ReviewsLatest Wine Reviews

We choose the wines we review with care, following close examination over several days, with and without food. Often, they’re wines that have received good reviews from credible sources or have won major awards at wine shows, but we question the basis of reviews and medals where we believe they’re misleading. Our perspective is that of wine lovers (consumers), not the wine industry, and our focus is on finding the best wines we can for between $10 and $25. 

Our point scores are more conservative than most, and are accompanied by 3 recommendations: 1. BUY 2. NOT CONVINCED 3. AVOID. We love $10 wines that score 90 points, and $20 wines that score 95. As always, we provide live links to the merchants with the best price right now.

Sample of 3 reviews

Wirra Wirra Church Block Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz Merlot – $18 at Kemenys. Many people love this wine, which celebrated its 40 birthday not long ago. The 2013 is the best I can remember, showing a touch more finesse than usual. It’s a 50/35/15% blend that’s seen 18 months in French and American oak (20% new). Lots of rich, ripe fruit with seamless oak integration and ripe, fine-grained tannins. The wine has perfect length and balance and that extra flavour dimension that we look for. 94 points. Back up the ute.

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Blue Pyrenees Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 – $15 at Kemenys. Love the style: long, elegant Cabernet from Victoria’s Pyrenees offering fragrant blue fruits in a smooth envelope. Lacks a bit of depth and complexity but I’m being picky given the price. Huon Hooke gives it 94 points which points to a serious bargain, I’m on 92 points, which still makes it a good BUY.

Ravensworth Shiraz 2013 – $27 at Dan M’s. Made by Bryan Martin for Dan M’s. He also makes wine at Clonikilla near Canberra so my expectations were high. Sadly, this turns out to be a soft, easy on the gums Shiraz that’s ready to drink rather than a cool climate, peppery spicy, sinewy one. Ridiculous price for a simple red with an awful label. 89 points. AVOID.

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