 95
  • $50
  • 2025-2033
The Mornington Peninsula is one of the best places in Australia for cool-climate Chardonnay, and the Hickson would have to...
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rieslig

Kerri Greens Mornington Peninsula Citrea Riesling 2024

White Wine - Riesling
  • 93+
  • $40
  • 2025-2030
While the Ninch fires on all cylinders right from the get-go, the Citrea is slow to unravel – but once...
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Rising Gamay NV Web SQ

Rising Yarra Valley Gamay 2024

Other - Specialty
  • 93
  • $38
Gamay is often seen as Pinot’s poorer cousin but I have to admit I’m a huge fan of it, whether...
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Rising Cabernet Franc NV SQ

Rising Yarra Valley Cabernet Franc 2024

Red Wine - Cabernet - Cabernet Franc
  • 93
  • $38
Not much Cabernet Franc is grown in Australia, so it’s always good to see a varietal version on the shelves,...
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Rising Pinot Noir NV Web

Rising Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2024

Red Wine - Pinot Noir
  • 93
  • $40
The first thing I noticed upon opening the bottle was a ripe, confectionery-like aroma that filled the room. After a...
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Rising Chardonnay NV Web

Rising Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2024

White Wine - Chardonnay
  • 93
  • $38
Yarra Valley Chardonnay is often a very solid bet and that’s certainly the case with the 2024 Rising. It starts...
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Cinco Rojas NV

Black & Ginger Great Western Cinco Rojas 2023

Other - Specialty
  • 91
  • $45
An enticing mix of Garnacha (Grenache), Graciano, Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), Tinta Cão and Touriga Nacional, the Cinco Rojas is a...
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Grenache Nouveau NV

Black & Ginger Great Western Grenache Nouveau 2024

Red Wine - Grenache
  • 91
  • $35
Grenache is a grape that lends itself well to the nouveau style, with its immense fruitiness. The Black & Ginger...
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Lucys rosé NV

Black & Ginger Great Western Lucy’s Rosé Shiraz 2024

Red Wine - Shiraz
  • 92
  • $35
I’ve never actually met Lucy but her eponymous Rosé is lovely. Made from Shiraz, it has everything you expect and...
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Miss Piggy NV

Black & Ginger Great Western Miss Piggy 2024

Other - Specialty
  • 96
  • $35
It’s probably no surprise that Miss Piggy was the star of the show, as she’s attractive, vivacious and never shies...
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The Virginia PNG

Black & Ginger Great Western Merlot 2023

Red Wine - Merlot
  • 93
  • $65
  • 2025-2030
Merlot still gets a bit of a bad rap but it’s entirely undeserved; in the right hands, it can be...
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fiano

GKLR Heathcote Fiano 2023

Other - Specialty
  • 91
  • $33
I’m very happy to see more Fiano being produced in Australia as it’s a variety which has a lot of...
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sparkling rose?

GKLR Heathcote Sparkling Rosé 2021

Other - Specialty
  • 91
  • $38
This Shiraz Sparkling Rosé is one of those wines that you open and before too long it’s all gone. It...
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nero

GKLR Heathcote Nero d’Avola 2021

Other - Specialty
  • 89
  • $32
The Nero has a relatively light touch on opening which becomes fuller as it breathes. There’s some luscious red cherry...
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shiraz

GKLR Heathcote Shiraz 2022

Red Wine - Shiraz
  • 93
  • $32
Heathcote Shiraz is a pretty good bet if you want something ripe and tasty but without going over the top....
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Stories

Tope

Topé Clare Valley Riesling Duo

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

The Trapeze Artist

Brendan Black
You may know Brian Conway as one of the founders of Barossa-based winery Izway, started in 2003. After selling his...
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BFCED E EF DF CFE ()

Yelland & Papps

Brendan Black
Yelland & Papps is the brand of husband-and-wife duo Susan (née Yelland) and Michael Papps, based in Nuriootpa in the...
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BiancaKatePhotography Dreambird BeachShoot

Dream Bird

Brendan Black
Dream Bird is the label of WA-based winemaker Kym Carr. After a degree in horticulture, Kym travelled to Europe, where...
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Alex handpress

Head, Heart & Home

Brendan Black
It’s quite understandable that Alex Head became somewhat obsessed with the Shiraz-based wines of the Northern Rhône. With a background...
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Amphora Ambar

Weathercraft

Brendan Black
Raquel and Hugh Jones of Weathercraft in Beechworth both came to wine from property-related industries, realising they wanted to do...
Read More

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