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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.
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McIvor Estate Heathcote Session Sangé Sangiovese 2024

Red Wine - Sangiovese
  • 93
  • $37
I was quite surprised to see that the ABV for this Sangiovese is only 11.5%, as it’s ripe and doesn’t...
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McIvor Estate Central Vic Pinot Gris 2024

Other - Specialty
  • 93
  • $37
I love seeing Pinot Gris with a light blush of colour, in this case, a faint onion skin. It’s intensely...
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McIvor Estate Heathcote Vermentino 2023

White Wine - Vermentino
  • 92
  • $37
Vermentino is a grape believed to have originated in Piemonte, and it’s now becoming a lot more popular in Australia....
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McIvor Estate Heathcote Shadow Stone Nebbiolo 2024

Red Wine - Nebbiolo
  • 92
  • $40
This is a fruit-forward expression of Heathcote Nebb which is very reminiscent of Langhe, with a very light touch from...
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McIvor Estate Heathcote Granite Blush Shiraz 2015

Red Wine - Shiraz
  • 94+
  • $95
  • 2025-2035
It’s not every day I get to try a 10-year-old Heathcote Shiraz, so this was a real treat. It’s a...
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McIvor Estate Heathcote Shiraz 2015

Red Wine - Shiraz
  • 93
  • $58
A charming example of Heathcote Shiraz, and while all of its characters now exist in the tertiary realm, it still...
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McIvor Estate Heathcote Sangiovese 2024

Red Wine - Sangiovese
  • 93
  • $40
This is a slightly different expression to the ‘Session Sangé’, with a touch more concentration and a slightly darker edge....
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Balgownie Estate Bendigo Shiraz 2013

Red Wine - Shiraz
  • 94
  • $90
This is such a beautiful wine that it was honestly a shame to finish it. Like the 2012, it has...
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Balgownie Estate Bendigo Shiraz 2012

Red Wine - Shiraz
  • 93
  • $85
The 2012 Estate Shiraz is a lovely wine from beginning to end. While it’s currently 13 years old, it only...
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Balgownie Estate Bendigo Cabernet 2012

Red Wine - Cabernet
  • 92
  • $90
  • 2025-2030
The Balgownie Cabernet vineyard is the original planting from 1970, so it locks in so much history into every bottle....
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Grenache

Patch Nagambie Lakes Grenache 2024

Red Wine - Grenache
  • 92
  • $35
I haven’t seen much Grenache coming out of the Nagambie area but I hope to see much more of it....
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NebbieYOLO

Patch Pyrenees Nebbiolo 2024

Red Wine - Nebbiolo
  • 93
  • $35
Nebbiolo is quickly becoming my favourite grape so I was chuffed to see Patch doing their own now. It’s quite...
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Bottles Patch Wines Marsanne LR

Patch Nagambie Lakes Marsanne 2024

Other - Specialty
  • 93
  • $35
  • 2025-2035
Marsanne is such a great grape because, under the right conditions, it starts as something great and matures into something...
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Patch Nagambie Cabernet Franc 2024

Red Wine - Cabernet - Cabernet Franc
  • 92
  • $35
Cabernet Franc is a bit of a maligned or forgotten grape, usually overshadowed by its frequent blending partners, Cabernet Sauvignon...
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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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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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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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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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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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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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Stories

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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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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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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...
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