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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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Saltram No. 1 2021

Vintage conditions were excellent for the No. 1 and they’re manifested in a rich and utterly satisfying drop. It successfully...
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Purple Hands Barossa Valley Mataro 2023

In 1896, an article titled ‘The Mataro Question’ appeared in the Adelaide Observer, decrying the light, early-picked and no doubt...
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Genista Barossa Valley Peritia Tempore Shiraz 2022

‘Peritia Tempore’ is a Latin term essentially meaning ‘knowledge with time’, or even ‘wisdom through experience’, which is how Genista...
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Coldstream Hills Reserve Chardonnay 2024

The Coldstream Hills Reserve Chardonnay 2024 is an excellent example of what’s possible with this versatile grape in the Yarra...
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Denton Yarra Valley Shed Nebbiolo 2024

The Shed Nebb comes from a serious grape yet it has fun at its core, as it’s a light, Rosé-style-but-not...
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Denton Yarra Valley Shed Pinot Noir 2024

The Shed Pinot, while being lighter and more approachable than the estate version, is still so very close in its...
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Denton Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2024

This was actually the first wine I opened to review, and it was a fantastic introduction to the new vintages...
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Denton Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2024

A close-planted, north-easterly vineyard of MV6 is the home of this Pinot, which shows intense, ripe aromas without being excessive....
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Denton Yarra Valley Shed Chardonnay 2024

The Shed Chardonnay is described by winemaker Kirilly Gordon as ‘a Chardonnay for everyday drinking with flavour and poise’ and...
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Denton Yarra Valley Shed Cabernet 2024

The Shed Cabernet is a delightful drop that hits the mark on many fronts. It’s complex with its characters of...
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Denton Yarra Valley Cabernet 2022

I loved this wine immediately after I opened the bottle. It presents exquisite aromas of cassis, blackberry, mulberry, tomato leaf,...
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Denton Yarra Valley Nebbiolo 2021

Coming from a mix of clones with a north-west aspect on the property, the fruit achieves great ripeness, and the...
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Riddoch Coonawarra The Federator Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Coming from three vineyards across Coonawarra, this is a dense and hefty wine that needs a lot of air and...
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Mount Stapylton Grampians Reserve Shiraz 2019

‘Reserve’ is a term that’s a little overused but with the 2019 Shiraz it’s more than justified. This is a...
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Mount Stapylton Grampians Grenache 2024

The Grampians region is becoming a more popular area for a different expression of Grenache than we’re used to. Here,...
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Mount Stapylton Grampians Shiraz 2024

Unlike Grenache, Shiraz is abundant in the Grampians region, where the Mediterranean climate can nurture grapes to create poignant, rather...

Passing Clouds Bendigo ‘Loddon’ Shiraz 2023

Bendigo is a wine region that often punches above its weight, and the Passing Clouds Loddon Shiraz proves it yet...
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Lane’s End Macedon Ranges Cabernet Franc 2024

This is the first Cabernet Franc I’ve ever had from Macedon and I’m hoping it won’t be the last. The...
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Lane’s End Macedon Ranges Chardonnay 2023

I never get tired of trying Chardonnay from the Macedon Ranges so it was great to receive the Lane’s End...
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Boulder Fields Macedon Ranges Field Blend 2023 

I first tried a little sample of this wine with winemaker Callan Randall while at the Box Grove Vineyard cellar...

Boulder Fields Macedon Ranges Chardonnay 2024

This was the only wine that winemaker Callan Randall managed to produce in 2024 after the vineyards were wiped out...

Boulder Fields Macedon Ranges Syrah 2023

A chameleon of a wine, which starts off overtly fruity but turns savoury as it breathes in the glass. It...

Boulder Fields Macedon Ranges Pinot Noir 2023

This is a pleasant and enjoyable Pinot which is starting to show some bottle age but is still very much...
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McIvor Estate Heathcote Session Sangé Sangiovese 2024

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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Topé Clare Valley Riesling Duo

Topé Clare Valley “100 Osmond” Riesling 2024 – $28 – 93+ points Topé Clare Valley “Dual Citizen” Riesling 2024 –...
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The Trapeze Artist

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 is the brand of husband-and-wife duo Susan (née Yelland) and Michael Papps, based in Nuriootpa in the...
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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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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...
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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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