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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.
pinot noir

Bay of Fires Pinot Noir 2024

A vibrant, high-energy Pinot Noir displaying excellent varietal character on both the nose and palate. Once again, winemakers have turned...
sauvignon blanc

Bay of Fires Sauvignon Blanc 2024

This is a pretty neat Sauvignon Blanc from the Coal River and Derwent Valleys in Tasmania. It immediately assails the...
pinot gris

Bay of Fires Pinot Gris 2024

The tight and leaner expression of Pinot Gris from Tassie seems to suit this variety really well. This one comes...
Riesling

Bay of Fires Riesling 2024

Tassie makes some mighty fine Riesling, and here’s a terrific example made from fruit sourced from the Derwent and Coal...
chardonnay

Bay of Fires Chardonnay 2024

An impressive Chardonnay from the Coal River Valley and East Coast regions of Tassie. The nose is intense, offering a...
PN front

Curly Flat Williams Crossing Pinot Noir 2024

You’re getting a fair bang for your buck with this Macedon Pinot Noir. Shows a compelling mix of red fruits...
CF front

Curly Flat Williams Crossing Cabernet Franc 2025

I’m a bit of a fan of Cabernet Franc as a varietal, especially when it’s made this way. Juicy and...
RFBFP CF CH

Curly Flat Chardonnay 2024

A good season has produced Chardonnay of high class from the Macedon Ranges in Victoria. Savoury, crunchy characters on the...
Mr Riggs Riesling Adelaide Hills Generation White wine German style riesling

Mr Riggs Ein Riese Riesling 2025

This is a medium-dry Riesling, made in that slightly off-dry Germanic style, but the influence of Adelaide Hills fruit ensures...
Magnet Bottle

Mr Riggs The Magnet Grenache 2024

In this case, Riggs has journeyed to McLaren Vale to source the Grenache from a very good year. It’s once...
Mr Riggs Monetpulciano Adelaide Hills Generation Red wine

Mr Riggs Montepulciano d’Adelaide 2023

Riggs has been fiddling with this variety from the Adelaide Hills for some years now, and it always seems to...
Mr Riggs Mrs Pinot Gris

Mr Riggs Mrs Pinot Gris 2025

The cooler high altitudes of Adelaide Hills suit the Gris style, allowing it to still present its more generous expression...
Mr Riggs Tempranillo Adelaide Hills Generation Red wine Yacca

Mr Riggs Yacca Paddock Tempranillo 2023

A supple, medium-bodied, distinctly fruit-driven Tempranillo, displaying all the savoury, subtle earthiness that you might expect with this variety. Lots...
Mr Riggs Cold Chalk Chardonnay Bottle Shot

Mr Riggs Cold Chalk Chardonnay 2024

A beautiful, flavoursome Chardonnay that bridges the divide between the modern leaner expression and the slightly older, more generous styles,...
NV Shiraz

Monty’s Leap Single Vineyard River Hawk Shiraz 2022

Been a fan of the River Hawk Shiraz for some time, and this one is right in the groove. Typically,...
NV Cabernet Sauvignon

Monty’s Leap Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

The most complete, balanced, and poised example of a cool climate Great Southern Cabernet. Brilliant garnet colour, nose displays cedary...
NV Cabernet Sauvignon

Monty’s Leap Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

A pretty good vintage for Cabernet in the Great Southern, with plenty of warmth, but not excessive, providing ripe, generous...
NV Apple Shed Red

Monty’s Leap Appleshed Red 2024

A Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. Terrific intensity of dark fruits on the nose with plummy...
NV Chardonnay

Monty’s Leap The Mulberry Block Chardonnay 2022

The Chardonnays from this Albany-based producer have consistency and produce wines of generous richness from 100% barrel fermentation, with about...
NV Sauvignon Blanc

Monty’s Leap Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2025

After the heat of 2024, this was a very kind vintage producing fruit of generosity and balance, with bright natural...
NV Sparkling

Monty’s Leap Great Southern Sparkling NV

This is a very tidy little sparkling wine from this Albany-based producer. The aroma shows a degree of intensity with...
DL Margaret River Chard

Devil’s Lair Margaret River Chardonnay 2024

Captures the style and essence of this vineyard south of Margaret River town. The wine is fine and almost delicate,...
Devil's Lair Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon

Devil’s Lair Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

A stunning expression of the ’23 vintage. The elegance, purity, power and finesse are all on vivid display. Blackcurrant dominant...
DL th Chamber Chardonnay

Devil’s Lair 9th Chamber Chardonnay 2023

The pinnacle of Devil’s Lair Chardonnay, and one of the finest yet released under this label. As with all Devil’s...

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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