Photo essay of a trip to the Tahbilk winery, and to the nearby Nagambie township itself.

Penfolds Grange and La Chapelle, two of the world's most famous shiraz-based wines, have made an international super-blend. It's called Grange La Chapelle 2021. The Hill of Hermitage and various South Australian vineyards combine here to create a wine like no other.

There are no stones unturned as new life is breathed into the Stonier winery on the Mornington Peninsula.

Mattinson talks Maxwell Grenache Blanc 2024. Because it’s very good.

Suckfizzle Chardonnay 2023 is a wonderful wine.

The story of Penfolds has become muddled over the years but as the 2024 Penfolds Collection so ably proves, the Penfolds wines themselves are in great shape, more consistently excellent than ever.

Gentle Folk Onkaparinga Sangiovese 2023 is a truly beautiful wine.

James Halliday has announced his retirement, and is no longer involved with the Halliday brand.

I like to say that Cape Mentelle saved my life. It was 1993, I was staying at a backpacker hostel in the Margaret River township, and after hiring a bike on a hot December day I’d then drastically over-estimated both my cycling fitness, and my water requirements.

A wine that jumped out at me at the Cape Mentelle International Cabernet tasting last week was Devil’s Lair Cabernet Sauvignon 2021.

Re-visiting Cullen’s Diana Madeline Cabernet Sauvignon 2021.

There's a new winemaking breeze at Margaret River's Voyager Estate, and its name is Tim Shand.

Interesting encounter with the Te Mata Estate Coleraine 2021.

The unbearable lightness of Vasse Felix Tom Cullity Cabernet Sauvignon.

If there’s a producer that’s really jumped out at me in recent times it’s J&S Fielke out of the Adelaide Hills.

There are a lot of famous wines out of France from the 1982 vintage but this Piper Heidsieck Hors-Serie has taken time in its stride so effortlessly that you’d be hard-pressed to find another 1982 vintage wine in such spritely good condition.

An assyrtiko from the Greek island of Santorini made me realise the depths to which grape varieties run.

The 2024 edition of Tahbilk's famous Marsanne is an excellent release. It's a $22 'classic', worthy of the cellar. The question is though: does anyone care?

I can’t vouch for any of these suggestions but this looks like a pretty awesome starting point if you’re planning or researching a trip to Tasmania.

Chatto Isle Pinot Noir 2023 is up with the best of Australian pinot.