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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.
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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sangiovese

GKLR Heathcote Sangiovese 2022

Red Wine - Sangiovese
  • 92
  • $37
  • 2025-2028
Heathcote has become a popular spot for Italian varietals such as Sangiovese (there’s also a GKLR Nebbiolo now available) and...
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Cannibal Creek Gippsland Reserve Pinot Noir 2023

Red Wine - Pinot Noir
  • 95
  • $78
  • 2025-2033
The Cannibal Creek Reserve Pinot Noir is often a little more Burgundian and austere than its sibling – requiring more...
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Cannibal Creek Gippsland Reserve Chardonnay 2023

White Wine - Chardonnay
  • 95
  • $68
  • 2025-2033
I have a soft spot for Gippsland Chardonnay, particularly when it’s as good as this. It’s the kind of wine...
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Rustys Run retouched rgb sm

Winmark Hunter Valley Rusty’s Run Chardonnay 2023 

White Wine - Chardonnay
  • 93
  • $32
Rusty is obviously a good doggo, and this is a very good wine. Like all the other Winmark wines, it...
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Winmark Chardonnay Single Vineyard Reserve a

Winmark Hunter Valley Single Vineyard Reserve Chardonnay 2022 

White Wine - Chardonnay
  • 94
  • $62
I didn’t have any info on which exact vineyard this wine originated from, but after the first several sniffs, that...
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Winmark Expressions Chardonnay sm

Winmark Hunter Valley Expressions Chardonnay 2021

White Wine - Chardonnay
  • 93
  • $42
The Expressions Chardonnay is a lovely, pretty drop that has a surprising amount of palate weight. There are captivating aromas...
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Winmark Chardonnay ICON a

Winmark Hunter Valley 72 Chardonnay 2022 

White Wine - Chardonnay
  • 95
  • $95
  • 2025-2033
While the Hunter Valley is mainly known for Semillon, its Chardonnays should never be overlooked. The Winmark ‘72’ is the...
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Patrick of Coonawarra Joanna Shiraz NV low res

Patrick Wrattonbully Joanna Shiraz 2018 

Red Wine - Shiraz
  • 94
  • $50
Grown to the north of Coonawarra, Wrattonbully, like Mount Gambier, is starting to appear more prominently on labels, where all...
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Patrick of Coonawarra P Series Shiraz NV()

Patrick Wrattonbully P-Series Shiraz 2019

Red Wine - Shiraz
  • 94
  • $94
For a wine that’s only $20, the P-Series Shiraz shows amazing complexity and is a delight to drink, hence the...
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TwoBlocks Shiraz NV Small

Patrick Wrattonbully Two Blocks Shiraz 2019

Red Wine - Shiraz
  • 94
  • $32
  • 2025-2028
Coming from their 55-hectare vineyard north of Coonawarra, the Two Blocks Shiraz is yet another fine wine from Patrick, showing...
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Patrick Two Blocks Cabernet Sauvignon NV

Patrick of Coonawarra Two Blocks Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Red Wine - Cabernet - Cabernet Sauvignon
  • 94
  • $32
As the name suggests, the fruit for this wine comes from two blocks in their northern Coonawarra vineyard. It’s billed...
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Stories

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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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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...
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Killie tourism website dpi

Killiecrankie

Brendan Black
Killiecrankie was established by John Monteath and Claire Hull in 2000 in the Victorian wine region of Bendigo. John’s background...
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