Wine & Spirits
Elegant bottles. Collector picks. Reviews that ask if it’s worth opening.
From cellar icons to unexpected pours, Wine & Spirits is where we explore standout bottles: what they deliver, how they unfold, and when they’re worth the splurge.
d’Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz 2019: Power, Patience and a Stormy Evening
A day that began at thirty degrees with early thunder turned restless by nightfall. Storms rolled in, heavy rain followed, and the evening cooled with scattered showers. It felt fitting to open d’Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz 2019, a brooding and deliberate expression of McLaren Vale. The name signals intent.
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.
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.
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…
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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…
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…
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.