Latest Reviews & Editorial Picks
The newest arrivals from across All That Is Cool, including wine, skincare, hotels, and more, brought together in one place. Whether you’re chasing the latest review or simply curious what’s caught our eye, this is where it begins. Updated regularly, with only what’s worth your time.
Bannockburn Geelong Pinot Noir 2024 Review: An Unconventional Pinot
Bannockburn Geelong Pinot Noir 2024 takes a less conventional path, combining dark fruit with herbaceous, savoury character, bright acidity and silky tannins. We taste it on its own and with food to see whether its complexity makes it worth the splurge.
Wicks Estate C.J. Wicks Pinot Noir 2023 Review: A Pinot That Gets the Balance Right
We taste the Wicks Estate C.J. Wicks Pinot Noir 2023, an Adelaide Hills Pinot with red fruit, silky tannins and a savoury side that emerges with food.
(MALIN+GOETZ) Bergamot Hand + Body Wash Review: More Refined Than Fragrant
MALIN+GOETZ Bergamot Hand + Body Wash pairs a comfortable, creamy lather with understated design, but its bergamot fragrance proved surprisingly fleeting.
Ratio Salted Caramel Milk Chocolate Review: More Cocoa Than Caramel
Ratio Cocoa Roasters takes a restrained approach to salted caramel, allowing 58% dark milk chocolate to remain the hero while crisp caramel adds texture and gentle sweetness.
Freycinet Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023 Review: Tasmanian Structure, But Does It Come Together?
The Freycinet Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023 opens with fresh red fruit and gentle structure, but neither time nor food fully resolve the gap between its attractive opening and more structured finish.
Devil’s Corner Resolution Pinot Noir 2024 Review: Does Complexity Translate to Enjoyment?
Devil’s Corner Resolution Pinot Noir 2024 sits above the producer’s core range and is sourced from premium parcels within the Hazards Vineyard on Tasmania’s east coast.
Riposte The Sabre Pinot Noir 2023 Review: Delicate Aromatics, Firmer Reality?
Riposte The Sabre Pinot Noir 2023 Review: Delicate Aromatics, Firmer Reality? Riposte’s The Sabre Pinot Noir 2023 comes from a producer closely associated with the development of the Adelaide Hills as a premium cool-climate wine region. Sourced from multiple Pinot Noir clones grown across Lenswood and Piccadilly, and matured in French oak, it presents itself…
Ratio The Beer Bar Dark Chocolate Review: An Unusual Take on Dark Chocolate
Ratio The Beer Bar Dark Chocolate Review: An Unusual Take on Dark Chocolate Ratio Cocoa Roasters’ Beer Bar pairs a 63% cocoa base with malt-and-oat inclusions, taking inspiration from traditional brewing ingredients rather than trying to recreate beer itself. Made in Melbourne, Australia and certified vegan, it sits somewhere between a classic dark chocolate bar…
Lienert Vineyards Sieben Klon Grenache 2022 Review: Freshness First, Depth with Food
Lienert Vineyards Sieben Klon Grenache 2022 is a fresh, approachable Barossa Grenache that becomes noticeably more expressive with food. We explore its fruit, acidity, structure, and pairing behaviour.
Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 Review: Strength Without Rough Edges
Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 balances concentration with control, delivering a structured yet composed Cabernet that reveals its strengths most clearly at the table.
Topiary Restaurant Review: Produce-Led Dining in Adelaide, South Australia
Nestled within Newman’s Nursery, Topiary offers seasonal, produce-led dining in a historic setting. We visited for a winter lunch to see whether the food, service and atmosphere justify a visit.
Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2018 Review: Built on Reputation, Proven at the Table
Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2018 combines cabernet structure with shiraz richness. We tested it across multiple meals to see whether its reputation holds up at the table.
Grown Alchemist Energize Body Cleanser Review: A Smooth Low-Foam Wash That Loses Its Lift
Grown Alchemist Energize Body Cleanser Review: A Smooth Low-Foam Wash That Loses Its Lift Grown Alchemist Energize Body Cleanser is a premium body wash positioned around plant-based cleansing, low-foam texture and an energising botanical scent.
1847 First Pick Shiraz 2020 Review: Power with a Savoury Edge
1847 First Pick Shiraz 2020 combines concentration, savoury complexity, and firm structure in a premium Barossa Shiraz that sparked as much discussion as admiration.
Ratio Axil Coffee Dark Chocolate Review: A Dark Mocha Without the Sweetness
Ratio Axil Coffee Dark Chocolate combines 63% cacao with roasted coffee pieces from Axil Coffee. We explore flavour, texture, finish and whether this Melbourne-made bar is worth the splurge.
Fraser Gallop Estate Parterre Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 Review: More Comfortable Than It First Appears
Fraser Gallop Estate Parterre Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 is a Margaret River Cabernet blend from Wilyabrup, combining Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller portions of Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec. Margaret River is known for structured, fresh, medium-weight Cabernet styles.
Ratio Raspberry & Toasted Coconut White Chocolate Review: Balance Over Sweetness
Ratio’s Raspberry & Toasted Coconut White Chocolate combines a creamy 37% white chocolate base with raspberry and toasted coconut inclusions.
Henschke Marble Angel Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 Review: Good Alone, Better with Food
Henschke Marble Angel Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 is a structured, food-responsive Cabernet from Barossa Valley. Dark fruit arrives first, before tannin, oak, and acidity gradually shape the wine through the palate.
Wirra Wirra The Angelus Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 Review: Structured, Controlled, but Does It Fully Open?
Wirra Wirra The Angelus Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 takes its name from the large bell positioned above the winery’s historic cellars, traditionally rung to mark the beginning and end of vintage in McLaren Vale.
Coriole Mary Kathleen Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 Review: Better at the Table Than in the Glass
Coriole Mary Kathleen Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 is a firm, structured McLaren Vale Cabernet that settles more comfortably with food than as a solo pour.
Ashley & Co Washup All Over Tui & Kahili Body Wash Review: Different Enough to Stand Apart
Ashley & Co Washup All Over Tui & Kahili pairs a sandalwood-led fragrance with a comfortable everyday formula. We tested whether its distinctive character is enough to stand apart.
Penfolds FWT 585 Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Petit Verdot 2022 Review: An Australian Take on Bordeaux Structure
Penfolds takes its blending philosophy to Bordeaux in FWT 585. We examined how the wine’s structure, fruit, and tannins behaved on their own and alongside a range of food pairings.
Kilikanoon Meyman’s Shiraz 2020 Review: Rich at First, Firmer Thereafter
With Clare Valley Shiraz often balancing richness against firmer structure and spice, we approached this tasting interested in how the wine handled fruit, oak, acidity, and tannin across repeated sipping and different food pairings.
Angas King 1836 Reserve Shiraz 2021 Review: Polite, Balanced, and Food-First
The Angas King 1836 Reserve Shiraz 2021 sits in a more restrained, food-oriented corner of Clare Valley Shiraz, leaning toward balance and structure rather than outright richness.
Molton Brown Coastal Cypress & Sea Fennel Bath & Shower Gel Review: Freshness with Lasting Presence
Molton Brown’s Coastal Cypress & Sea Fennel Bath & Shower Gel combines strong aromatic freshness with polished daily usability, delivering one of the more persistent fragrance experiences we’ve tested in a rinse-off body wash.
Leif Desert Lime Body Cleanser Review: Bright Citrus with a Drier Edge
Australian-made, vegan, and free from sulphates and parabens, with a promise of a honey-like texture. We tested it across daily showers to see whether it earns its place as an everyday staple.
John Duval Entity Shiraz 2022 Review: French Oak, Firm Structure, and Measured Fruit
The John Duval Entity Shiraz 2022 leans toward structure over sheer richness, combining French oak, fresh acidity, and measured dark fruit into a more controlled expression of Barossa Shiraz.
Lone Palm Old Vine Shiraz 2023 Review: Structured Now, Better with Time?
Tasted young, the 2023 release presents as a wine still settling into itself, shaped by architecture and progression more than easy generosity. This is not an Old Vine Shiraz chasing early charm. It asks for attention, context, and possibly time.
Parker Estate First Growth Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 Review: Structured Now, Softer Later
We opened the Parker Estate First Growth Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 to see how its structure would present in the glass. From a single vineyard in Coonawarra, matured in 75% new oak and bottled at 14.5%, it’s positioned as a serious, cellar-worthy release.
Greenock Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 Review: Structured, Fruit-First, Consistently Reliable
Opened across two sittings, the aim was to see how it behaved both solo and at the table. What emerged was a measured Cabernet, fruit-forward at first, with its supporting elements settling neatly into place.
Cape Mentelle Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 Review: Structured, Food-Led, and Best with Cheese
We opened the Cape Mentelle Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 over lunch, expecting a classic Margaret River expression built on structure and balance. What emerged is a wine that feels controlled and considered, revealing its strengths most clearly when paired with food.
Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 Review: Better on Its Own Than at the Table
The Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 carries the expectation of Margaret River precision. The brand positions its wines around energy, harmony, and a strong sense of place. At this level, you anticipate structure, restraint and a clear sense of regional identity.
Plantagenet Aquitaine Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 Review: Controlled, Enjoyable, but Not Especially Versatile
The Plantagenet Aquitaine Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 sets a clear tone from the outset. Great Southern Cabernet often leans into structure and restraint, favouring balance over weight.
Parker Estate Terra Rossa Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 Review: Familiar, but Without a Strong Pull
The Parker Estate Terra Rossa Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 sets a clear expectation from the outset. Terra Rossa soils and Coonawarra Cabernet point to a more traditional expression, one that leans toward structure with less immediate approachability.
Bowen Estate Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 Review: Classic Coonawarra, but Not Memorable
Bowen Estate’s 2023 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon presents itself as a classic regional expression, built around structure, restraint, and balance.
Inside MEGA Donki: Japan’s Most Overwhelming Indulgence
Inside MEGA Donki, Tokyo’s famously chaotic megastore, where Kit Kats, second-hand luxury bags, cosplay costumes, and everyday essentials collide in one unforgettable retail experience.
Vasse Felix Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 Review: Structured, Food-First Restraint
Vasse Felix Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 Review: Structured, Food-First Restraint We opened the Vasse Felix Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 expecting a serious, composed expression from one of the region’s most established producers.
Yalumba The Menzies Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 Review: Structured, Responsive, and Built for the Table
The Menzies is Yalumba’s estate Cabernet Sauvignon from the heart of Coonawarra’s terra rossa strip, sourced from vines planted in the mid-1990s. It spends 18 months in French and Hungarian oak, including a portion of new barrels, placing it firmly within the classic, cellar-worthy regional style.
Jasper + Myrtle White Chocolate & Sour Cherries: Balanced, but Understated
White chocolate is unforgiving; success rests on dairy quality, sweetness control, texture, and how inclusions are handled. Jasper + Myrtle describes this bar as a silky, creamy white chocolate balanced with sour cherries, a pairing that suggests contrast and lift.
Jasper + Myrtle Macadamia & Lemon Myrtle Milk Chocolate Review: Thoughtful, If Reserved
Macadamia and lemon myrtle is an unmistakably Australian pairing, but one that can easily tip into novelty if handled too loudly. As the brand’s best-selling bar, it carries expectation.
Jasper + Myrtle Ginger & Coconut Dark Chocolate: When the Idea Leads the Flavour
Ginger and coconut suggest spice, crunch, and contrast. Heat against cream. Sweetness against depth. This bar hints at that interplay but keeps it subdued, allowing the dark base to remain the clear focus.
Jasper + Myrtle Classic Milk Chocolate Review: Balanced, Though Not Addictive
Jasper + Myrtle’s Classic Milk is a precision-led bar that favours cocoa clarity and balance over indulgent sweetness. With understated branding and award recognition behind it, expectations lean toward technical correctness and a more grown-up expression of milk chocolate.
Jasper + Myrtle Caffè Bianco White Chocolate: A Mocha-Leaning Bar for Coffee Lovers
This is a bar that prioritises balance over sweetness, positioning itself for those drawn to coffee-led flavours rather than classic white chocolate indulgence.
Jasper + Myrtle Blueberry Dark Chocolate Review: Controlled Fruit, Clean Finish
This bar from Jasper + Myrtle takes a restrained approach, placing the berry alongside a cocoa-forward base instead of letting it dominate.
Zokoko Coffee Pecan Milk Chocolate: A Comfort-Led Take on Café Flavours
The brown-toned packaging sets expectations early. It suggests caramel warmth, dairy richness, and a coffee note that leans creamy rather than roasted or intense.
Zokoko Dark + White Mint: A Restrained Take on Mint Chocolate
Zokoko’s Dark + White Mint sits slightly apart from the brand’s single-origin range. The soft green colour palette suggests a hint of mint, setting expectations for balance over indulgence.
Zokoko Almond & Raisin 70%: A Balanced Take on Dark Chocolate Comfort
Almond and raisin suggest a classic pairing, but the higher cocoa percentage sets a restrained tone. Going in, this feels less like a dessert bar and more like a considered everyday option, built for repeat eating, not spectacle.
Zokoko Pure Origin Chale Milk Solomon Islands 45%: A Cocoa-Led Milk Chocolate
Zokoko positions this bar as a considered expression of milk chocolate, and the presentation sets that tone immediately. The matte black box, finished with subtle embossing and a magnetic closure, feels deliberate and premium without excess.
Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 – Fruit in Reserve, Structure in Focus
Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 Review – Fruit in Reserve, Structure in Focus We opened the Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 expecting restraint and classic Coonawarra structure.
Z WINE Julius Shiraz 2022 Review: Oak Over Fruit in the Barossa
Z WINE Julius Shiraz 2022 Review: Oak Over Fruit in the Barossa Z WINE’s Julius Shiraz 2022 arrives as a bold Barossa release, basket-pressed and sitting at 14.5% ABV. The deep maroon and gold label suggests weight and confidence, setting expectations for plush generosity. On tasting, however, the wine reveals something more restrained, with barrel…
Koko Black Salted Caramel Surprise: Smooth, Buttery, and Decadent
Koko Black’s Salted Caramel Surprise strikes a poised balance between indulgence and restraint. At first glance it appears tidy and understated, yet hints of richness wait beneath its clean exterior. It signals comfort, measured rather than theatrical.
Koko Black Caramelised Coconut: Toasty, Balanced, and Comforting
Sun-kissed caramelised coconut meets milk chocolate in a pairing that’s instantly familiar yet quietly refined. This is a flavour combination that could easily tip into excess, but the bar’s restrained look and soft golden tone suggest Koko Black is aiming for warmth and balance over outright sweetness.
Château Yaldara Grand Cuvée Shiraz 2022 Review: When Restraint Is the Point
The Château Yaldara Grand Cuvée Shiraz 2022 arrives with a reputation that carries weight. Positioned as a flagship Barossa expression from Château Yaldara and often associated with a high-end retail tier, it signals seriousness and intent from the outset.
Koko Black Pink Salted Vanilla: White Chocolate with Composure
Pink Salted Vanilla sets a calm tone from the outset. The geometric mould and soft blush packaging suggest refinement over flourish, and the bar itself, smooth, glossy and pale, reinforces that intention.
Koko Black Pistachio Ganachio Review: Dark, Creamy, and Confident
Koko Black’s Pistachio Ganachio feels built for quieter, more contemplative moments. The pairing of a sweet-savoury pistachio filling with 54% dark chocolate promises balance rather than excess.
Yalumba The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2021 Review: Structured, Savoury, and Built for Time
Few Australian reds carry their lineage as calmly as The Signature. Part of Yalumba’s Rare & Fine collection since 1962, it has long stood as a meeting point between Cabernet Sauvignon discipline and Shiraz depth.
Koko Black Mighty Macadamia & Wattleseed: Earthy, Textural, and Unpretentious
A bar that clearly announces its Australian roots. Premium macadamia paste and wattleseed are folded through smooth milk chocolate, promising roasted warmth and texture over sweetness.
Manser 100 Year Old Vines Reserve Grenache 2022 Review: A Grenache That Shifts with Time and Food
Century-old vineyards carry weight in Australian wine; not every bottle shows that story with nuance. The Manser 100 Year Old Vines Reserve Grenache 2022 from Blewitt Springs draws on that heritage, unfolding with air, food, and attention.
Hewitson Strawberry Hill Shiraz 2022 Review: Fruit, Structure and a Barossa Ease
Named for the old strawberry patch beside the vineyard, Strawberry Hill is matured for eighteen months in French oak barrels of varying age and origin. Combined with heritage fruit and careful winemaking, it aims to balance approachability with depth.
Aesop Rejuvenate Intensive Body Balm Review: Warm, Sweet, and Comfortingly Indulgent
Warm tangerine, soft vanilla, and a sweetness that wraps rather than shouts. Aesop Rejuvenate Intensive Body Balm is the richest and most dessert-leaning of the body balm lineup
Aesop Rind Concentrate Body Balm Review: Bright, Uplifting, Effortlessly Easy to Like
Soft citrus peel, a hint of sweetness, and an unmistakable Aesop freshness. Rind Concentrate Body Balm is one of the brand’s most easygoing scents — bright without being sharp, citrusy without tipping into perfume.
d’Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz 2019: Power, Patience and a Stormy Evening
The Dead Arm is d’Arenberg’s flagship Shiraz, drawn from mature McLaren Vale vines affected by Eutypa, where one arm of the vine dies and the remaining arm concentrates its energy. Built for age and gravity rather than immediate ease, it carries expectation. We opened it to see how that promise presents today.
Aesop Resolute Hydrating Body Balm Review: Peppery, Grounded, and Compelling
A muted blue tube, a peppered first breath, and a balm that feels more like a nightly ritual than a simple moisturiser. Aesop Resolute Hydrating Body Balm stands apart from the brand’s fresher scents, offering something deeper, warmer, and far more atmospheric.
Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Balm Review: Fresh, Familiar, and Effortlessly Giftable
Soft citrus peel, green herbs, and a quiet sense of ease. Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Balm is the most universal of Aesop’s body moisturisers.
Haselgrove Dileab Shiraz 2020 Review: Structured, Savoury, and Surprisingly Flexible
“Dileab” takes its name from the Celtic word for heritage, a nod to Haselgrove’s agricultural roots and their careful approach to McLaren Vale vineyards.
Thicker Than Water Legacy Shiraz 2021 Review: Respectable but Not Moving
Thicker Than Water Legacy Shiraz 2021 Review: Respectable but Not Moving We approached the Thicker Than Water Legacy Shiraz 2021 with curiosity, expecting a polished McLaren Vale Shiraz with both fruit and depth. It held back early, revealing itself gradually as it opened, with air and food bringing more into view. Appearance Deep ruby at…
Penfolds Bin 138 GSM 2020 Review: Balanced, But Constantly Shifting
We opened this bottle expecting Penfolds’ take on a GSM to show polish, weight, and spice. What we found was a wine with a bit of everything: oak, fruit, acidity, tannin, and a flash of heat.
Dalwhinnie Cabernet Sauvignon 2018: A Food-First Red from the Pyrenees
Dalwhinnie Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 presents as a cool-climate expression from Victoria’s Pyrenees. We opened it to understand where it would sit, on its own or alongside food.
Penfolds Bin 23 Pinot Noir 2021 Review: A Cool Climate Expression with Balance and Polish
Bin 23 represents Penfolds’ exploration of Pinot Noir through a modern lens. The 2021 vintage is a single-region expression sourced from esteemed cool-climate vineyards in Tasmania.
Penfolds Max’s Pinot Noir 2023 Review: A Subtle Finish to the Max’s Red Series
Penfolds Max’s Pinot Noir 2023 Review: A Subtle Finish to the Max’s Red Series Penfolds Max’s Pinot Noir 2023 leans toward restraint rather than immediate charm. Savoury notes and barrel influence shape the profile early, while fruit plays a quieter role. There is enough grip and warmth to keep it grounded, making it more composed than…
Decoy Pinot Noir 2021 Review: A Pinot That Shows Its Hand Early
Decoy Pinot Noir 2021 Review: A Pinot That Shows Its Hand Early We opened this bottle over a weekend lunch, curious about Decoy’s California Pinot Noir. Expectation leaned toward light fruit and soft oak, but the wine presented differently from the outset. Appearance A bright ruby core fades to a soft garnet rim, fully translucent…
Brothers in Arms Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 Review: A Composed Cabernet from Langhorne Creek
Brothers in Arms Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 Review – A Composed Cabernet from Langhorne Creek We opened this over lunch on a cold, rainy winter’s day, drawn to the name, the label, and the warmth of a Cabernet Sauvignon.
Honeymoon Vineyard Shiraz 2014 Review: Aged Adelaide Hills Red with Measured Power
We opened the bottle expecting some softening with age, perhaps a shift toward more tertiary notes. What emerged instead was a wine that feels controlled and steady, with its core still intact and its backbone clearly defined.
Koko Black Cranberry, Macadamia & Cherry: A Premium Spin on Fruit & Nut
The packaging is unmistakably Koko Black: bold diagonal stripes framing a cut-out window that reveals the bar inside. Generous macadamias and glossy fruits sit visibly against smooth milk chocolate.
Teusner Joshua 2023 GSM Review: Bright Fruit, No Oak, All Charm
Teusner’s Joshua is a cult-favourite GSM that skips oak entirely to spotlight the character of its fruit. In a region known for power, this wine stands out by leaning into freshness and texture, offering something brighter and more nuanced.
Hunted + Gathered Milk Chocolate + Hot Cross Bun: Easter in a Bar
Wrapped in Hunted + Gathered’s clean brown sleeve, the pale cross stretched across the front makes its Easter intentions obvious. This bar blends tradition with craft, folding pieces of Loafer’s Organic Hot Cross Buns into creamy Dominican Republic milk chocolate.
Hunted + Gathered Milk Chocolate + Brown Butter: Smooth Chocolate with Subtle Buttered Edges
Hunted + Gathered Milk Chocolate + Brown Butter: Smooth Chocolate with Subtle Buttered Edges With “brown butter” in the name, and Pepe Saya’s artisanal butter in the recipe, expectations naturally tilt toward nutty richness and caramel depth.
Hunted + Gathered Milk Chocolate + Coconut 46% Cacao: A Grown-Up Bounty Bar
Hunted + Gathered are known for restraint, crafting chocolate-first bars where inclusions play a supporting role rather than dominate. With Milk Chocolate + Coconut on the label, you might expect tropical sweetness or something closer to candy. Instead, the first impression is pared back.
Hunted + Gathered Milk Chocolate + Almond Caramel 46% Cacao: Balance in a Bar
Hunted + Gathered’s almond caramel milk chocolate promises a mix of creamy indulgence and textural crunch. At 46% cacao, it’s darker than mainstream milk chocolate, offering more depth with less sugar.
Hunted + Gathered Milk Chocolate 48% Review: Smooth Texture with Cocoa Depth
Hunted + Gathered’s minimal packaging sets the tone: understated, modern, and serious about chocolate. At 48% cacao, this “milk” bar hints at being something more grown-up than sweet comfort food.
Bahen & Co Cherry & Coconut 70% Cacao – Expecting a Cherry Ripe, Finding Mostly Cacao
We picked this up thinking “Cherry Ripe, but grown up.” With cherry and coconut front and centre, we expected something decadent but less sweet.
John Duval Wines ‘Plexus’ 2022 GSM Review: Balance Over Power, Better with food
From the former Penfolds Chief Winemaker comes a blend built on structure, not showmanship. Plexus 2022 plays well with food, sparks conversation, and finds common ground between boldness and restraint.
Château Marsau 2015 Review: Structured, Tannic, and Quietly Confident
The 2015 Château Marsau doesn’t open with fireworks. It settles into a firm, measured profile that reveals more with time.
Henschke Keyneton Euphonium 2021 Review: Structure Over Showmanship
You don’t open a Henschke on a whim. It carries expectation, and we approached the 2021 with both reverence and curiosity, not just for how it would taste, but how it would feel to sit with.
Valrhona Dulcey 35% Chocolate Review: A More Sophisticated White Chocolate
Valrhona’s Dulcey 35% is the chocolate that helped redefine what white chocolate could be. Its golden “blonde” hue comes from carefully caramelized milk solids, promising buttery warmth and gentle sweetness.
Bennetto Dark Coffee Chocolate Review: Beautifully Made, But the Coffee Fades
We picked this up on a whim—the idea of a dark chocolate bar with real coffee sounded promising. We hadn’t tried Bennetto before, but the price and packaging suggested it might hold its own.
St Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 Review: Structured and Self-Assured
We opened this on a grey, rainy winter afternoon. The kind of setting that calls for something grounded and structured. St Hugo carries a reputation for classic Cabernet styling, and expectations were set for a composed, oak-influenced expression with a clear Coonawarra identity.
Torbreck Woodcutter’s Shiraz 2023: Grip Over Generosity
We opened the 2023 Torbreck Woodcutter’s Shiraz over a long, rainy winter’s lunch, a day made for red wine. The mood called for something bold and comforting, and with its Barossa pedigree and 15% heft, we expected warmth, fruit, and power.
Penfolds Bin 2 Shiraz Mataro 2018: A Steady Hand in a Loud Region
A heritage label from one of Australia’s most recognisable names, Penfolds Bin 2 combines Shiraz’s plush weight with Mataro’s savoury backbone.
Penfolds Bin 8 Shiraz Cabernet Review: Balanced, Warming, and Composed
Penfolds Bin 8 sits in that middle ground. Less prestigious than the flagship releases, but still serious in intent and clearly shaped by the house style. This 2020 leans firmly into that identity.
Pathumwan Princess Hotel Bangkok Review: Calm, Connected, and Surprisingly Composed
Some hotels feel like a retreat. Others win on access. Pathumwan Princess manages to do both, offering a polished, refreshingly calm experience that feels oddly detached from the frenzy it neighbours.
Elderton Barossa Shiraz 2021: Rich, Round, and Ready Now
Elderton’s 2021 Barossa Shiraz opens with the region’s familiar richness, but there is structure here that keeps it grounded. We opened it on a rainy winter afternoon and it suited the moment perfectly: deep in colour, slow to open, and clearly more comfortable alongside food than on its own.
Lone Palm Hillside Shiraz 2022: Not Bold for Attention, Layered for Discovery
Wrapped in matte black and finished with a gold crest, Lone Palm’s Hillside Shiraz looks like it has something to say, and it does. But instead of shouting with sweetness or oak, it chooses a slower, more deliberate pace.
Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm Review: Fresh, Citrusy, and Instantly Familiar
Where Reverence is earthy and Eleos is gentle, Resurrection Aromatique brings brightness. With its citrus-herbal profile and nude-toned tube, it is the most immediately uplifting of the trio, easy to reach for and hard to dislike.
Aesop Eleos Aromatique Hand Balm Review: Gentle, Grounded, Easy to Reach For
Soft cedar, quiet spice, and a lilac tube that doesn’t try too hard. Aesop Eleos Aromatique Hand Balm is the most approachable balm in the hand trio, but not without its own subtle personality.
Aesop Reverence Aromatique Hand Balm Review: Stark, Scented, and Built to Work
Dusty blue tube, dry earth inspiration, and a balm that doesn’t ask to be liked. Aesop Reverence Aromatique Hand Balm isn’t here to charm, it’s here to work.
Hunter Lab Hand & Body Wash Review: Design-Forward, Citrus-Laced, and Built for Gifting
Hunter Lab hand and body wash arrives as more than just a bottle. It is a small grooming ritual wrapped in gift-like presentation. From the textured matte packaging to the crisp white-on-black typography, this feels like it is reaching for boutique minimalism rather than bathroom utility.
Château Yaldara Grand Cuvée Shiraz 2021; Built to Impress. Harder to Love.
Château Yaldara Grand Cuvée Shiraz 2021 sits firmly in the prestige tier. It presents itself accordingly. This Barossa Valley Shiraz arrives dressed for attention, with a bold black label, deep glass, and 15% ABV that hints at both power and polish.
Aoyama in Quiet Mode: Our Stay at Hotel Allamanda Aoyama Tokyo
Tokyo is a city of noise, neon, and momentum. But Aoyama moves differently.
Tucked between design houses and tree-lined avenues, Hotel Allamanda doesn’t call attention to itself.
It offers something else…
Penfolds Max’s Cabernet Sauvignon Review: Structured, Restrained, and Quietly Rewarding
Penfolds Max’s Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 was the final bottle in our Max’s trio. After tasting the Shiraz and Shiraz Cabernet earlier in the week, this Cabernet arrived with quiet confidence.
Penfolds Max’s Shiraz Review: Acidic, Grippy, and Unapologetically Direct
Penfolds Max’s Shiraz 2022 carries a quiet reverence within its uniform red-capsule bottles, an homage to Max Schubert, the original creator of Grange. It arrives with understated visual cues, but a reputation that nudges expectations upward.
Penfolds Max’s Shiraz Cabernet Review: Grippy, Oak-Led, and Built for the Long Haul
Penfolds Max’s Shiraz Cabernet 2020 belongs to the more accessible tier of the Penfolds range, crafted for drinkers who want structure and polish without stepping into prestige pricing.
Shangri-La Bangkok Krungthep Wing: Quiet Luxury, but Is It Still Worth the Splurge?
Shangri-La Bangkok Krungthep Wing: Quiet Luxury, but Is It Still Worth the Splurge? The Shangri-La Bangkok Krungthep Wing promises a different rhythm, one of privacy, heritage, and timeless comfort, tucked behind the city’s riverside glamour. Bangkok is not short on spectacle, but quiet indulgence is harder to come by. But in a city full of…