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Ray Jordan

Ray Jordan has been writing about wine for more than 40 years. His first articles were published in the early issues of national wine magazine Winestate in the late 1970s when he worked in Sydney as a newspaper correspondent. From 1989 Ray wrote more than 3000 columns as a regular newspaper wine columnist. He currently writes a regular column for the special business publication Business News and is one of the main contributors to national wine platform Wine Pilot. In 2017 Ray co-authored The Way it Was – A History of The Early Days of the Margaret River Wine Industry and previously wrote Wine in the Blood: Australia’s Family Wine Estates, published in Mandarin and English. In 2011 Ray was awarded WA Wine Press Club Jack Mann Memorial Medal for his contribution to the WA wine industry. His love of wine is as strong as his love of the blues and tasting the thousands of wines that cross his bench each year allows him to indulge in both.
Chardonnay Miceli

Miceli Olivia’s Chardonnay 2022

A delightfully fragrant and delicate, almost fragile, Chardonnay from the Mornington Peninsula. Strikes immediately with subtle, understated aromas of melon...
Pinot Miceli

Miceli Lucy’s Choice Pinot Noir 2021

Medium- to light-bodied Pinot Noir from the Mornington Peninsula that ticks all the boxes for this variety. The colour is...
P&J Chardonnay Pinot Noir Smaller File Size ()

Pike & Joyce Lenswood Méthode Traditionnelle Reserve Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2020

This is an extra brut, aperitif style sparkling wine, which is largely Chardonnay with just a little bit of the...
P&J The Kay Chardonnay small file size ()

Pike & Joyce The Kay Reserve Chardonnay 2024

Really attractive Chardonnay from Lenswood in the Adelaide Hills. Quite light-bodied and delicate, and yet there is a deep intensity...
Jacob's Creek Reserve Shiraz

Jacob’s Creek Reserve Shiraz 2023

There are few more famous names in Australian wine than Jacob’s Creek. And this is the Reserve expression, which elevates...
ONE

Heartland One Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz Langhorne Creek 2019

Winemaker Ben Glaetzer has created something special from Langhorne Creek. Captivating aromas of leafy mint, black fruits, jubey red fruits...
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Cullen Wines Grace Madeline 2025

This is a blend of roughly three-quarters Sauvignon Blanc and the remainder Semillon. The Sauvignon Blanc was wild fermented, with...
NVMadameMCabernetSauvignonBottle

Hewitson Madame M Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

This is a delicious, juicy, succulent, and quite luscious Cabernet Sauvignon from the Barossa Valley. A feature is its soft...
MontysLeap PinotNoir NoVint

Monty’s Leap Great Southern Pinot Noir 2025

This is a slightly more fragrant and delicate Pinot than the previous vintage. Made with what could be broadly described...
MontysLeap PinotNoir NoVint

Monty’s Leap Great Southern Pinot Noir 2024

If you know your vintages, you know that this was a very warm year in Western Australia, yet those cooler...
MontysLeap SingleVineyard TheMulberryBlock Chardonnay NoVint

Monty’s Leap Single Vineyard The Mulberry Block Chardonnay 2025

This has consistently been a very good wine for Monty’s Leap, and with winemaker Brendan Smith involved, it will continue...
StJohns AsTheCrowFlies Shiraz NoVint

St Johns Wine As the Crow Flies Shiraz 2024

A rich and quite powerful expression of Margaret River Shiraz, loaded with ripe berries, dark plum and subtle spices. The...
Opt Chard NV

St Johns Wine The Terraces Optimus Chardonnay 2025

I’ve seen a few of these wines over the years, and to me this is perhaps the most refined and...
StJohns Brook SauvignonBlanc NoVint

St Johns Wine St Johns Brook Sauvignon blanc 2025

This is a Margaret River–sourced wine in a season that produced some quite lovely white wines especially, showing both restraint...
StJohnsBrook CabernetSauvignon NoVint ()

St Johns Wine St Johns Brook Cabernet Sauvignon 2024

A firm and structured Cabernet from Margaret River. The aromas have an engaging plummy cherry nuance, with more typical varietal...
Single Vineyard Malbec

Thorn-Clarke Vineyard Selection Malbec 2024

The beautiful fruit qualities of this variety are on full display here. Deep purpley-red colours, and an aroma that is...
Single Vineyard Shiraz

Thorn-Clarke Vineyard Selection Shiraz 2023

Colour is deeply reddy with some slight purple hues. The nose shows a more distinctive blackberry and almost blueberry note,...
Winemakers Shiraz

Thorn-Clarke William Randall Winemakers Selection Shiraz 2021

A truly marvelous example of this wonderful Barossa vintage. It’s made with a distinct handcrafted style from the picking through...
Shotfire Shiraz nv

Thorn-Clarke Collectors Heritage Edition Shiraz 2021

Here is the quality of the ’21 Barossa vintage on full display. Colour is deep and dense, and the nose...
Sandpiper Pinot Gris nv

Thorn-Clarke Sandpiper Pinot Gris 2025

A light and slightly drier expression of Pinot Gris, but one which shows the cooler climate influence of the Eden...
Lady William Randell Shiraz nv

Thorn-Clarke Lady William Randle PS Mary Ann Shiraz 2020

This comes off four blocks in the Barossa, and is made in years that are considered worthy. In this case,...
JWE GSM

Jarrah Wood Estate Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre 2024

Comes off a newly acquired vineyard in Brookhampton in the Geographe wine region of the state. These vines are now...
JWE Rose

Jarrah Wood Estate Rosé 2025

This is a super impressive Rosé style made from Grenache vines in Geographe that are now 30 years old. Has...
Year Old Vines Semillon NV

Château Tanunda 100-Year-Old Vines Semillon 2025

As you might expect from these old vines, this is a limited edition that really does highlight the wondrous virtues...

Stories

Hayes Family Wines

Hayes Family Wines is a relatively new name for the Barossa Valley, but its roots date back to the middle...

Elderton in Form

It’s one of those weird twists. The Barossa Valley is renowned for its shiraz and one of the best has...

A New Grenache Benchmark from the West

History may show that the Swinney Farvie Frankland River Grenache 2020 was the wine that redefined this variety in WA....
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