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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. 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.
xo chardonnay NV

XO Wine Co Small Batch Chardonnay 2023

White Wine - Chardonnay
  • 92
  • $32
Coming from two sites planted above 400m, this Chardonnay is a beauty. Showing vivid aromas as soon as you open...
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Monterra MBlock Cabernets AG

Monterra Fleurieu Peninsula M Block Cabernets 2022

Red Wine - Cabernet
  • 93
  • $20
My pick of the latest offerings, the blend of Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc is a powerhouse of concentrated flavour and...
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Monterra Core GSM

Monterra McLaren Vale GSM 2022

  • 92
  • $30
A ripe and juicy blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvèdre, the GSM displays bright fruit – raspberry, black cherry, cranberry...
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Monterra MBlock Shiraz AG

Monterra Fleurieu Peninsula M Block Shiraz 2022

Red Wine - Shiraz
  • 91
  • $20
Silky, chewy, dusty tannins. A complex wine of great value. Presenting mulberry, blackberry, raspberry, wild strawberry, plum and spice, the...
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ColabandBloom Tinta

Colab & Bloom Adelaide Hills Fleurieu Tinta 2021

  • 91
  • $25
An enticing (and surprising) blend of Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon, showing black cherry, blackberry, green pepper, cedar, soy, leather and...
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ColabandBloom Bianco

Colab & Bloom McLaren Vale Bianco 2022

White Wine - Bianco
  • 90
  • $25
The Bianco is a slightly spritzy, quite silky and very approachable blend of Vermentino and Pinot Grigio. It shows surprising...
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ColabandBloom Rosso

Colab & Bloom McLaren Vale Rosso 2021

Red Wine - Rosso
  • 91
  • $25
A blend of Italian varietals Sangiovese and Montepulciano, the Rosso brims with tangy boysenberry, red cherry and blackberry freshness, and...
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Tope ClareValley CabSav P+R

Topé Clare Valley P+R Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Red Wine - Cabernet - Cabernet Sauvignon
  • 93
  • $32
  • 2024-2034
The P+R Cabernet is a surprising wine. The incredibly perfumed, fruity aromas leap from the glass, with blackberry and black...
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Tope Winesx

Topé Clare Valley 100 Osmond and Dual Citizen Riesling 2023

White Wine - Riesling
  • 94+
  • $28
  • 2024-2034
I decided to write about Topé’s two Rieslings together because I honestly feel this is how they should be enjoyed....
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genista noble spar shir white hires

Genista Barossa Valley Noble Sparkling Shiraz NV

Red Wine - Shiraz
  • 93
  • $40
I never get tired of trying a sparkling Shiraz, which is seen as probably the Aussiest wine around. It shows...
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genista shir gren white hires

Genista Barossa Valley Island Shiraz Grenache Rosé 2023

Red Wine - Grenache - Shiraz
  • 92
  • $27
A zippy, minerally and silky rosé which is brimming with energy. It first announced itself with brilliant aromas of rose...
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M Nebbiolo

De Bortoli Yarra Valley Nebbiolo Fizz NV

Red Wine - Nebbiolo
  • 93
  • $30
Nebbiolo sparkling? Don’t mind if I do. Appearing like a rosé with bubbles, the vibrant nose presents red fruits and...
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M Este Cuvee

De Bortoli Yarra Valley Este Cuvée NV

Cuvée - Other
  • 93
  • $28
Made with the three traditional grape varieties of Champagne but with some added Pinot Blanc, 60% of the base wine...
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M Ancient Soils

De Bortoli Heathcote Ancient Soils Tempranillo Touriga 2022

Red Wine - Tempranillo
  • 93
  • $25
Tempranillo and Touriga appear to be thriving in Heathcote, and given the region’s continuing embrace of alternative varieties, that spells...
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M Chill No Chill

De Bortoli Yarra Valley Chill No Chill Pinot Syrah 2023

Red Wine - Syrah
  • 92
  • $25
I honestly can’t get enough of Pinot/Syrah blends, particularly when they’re done in such a fun way as this wine...
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Shiraz Nov

The Cutting Barossa Valley Single Vineyard Shiraz 2020

Red Wine - Shiraz
  • 92
  • $60
‘100% Handpicked, crushed with 30% retained as whole bunches. The juice was cold soaked for 7 days and then inoculated...
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Cinsault Nov

The Cutting Barossa Valley The Outlier Cinsault 2023

  • 92
  • $38
‘The grapes were handpicked and fermented with 100% whole bunches to retain freshness and Cinsault’s signature bright fruit characteristics. A...
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ColabandBloom GrenacheRosé

Colab and Bloom Fleurieu Grenache Rosé 2023

Red Wine - Grenache
  • 90
  • $25
With a brilliant copper hue, charming notes of red fruits and florals couple with a surprisingly weighty palate, which has...
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Monterra Core PinotGrigio

Monterra Adelaide Hills Pinot Grigio 2023

White Wine - Pinot Grigio
  • 92
  • $30
This Pinot Grigio was just screaming to be drunk, throwing forth a lovely mix of aromas: pear, honeysuckle, hay, rose,...
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Monterra Core SauvBlanc

Monterra Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2023

White Wine - Sauvignon Blanc
  • 93
  • $30
I admit to not generally being a huge fan of Sauvignon Blanc, so I was very pleasantly surprised by the...
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Monterra Core Shiraz

Monterra McLaren Vale Shiraz 2022

Red Wine - Shiraz
  • 93
  • $30
This Shiraz leaps from the glass and fills the room with aromas – boysenberry, wild strawberry, mulberry, cinnamon, liquorice –...
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Monterra Reserve MV Shiraz

Monterra McLaren Vale Reserve Shiraz 2022

Red Wine - Shiraz
  • 94
  • $50
If you like big and bold Shiraz which also has a softer, refined side, then this is a great choice....
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Yarra Valley Sangiovese

MT Wines Yarra Valley Sangiovese 2022

Red Wine - Sangiovese
  • 93
  • $35
‘Grapes grown at Killara Estate on grey–brown sandy loam soil in Seville East, upper Yarra Valley. The fruit was destemmed...
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Sangiovese Shiraz

MT Wines Yarra Valley/Heathcote Sangiovese Shiraz 2022

Red Wine - Sangiovese - Shiraz
  • 95
  • $35
‘Blend of Yarra Valley Sangiovese (75%) and Heathcote Shiraz (25%). The Shiraz is grown at Whistling Eagle Vineyard on ancient...
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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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