All of the tasting notes on tastingbook.com of the wine critic mentioned above come from press releases from wine importers or wineries and can also be found on the critic’s own website, which can be easily accessed by clicking the link on the right.
My first job in wine was with Majestic, the UK wine warehouse chain, back in 2001. Six years of retail management was quite enough for me, so I moved to Australia and became a cellar rat in McLaren Vale for the 2008 vintage. While I was there, I wrote a diary of my experiences, which was published on Jancis Robinson's website. After returning to London, I continued writing for Jancis and began developing some other freelance work within the wine trade.
The majority of my work is still published on JancisRobinson.com, comprising articles and tasting notes covering all corners of the wine world, and I now contribute to many other publications. You can also find me speaking at conferences, hosting tastings, and tweeting all about it as I go.
In 2009 I embarked on the Master of Wine course, which I passed in 2015. That was undoubtedly a career highlight, along with headlining the O2 Academy Islington for a Wine Relief fundraiser rock concert and becoming momentarily famous for singing the grape variety song.
In 2019, I moved to Singapore to continue my wine career in Asia. I am now the resident Master of Wine at 67 Pall Mall Singapore, and continue to write regularly for JancisRobinson.com, as well as other publications.
Penfolds G5, Released on 1 November, final one of the 'g' trio. 2,200 bottles made. 2018 and 2016 (blended out of barrel), plus 2014, 2012 and 2010 (blended out of bottle). 70% Barossa. 97% Shiraz, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. Finished in used oak.
Opened ten hours earlier. Intoxicating oak scent – drenched with coconut and vanilla. Lusciously fruited, of course, with a few degrees more subtlety than the Grange 2017. Brambles from start to finish, with not a thorn in sight. It is a marvel of blending, without any peppery character, but all the richness and history of Barossa Shiraz. Finishes with black liquorice.
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2y 3m ago
Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage Collection Brut 1959 / Disgorged February 2013. Fully fermented in oak. Mid gold. Very expressive, coffee, milk, smoke and biscuit. Has crossed the flavour threshold from champagne to Burgundy – though the mousse is still very present. Very lengthy finish. Biscuits, slight bitter orange. Splendidly indulgent and rich.
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2y 4m ago
Penfolds 802-A Superblend 2018 / Not made in 2019 and 2020. Made to celebrate Cabernet/Shiraz blends. Makes use of the A1-grade fruit that isn't suitable for Grange, similarly to Quantum – so that top-end grower fruit has more options. Cabernet and Shiraz matured separately for 18 months, then blended. Matured 22 months in American oak.
Black fruit, lots of floral perfume – really quite different to the 389 style, and perhaps less typically Penfolds. Still delicious with black cherry, rounded tannins, a touch of tarmac – this is almost Piedmont in aromatic profile. A little less integrated than the 802-B. (RH)
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2y 7m ago
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