Still around the corner there may waitA new road or a secret gate;And though I oft have passed them by,A day will come at last when IShall take the hidden paths that runWest of the Moon, East of the Sun.JRR Tolkien It is September, 2021 and Sydney is starting to come out of its longest …
Category: Musings
On tannins
The other day I got an email asking me about tannins. What did I mean by different types?
WMC19: 3 weeks to go
In about 3 weeks I’m heading up to the Hunter Valley. I am excited about this. Why am I excited? Well, it’s the first proper trip to the Hunter in years (almost a decade, really) and there will be wine. Secondly, it’s my first proper get away holiday in over 2 years, so that’s always …
Pinot Noir, part two
Recently, I had the pleasure of trying 14 examples from around the world, tasted blind with a group of like minded pinofiles. (Yes, those who love Pinot even have a nickname. It’s that serious of a hobby for some.) It’s moments and events like that continue to capture my imagination, drive my curiosity and also …
Pinot Noir, part one
Often branded a fickle grape. The difficult one. The mercurial or mysterious one. The seductive wine. Pinot Noir has beguiled people for generations. With over 1,000 registered clones it’s one of the most diverse families of grapes and has given us a range of wines we love and enjoy around the world. The ultimate Pinot …
Sunday wineday: 30 June 2019
I love Sundays, and always have. It might stem from childhood when my grandma refused to allow anything but play. There would be no housework, no work of any kind. Sundays were reserved for downtime, be that play or sleep or hanging out with family and friends. Usually, it was everything with food prepared the …
A day’s journey
On a cold and frosty early morning, before the sun awoke a woman wakes up in Paris. Everything is quiet, and the small family hotel is still asleep. It is hard to get going today. A late night with plenty of local delights, a very comfortable bed that swallows you whole and does not let …
from The Wine Notebook
For years I have kept a little red notebook. I would jot down ideas or thoughts, scribbles and minutia. I also took down a lot of "to look up" notes... It is time for the notebook to retire as it's finally been filled up. A lot of the "to look up" notes are quite obscure …
In search of balance: the cult of the winemaker
The cult of the winemaker. Some have stood out due to outstanding, new or different styles but always behind the brand. In recent years, the brand is less and the winemaker is more. For boutique wineries. For the avant garde. For the quirky and the super hands on. In years gone by, we celebrated the …
Continue reading In search of balance: the cult of the winemaker
…at the Canberra International Riesling Challenge, where Riesling dreams come true…
Last time I waxed lyrical on the subject of Riesling...well, I spent a weekend drinking, slurping, swirling and sniffing Riesling. We talked about it, discussed and analysed...and I'm more in love with the grape then ever before. The morning of Saturday 15 October started with the opportunity to taste...514 Rieslings! Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, …
Continue reading …at the Canberra International Riesling Challenge, where Riesling dreams come true…
Life in a glass 