Blog
Tyrrell’s 2022 February Vat Release
One of the highlights of any year is a Tyrrell's Vat release. Essentially a museum release, as the whites at least have already been offered to their Private Bin membership about 10 months after vintage. Bottle age is always an advantage however, for either red or...
Clyde Park Wines – Museum Release
Brilliant wines, impeccably cellared and at the same price as current releases are very rare. We have five wines from one of Australia's best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producers, Clyde Park. All wines have been aged at the estate and are just entering their long...
Understanding Soave – the grapes and the sites
Soave was trendy for a time, particularly when for some pocket change you could purchase a relatively bland, perfectly drinkable dry white wine. There was no need for tasting notes or serious critiquing. These supermarket wines were designed for serious economy...
Bellebonne Sparkling – Serious Frivolity
The best Champagnes are wonderful. Made from fully ripe grapes and a judicious dosage, if any at all. They are however, incredibly intense, concentrated and deep in flavour, so much so that it's hard to knock it back in 40 degree heat, or drink more than a glass...
Clemens Busch – Mosel Savagery
It is a truism that dog owners look like their dogs. The breed is etched into the fabric of the owner. Winemakers are no different. Their personalities, philosophy, politics, dress, you name it are etched into the liquid they produce. This is not meant to imply...
Rippon 2018 – Stunning Pinot Noir et al
Pinot Noir outside Burgundy has never been more diverse, exciting and rich in expression. Rippon, from New Zealand's Central Otago region, crafts structured, tense, ethereal and decadent pinots to rival the finest of the Cote d'Or. The estate's DNA is to be found in...
Margaret River Chardonnay – moved by the breeze
Chardonnay is made everywhere in Australia, and to a very high standard. Very few regions however are able to boast genuinely unique styles, or at least a regional typicity. The same can be said of Burgundy, where warm, early vintages have increased the diversity...
Hofgut Falkenstein – the most traditional of Mosel
Traditions and typicity are key to our understanding of classic wine regions. Style, flavours, textures and classifications are signposts and, to a degree, a generalisation of what may be in the bottle. The acceptance of the VDP by the German wine fraternity and wine...
Pato&Wouters – At once playful and serious
"In every genuine man, a child is hidden that wants to play". Ain't that the truth. Nietshke it seems, understood a part of our pscyche (genuine man, or woman that is), that clutched and thrashed for the playful in our stiff, structured and serious lives. Serious...
Corymbia Wines – 2020 New Release
Some wines and their makers are entire unto themselves. They may be varietal, classic even and will no doubt share many characteristics with their neighbours. You may be able pick the region, vintage and winemaking, and yet, they are not like their neighbours. These...
Understanding Nebbiolo Part 1 – The Taste
Italy's greatest grape? One way or the other, Nebbiolo makes much of the country's greatest, most sought after and most delicious wines. Consistency of quality, an iron rule for this wine lover, has never been better. Sangiovese for example can be priced from almost...
Whisson Lake – “I feel sorry for the wines coming next!”
Whisson Lake was recommended to me by Matt Herod, Sommelier at the Shangri La Hotel in Sydney and who also acts as a trade representative for Tyrrells wines. A man as passionate for wine as he, had much to say of Whisson Lake. So I listened. If Ashton Hills pioneered...
Josetta Saffirio – Effortless Expressionism
Twenty years ago, and no doubt for many years prior, producers in the Langhe were invariably described as modern, traditional or a combination of the two. Nicholas Belfrage's seminal work, Barolo to Valpolicella would categorise every producer according to their...
Joh Jos Prum 2019 Release – Liberated Energy
The Australian importer of Joh. Jos. Prum once described wine as "bottled energy", reminding me of Kenneth Clark's description of a William Blake engraving, Glad Day. He writes "nothing could be more paradoxical than that he should have found in this attempt to...
Antoine Jobard – Wines of Sheer Presence
With just 5 hectares of vines and making around 2000 cases of wine a year, Antoine Jobard is a tiny producer of some of the finest Meursault. Francois, Antoine's son is now making the wines, and the changes have been subtle. Change is often abhorred, particularly when...
Swinney Wines New Release – Taste Deep
Newness in wine is highly prized. New producers, styles, vintages and reviews focus the wallet, and it is a special pleasure to drink the latest releases of a treasured favourite. This is only the second release of Swinney's wine we have been a part of and considering...
Tyrrell’s New Release – Better than ever
Put simply, great producers make great wine. So when offered a taste of Tyrrell's new single vineyard releases, I was excited. I have tasted releases of these wines many times, and they have all been delicious, but a taste of these seven wines left me convinced that...
Beaujolais – The power and the glory
'Classic' is an epithet to be found in vintage reports, tasting notes and producer profiles. European producers and wine regions in particular are more likely to be described as classic. The truth is, and Beaujolais is no exception, that the idea of what is typical,...
Jurancon Sec – Taste with an open mind
Before even tasting a wine, all of us bring some fixed assumptions of what it will taste like. Generally, we've chosen the wine because of these assumptions - for pairing with food or because we feel like a certain wine. So when we opened two bottles of Jurancon Sec...
Bistro in the Burbs – Parmesan and herb-crusted lamb rack
The recent dining out restrictions meant we had to give more thought to dining at home and Bistro in the Burbs was born! Delicious home cooked meals with fabulous matching wines – what could be better? Sometimes modest, other times grand and not always perfect. But...
Wine Style Guide – What is Chablis?
Recently, as I was about to pour a glass of Scarborough Yellow Label Chardonnay, a friend gripped my hand and said "I don't like Chardonnay". No problem, I've got some Chablis in the fridge. Do you like Chablis? "I love Chablis". Great. So do I. The Scarborough went...
Christmas Food and Wine Matching
It's that special time of the year when you want everything to be perfect. We've put together this handy guide to help you match the perfect wine to your festive feast. Whether you're having turkey and all the trimmings or a seafood spread, pick one of our suggested...
Q and A with Stephen Cook from Eisenstone Wines
The most discussed subject in the wine industry is climate change, and not the story of what's in your glass. People are gifted with senses and the ability of expression and yet we have become obsessed with what can only be described as an existential threat. As if a...
Bistro in the Burbs – Duck Confit with Passetoutgrain
The recent dining out restrictions meant we had to give more thought to dining at home and Bistro in the Burbs was born! Delicious home cooked meals with fabulous matching wines – what could be better? Sometimes modest, other times grand and not always perfect. But...
Featured wine style – Rosé
A friend of mine once said that rosé is rosé, and they're all crap until you find a good one; and when you do, that’s the one you drink! According to him, no matter the grape, style, price or country of origin, they couldn’t be judged like other wines because they...
2018 Joh Jos Prum Release – Thrilling & Wonderful Wines
There is no escaping the commentary surrounding vintages. Knowing a bit often makes you feel like you know a lot, and enough to draw foregone conclusions. After reading various comments and articles about the 2018's from Joh Jos Prum, I feel compelled to add to the...
Q and A with Will Rikard-Bell from Rikard Wines
Orange has never lived up to expectations. We visited recently, confirming for ourselves its status as a region full of potential, but one yet to truly define itself. Our visit to Rikard Wines was a bit of a light-bulb moment - delighting in the discovery of a...
When is a wine fault not a wine fault?
Wine assessment and tasting is by its nature opaque. Countless factors will affect a wine at any showing, and if you were to re-taste the wine, in another context, your conclusions might be very different. To avoid discrepancy and possible misrepresentation, process...
Jean Foillard 2018 – one of France’s true masters
Atypical vintages and atypical work conditions present challenges and opportunities for the vigneron. Discussion of vintages, their characteristics, merits and downsides are analysed and agonised over by wine lovers. However, it is always what's in the bottle that...
Tokaji – a wine style without imitation
All wine lovers, all humans, love to get their money's worth. There are producers, regions, vintages, styles and countries with whom value is synonymous. I have long believed that, typically, you are more likely to find good value in whites than reds. Regions that are...
Julian Haart – rising star of the Mosel
I have wanted to taste the wines of Julian Haart for several years. Flicking through a newsletter from Mosel Fine Wines is always an informative experience, but it can be hard to tear yourself away from the familiar and famous names. I now have a rule that I rigidly...
Bistro in the Burbs – Pork ribs with John Duval Plexus 2017
The recent dining out restrictions meant we had to give more thought to dining at home and Bistro in the Burbs was born! Delicious home cooked meals with fabulous matching wines – what could be better? Sometimes modest, other times grand and not always perfect. But...
Q and A with Shaun Crinion from Dappled Wines
Ever since my first taste, I've loved the wines of Dappled. The Chardonnays display a greater level of richness, extract, and texture that is becoming harder to find in the Yarra Valley, where picking early is becoming all too fashionable. The Pinot Noirs are chiseled...
Introducing Passetoutgrain – Burgundy’s vanishing terroir
Passetoutgrain (pronounced Passe-too-grarn) is a regional Burgundian appellation created in 1937 for the production of red or rose wine. Passetoutgrain can be produced within the entire region of Burgundy, covering the Cote d'Or, Yonne, Saône-et-Loire and Beaujolais,...
Bistro in the Burbs – Pavlova and Botrytis Semillon
The recent dining out restrictions meant we had to give more thought to dining at home and Bistro in the Burbs was born! Delicious home cooked meals with fabulous matching wines – what could be better? Sometimes modest, other times grand and not always perfect. But...
Guffens-Heynen 2018 – lapel-grabbing power
I first came across the wines of Verget, working at Oddbins in Colchester. It was the early to mid 2000's, and I had moved to Colchester to be with my girlfriend. Colchester, once the capital of Roman Britain, is one of the oldest settlements in the UK. Colchester is...
Q and A with Stefan Dewey from Dewey Station Wines
Dewey Station Wines is the work of husband and wife team Stefan and Eleanor Dewey. When we tasted the Dewey Station wines, we were struck by the vivid colours, floral lift and high toned fruit. They did however, still transmit the essence of rich full bodied Barossan...
Bistro in the Burbs – the joy of dining at home
Even James Bond, a man partial to fine wine and rich food recognised the debilitating effect of over indulgence. In the fictional town of Royale les Eaux, the backdrop for Casino Royale, Bond surveying the scene is fed up with the "lip-smacking rituals of winemanship...
Mallaluka Wines – Style and Substance
Avant garde wines are less about tradition and vineyard/varietal definition. Minimal intervention, natural ferments, little or no sulphur additions, early picking,experimental winemaking and a keen eye on the environment are the shared attributes of Australian avant...
Winemaker Q and A with Ben Mullen from Mulline
This month I caught up with Ben Mullen – the winemaker half of Mulline Vintners from Geelong. Mulline are making headlines of late with their high scoring Chardonnay, Syrah and Pinot. Q. There are plenty of good wine regions in Victoria, why did you choose...
Brave New Wines? – you bet they are!
Whenever I think of being brave, I imagine charging a machine gun nest. Or more realistically, Sir Humphrey Appleby describing a decision as "courageous Minister", in order to change his mind. I did ponder the name as I'm not sure I wanted to need to be brave to drink...
Does wine go with chocolate? Yes if you know what to pick.
I've never believed that chocolate is an aphrodisiac, but add a splash of wine and I'm not so sure...Chocolate and cheese are notoriously difficult to match with wine. Cheese in particular usually requires specific wines and hosts tend to offer up cheese boards, with...
Understanding Grosses Gewachs or GG
"Grosses Gewachs! We are marching again!" Thus spake Ernst Loosen of the grand estate Dr Loosen. Grosses Gewachs, or GG, refers to wines made from Grosse Lage or Grand cru vineyards. Unlike their French counterparts, the term does not exist within any part of wine...
How to choose a wine from a wine list
Choosing a wine from a wine list can be difficult and I'm not just talking about what to match with what you're eating. Is there such a thing as good value from a wine list and, if so, how do you get it? Can house wines be trusted? Should I stick to the brands I...
Swinney Wines – Treasures of Western Australia
"There was no cloud now; the heat was easing, but at every stop the merciless obbligato of the cicadas, rising clamorously as the sunset drew down, made the sudden human voices in that still seem false and unreal..." I am a born and bred Sydney boy and, alas, have had...
Egon Muller Pre-Release Offer – 2018 Rieslings
Egon Muller - star of the Saar. Don't miss your chance to secure some of the world's greatest wines at special pre-release pricing. Egon Muller Scharzhof Qualitats Riesling 2018 - $80 (RRP $100) Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett 2018 - $155 (RRP...
Sadie Family Wines – South African Renaissance
The Sadie Family Wines are our first South African producer. I am ashamed to say my knowledge of South African history is scant, save for a boyhood interest in the Anglo-Zulu Wars of 1879. I have a first edition of the tragic masterpiece, The Washing of the Spears, by...
A Christmann Riesling – The Power and the Glory
It is the greatest pleasure of any wine lover to taste a wine, and for it to be better than expected. Perhaps the single greatest crime of a wine taster is to have any expectations at all. To keep an open mind, and to not be influenced by what you have read or heard,...
Desvignes and Trediberri – from England, with love
My wife's sister Kate and her partner Sarah, have just arrived back from England. Their suitcases contained, as always, a small cache of wine bottles. The trade goes the other way too. From Australia, with love, we sent two bottles of JC's Own. The Bluebird 2018 and a...
What wines go best with seafood?
Matching seafood and wine can be problematic. Some seafood flavours are delicate and you need a wine that will complement and not overpower the subtle flavours. Other seafood dishes are more robust, maybe with rich creamy sauces or tomato or spice. These foods need...
What’s the difference between Syrah and Shiraz?
Shiraz and Syrah are the exact same grape. Some countries, such as Australia and South Africa, have traditionally used the name Shiraz. Other countries, such as New Zealand and the United States call the grape Syrah. What does Syrah taste like? The Rhone Valley...
All you need to know about decanting wine
Generally, most people with some knowledge about wine would agree that decanting wine has its benefits. But there can still be many questions around the subject - Should I only decant old wine? Does decanting wine improve its taste? Does decanting wine remove...
Ashton Hills – Pinot Noir and much more
An Australian icon, Ashton Hills is one of this country's foremost Pinot Noir producers. From the Piccadilly Valley sub region in the Adelaide Hills, this tiny 3ha vineyard was originally planted in 1982. The vineyard sits at an elevation of 570 metres and averages...
Shy Susan – That’s not what I’ve heard!
What's in a name? I've never met a shy Susan before. The Susans I've had the pleasure of knowing, including my mother in law, have all been crackers. The name Shy Susan, alas, does not derive from an encounter, amorous or otherwise. Shy Susan is a rare purple...
La Petite Mort – Tradition and modern embrace
The words traditional and modern are thrown about so often nowadays that they no longer have any meaning. Let's face a home truth. For all lovers of wine, there is a frisson of comfort when descending into an ancient cellar. Cobwebs, barrels and the unforgettable...
Spotlight on the Yarra Valley 2019
It is common to make generalisations about wine regions and their wines. Grand statements like 'Hunter Valley Shiraz tastes like....' or 'this wine reminds me of a left bank Bordeaux' or 'this is very typical of Corton'. And so on. The trouble is, grand statements or...
Wild Duck Creek – Wines of Bushrangers & Balladeers
"High alcohol, high tannins. Big colour, big flavours. A wine to offend everyone". David Anderson summing up his wines at a recent tasting of Wild Duck Creek Estate. I don't think I have ever met the proprietor of an estate who was so much fun, brimming with joy and...
By Farr – exceptional wines from Geelong
American exceptionalism is an idea spawned from Revolution. Alexander Hamilton, who alongside George Washington is the most indispensable of the Founding Fathers, epitomised this belief. In the first of the Federalist Papers he wrote "it seems to have been reserved to...
Joh Jos Prum 2017 Riesling Release
The annual JJ Prum tasting is my favourite event of the year. I try to come to the tasting without prejudice. It's hard to resist reading what the critics are saying, or the views of other wine merchants. I'm curious, but by the same token, prior knowledge can be an...
A guide to the Jura’s unique wines
Recently, my wife and I opened two different bottles of Bourgogne Blanc. Both wines shared some superficial similarities - they were a similar price, from the 2015 vintage and both made by famous producers. We were looking to have a Burgundian experience on a budget....
Bodegas Exopto – The Real Soul of Rioja
It can be confronting meeting a winemaker for the first time. I suppose it's like any social situation. What do we talk about? The wines I guess, but what else? Are we going to get on and if not, do I really want to sell their wines? Should I be willing to make...
Hochkirch and Tarrington – Biodynamic Brilliance
Hochkirch is one of Australia's greatest small estates. Tasting and drinking Hochkirch wines is always a study of vivid, luminous fruit, chiseled structures and luxurious texture. Too often cool climate wines can taste hollow, with hard boned structures and sour...
Keller 2018 Riesling and Silvaner – It begins
I get asked all the time - what is the best wine you've ever had? Or, who is your favourite producer? I always find these questions impossible to answer. There are infinite variables and, equally, infinite responses. But if I had to choose a single producer that makes...
Meltwater and Corofin – New Releases from Marlborough
This is the first release of Meltwater wines from Anna and Mike Paterson of Corofin fame. Whereas Corofin is a study of individual vineyards, the Meltwater wines are a blend of different blocks from across the Marlborough region. To be honest, the idea of wines from...
Verdier-Logel – Cotes du Forez, Loire Valley
Presumably the Cotes du Forez is not the first appellation that comes to mind when you think of the Loire? I tried this question on my wife and her first response was "um, um, Muscadet?". Nice. Most of us, I think, would respond with Sancerre, Vouvray, Chinon, or if...
Harkham Wines – New Release Rose and Shiraz
Towards the end of trade tastings, I've had enough. Trying dozens, sometimes up to a hundred wines has its obvious, unique challenges - even when you spit. The wines start to blur, along with my critical faculties. Oddly enough, it's at this point in the tasting that...
What wine should I serve with steak? Classics and surprises.
Every week we do a meal plan at home and shop accordingly. Boring I know, but these are the realities of juggling busy lives and a young family. Invariably, steak or something similar is on the menu, and so the question of what wine to serve with steak comes up....
Hunter Valley Hidden Gems – Thomas Wines
To say Thomas Wines from the Hunter Valley is a hidden gem may sound ridiculous. There is nothing 'hidden' about it. Indeed, when most people list their favourite Hunter Valley producers, Thomas Wines is always at the top of that list. With a new cellar door on the...
The Best Value Rieslings in the World
The recent Riesling Galaxy tasting in Sydney provided an unmissable opportunity to try some of the best value Rieslings from around the world. My overwhelming impression from the tasting is that quality and value is consistent at all price points. The Riesling market...
Museum Releases – Don’t get dusty and disappointed
When I first became interested in wine, the idea of buying an already aged bottle or museum release didn't appeal. There seemed to be something magical about dusting off a bottle I'd bought some time ago and kept. Then proceeding through the ritual of showing off,...
Bordeaux 2015 – Great value from the great estates
For some time we have wondered whether Bordeaux fits into our idea of good value. The wines are in such demand and so heavily prized, which can make them unaffordable to many wine drinkers who rightly ask themselves - is it worth it? Further, many of the more famous...
Joh Jos Prum 2016 Release – Riesling Heaven
From the first sniff and taste, it is clear that 2016 is a wonderful vintage for JJ Prum and tasting these wines is a special experience. Prum's wines are often described as reductive or closed when released. This is not the case with the 2016's, which all exhibit...
Garagiste – a new benchmark in Australian wine
It is difficult to describe the pleasure we experienced tasting the wines of Garagiste. Usually within a range there would be something that marks a wine whether you like it or not. Something that makes you into a critic and you start assessing the wine a little too...
Koomilya – Reaching for the stars
'All other creatures look down toward the earth, but man was given a face so that he might turn his eyes towards the stars and gaze upon the sky'. I could not help but ponder this thought (Ovid’s) when tasting the new releases of Koomilya. The ambition to express the...
Maison Leroy – Burgundian royalty
The latest release of the Maison Leroy wines caused a stir at Waters Wine as we had never had the opportunity to taste a Leroy wine before. A legend in the wine world, Lalou Bize-Leroy was until 1992 a co director of the Domaine de la Romanee Conti. After leaving DRC...
What’s new – our Curious Wines range and first Discovery Case
Our Curious Wines range is designed to showcase some of the more unusual grape varieties and styles of wine being made around the world. We’ve found some fascinating producers making wines from grapes we thought long since forgotten or styles of wine that may not be...
Taste Champagne 2018 – march of the small growers
I was lucky enough to attend the recent Taste Champagne event held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney. Known as one of the best wine events around, it featured a marvellous array of producers from small artisan growers to the largest houses. Three things in...
Riesling – a perfect fit for Australia
Much has been written in the wine press about the greatness of Riesling. According to many wine writers and Masters of Wine it’s the greatest white grape of all. So why then has it not been embraced so warmly by the Australian consumer when it’s a perfect fit for our...
WINES FROM ARTISAN, ICONIC AND FAMILY-OWNED PRODUCERS
Waters Wine Company offers a great range of well-chosen, good value and interesting wines