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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.
Crittenden Zumma Chardonnay

Crittenden Zumma Chardonnay 2022

There is energy and life evident from the moment you engage with the perfumes on the nose. The fruit was...
Crittenden Zumma Pinot Noir

Crittenden Zumma Pinot Noir 2022

This is a marvellous product of an ideal Mornington vintage. The perfumes of cherry and fresh berry are just delightful...
Crittenden Cri De Coeur Chardonnay

Crittenden Cri de Coeur Chardonnay 2022

One of the very best Crittenden Chardonnays I have tasted. It comes from the original home block vineyard which has...
Embers NewChardonnay NoShad

Flametree Embers Chardonnay 2023

This is a Chardonnay from this excellent season in Margaret River that’s good to go right now. The nose has...
Flametree Non Vintage Cabernet Merlot

Flametree Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2022

A red combination that created a brand within a brand for Margaret River. This was a year of excellent flavour...
Embers NewCabSav NoShad

Flametree Embers Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

I must admit I’m surprised to be tasting a quality wine that is still available from this very good vintage....
Tread Softly Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut NV HR

Tread Softly Chardonnay Pinot Noir NV

For less than $20, you are getting a very tidy sparkling wine. In short, it punches above its weight. Lemony...
First Pick Shiraz

1847 First Pick Shiraz 2021

Exquisite. This is what modern Barossa Shiraz is all about. It brings the power and concentrated opulence firmly into the...
Chalice

Chateau Yaldara Chalice Shiraz 2022

A soft and plush Barossa Shiraz which loads masses of ripe dark fruit into its frame. Full and generous with...
grand pappy

1847 Grand Pappy Shiraz 2021

What a powerhouse of opulence and concentration is this plush and super-saturated Barossa Shiraz from this very good year. Loaded...
BullTrader Pinot Noir

Reschke Bull Trader Pinot Noir 2024

A neatly crafted Pinot from a good season in Padthaway. Captivating aromas of raspberry and a little deeper dark cherry...
Antiqua Shiraz

Ulithorne Antiqua Shiraz 2022

Generous, supple and thoroughly delicious Shiraz from McLaren Vale. On the nose, you get a decent hit of black cherry...
Cape Barren TheVale Shiraz

Cape Barren The Vale Shiraz 2019

A smooth and polished McLaren Vale Shiraz captures the generosity of this McLaren Vale vintage. Layered blackberry and chocolatey plummy...
Three Springs Shiraz

Schild Estate Three Springs Shiraz 2019

Gosh, this is a good wine. You know that from the first aromas of perfumed dark fruits with a light...
Narrow Road Shiraz

Schild Estate Narrow Road Shiraz 2021

Bursts with all manner of dark ripe berry characters from the first take on the nose through to the opulent...
Sorby Adams Le Verrier Shiraz nv lowres

Sorby Adams Le Verrier Shiraz 2021

It’s hard to beat Barossa Shiraz in a good year. This displays all that was good, no, very good, in...
Leconfield Cabernet Sauvignon

Leconfield Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

The elegant style and perfumes of Coonawarra all come into play in this very good Cabernet from a very good...
Angus Brae Shiraz

Schild Estate Angus Brae Shiraz 2022

An elegantly presented Barossa Shiraz. Oodles of ripe blackberry and dark plummy fruit characters reveal on the nose and then...
LVR PinotNoir

Stonehaven Limited Vineyard Release Pinot Noir 2024

Opens with a delightful mix of sour cherry and spicy florals that announce this as Pinot. It is medium to...
Leconfield Manor House MV Shiraz Bottle Mock CabMer (green) capsule

Leconfield Manor House Shiraz 2022

Such an elegantly presented McLaren Vale Shiraz pumping out plenty of power and intensity as it drives through a deeply...
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1847 170 Shiraz Cabernet 2021

This was a mighty good year in the Barossa and it’s been superbly captured by this concentrated blend of Shiraz...
Byrne Coghills Creek Myola Vineyard Pinot Noir()

Byrne Wines Coghills Creek Pinot Noir 2019

There’s a certain rustic charm about this Ballarat Pinot Noir. The aromas are a combination of ripe plum and dark...
Byrne Coghills Creek Myola Vineyard Pinot Noir()

Byrne Wines Coghills Creek Pinot Noir 2018

The intense spicy and slightly leather character on the nose suggests a little development. It’s starting to layer itself with...
Byrne Trawalla Shiraz

Byrne Wines Trawalla Shiraz 2017

 Medium-bodied Shiraz displays many of the virtues of the cool climate in Ballarat. There’s an earthy rustic and slightly ferruginous...

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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