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.
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…
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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…
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.