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. 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.

Bended Knee Ballarat Chardonnay 2020

White Wine - Chardonnay

I’ve tried several previous vintages of the Bended Knee Chardonnay and they have never disappointed. The 2020 is a pleasure...

Evan Evans Barossa Valley Rosso 2022

Other - Specialty

I liked this wine a lot, right from the first sniff. A blend of Montepulciano (a grape I’m happy to...

Evan Evans Eden Valley Bianco 2022

Other - Specialty

A blend of Pinot Gris, Riesling and Gewürztraminer from the Eden Valley, the combination of grapes offers plenty of complexity...

Tellurian Heathcote Evo Shiraz Mataro 2022

Red Wine - Shiraz

‘Sourced from a plethora of plantings across our Vineyard, individual ferments are selected to create a lighter bodied, fruit focused...

Tellurian Heathcote Tranter Shiraz 2021

Red Wine - Shiraz

‘Block 3 of our Tellurian vineyard, in Tranter Rd, Toolleen, growing in Cambrian soils formed over 500 million-years. Deep, rich,...

Tellurian Heathcote Sommet Shiraz 2021

Red Wine - Shiraz

‘The Sommet Shiraz block is a small 0.6ha block, consisting of 35 rows, and 5000 vines. This close planted block...

Tellurian Heathcote GSM 2022

Other - Specialty

‘All fruit sourced from our Tellurian vineyard growing in Cambrian soils formed over 500 million years. Deep, rich, decomposed greenstone...

Dream Bird Margaret River Pipsqueak Sparkling Chenin Blanc 2023

White Wine - Chenin Blanc

I’ve tasted a few sparkling Chenin Blancs over the last year and I’m becoming a big fan of them. The...

Dream Bird Margaret River Rocket Science Chardonnay 2023

White Wine - Chardonnay

Margaret River Chardonnay. What else needs to be said? I will say a lot about this wine anyway as it...

Balgownie Bendigo Limited Release Shiraz Cabernet 2017

Red Wine - Cabernet - Shiraz

Oh boy, I really did love this wine. Despite now being seven years old, its ruby colour illustrates that there’s...

Balgownie Bendigo Maiden Gully Shiraz Cabernet 2016

Red Wine - Cabernet - Shiraz

If you’ve ever visited Balgownie’s Bendigo cellar door, you’ll know that Maiden Gully is the bucolic area in which it’s...

Rising Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2023

White Wine - Chardonnay

‘A blend of four blocks from the Rising Vineyard in St Andrews – P58 clone from House block, I10V5 clone...

Rising Yarra Valley Cabernet Franc 2023

Red Wine - Cabernet - Cabernet Franc

Cabernet Franc from 40-year-old, ungrafted vines on a warm, west-facing slope at our Long Gully Vineyard in Healesville. Handpicked and...

Rising Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2023

Red Wine - Pinot Noir

‘Four separate Pinot Noir blocks at Rising Vineyard were hand-picked and fermented separately to make up the 2023 Rising Pinot...

Rising Yarra Valley One Acre Chardonnay 2021

White Wine - Chardonnay

‘This Chardonnay comes exclusively from Birdwood block, comprised of 30-year-old vines grown on a steep, south-facing slope at Rising. We...

Paramoor Macedon Ranges Pinot Noir 2023

Red Wine - Pinot Noir

‘MV6 and MV5 clones between 20 and 25 years old. Picked at 12 Baume. Approx. 25% whole bunch fermented. Aged...

Paramoor Heathcote Syrah 2023

Red Wine - Syrah

‘100% hand-picked from block one at approx. 13.5 Baume. The top row fruit has a distinct blue character and a...

Paramoor Heathcote Uncle Fred Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

Red Wine - Cabernet - Cabernet Sauvignon

‘The Uncle Fred is a Paramoor favourite, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Picked at 13.5 Baume, wild yeast fermented in open pots....

Paramoor Heathcote Old Girl Syrah 2023

Red Wine - Syrah

‘Named affectionately after one of our winery dogs, Adelaide, a 12-year-old black lab. Wine Australia were against us naming the...

Paramoor Macedon Ranges Pinot Gris 2023

Other - Specialty

‘Unknown clones, hand-picked at 11.5 Baume, yield was pretty good (2t/acre) and vines in very good health. Pruning for long...

Paramoor Macedon Ranges Riesling 2023

White Wine - Riesling

‘Hand-picked Pewsey Vale clones. Hand-picked at 11 Baume. Wild yeast fermented and stored on lees in a stainless steel tank...

Wheeler Yarra Valley Articulation Cabernet Merlot 2021

Red Wine - Merlot

‘From 1997 vine plantings, grown on grey clay-loam soils in Yarra Junction. Comprised of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot...

Wheeler Yarra Valley Gamut Chilled Red 2021

Other - Specialty

‘Gamut 2021 is a thirst-quenching medium-weight juicy red, perfect with a light chill. Made using 100% Upper Yarra Valley fruit,...

Wheeler Yarra Valley Willowlake Chardonnay 2021

White Wine - Chardonnay

‘Upper Yarra Valley Chardonnay from the highly esteemed Willowlake Vineyard (Gladysdale), a gentle north-facing slope grown on grey volcanic soils....