Wine Reviews By Barry Weinman
Wines of the Week
Sittella Reserve Chardonnay 2024
On first impression, this was quite reserved and shy, only hinting at potential. With air though, the ripe peach-like fruit is slowly coaxed from the glass. After 15 minutes, this really started to shine, the fruit opening and evolving, while the creamy texture on the finish proved a real highlight. The oak is fine and texturing, and while nicely integrated, is palpable on the palate at this early stage. And the wine was much better drinking on day two. 13% alc.
Drink: 2028-2034 | 95 points | $40
Sittella Avant-Garde Chardonnay 2024
If I had to use one word for this wine, it would be “polished”. The fruit is quite superb, with layers of stone fruit building on both the nose and palate. And the palate is near seamless, with only a touch of textural grip building on the very close, putting a ripple through the finish. But this is merely a factor of youth, and in time, the texture will settle back and allow the fruit to speak more clearly. The flavours and textural components linger on the finish for more than a minute, gaining a touch of honey on the close. A captivating wine of great appeal. 13.0% alc.
Drink: Now-2030 | 95 points | $33
Sittella Berns Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
Oh my, this is good, with the wine taking on a slightly cooler character. There is an ethereal nature to the brambly fruit, though at this early stage, the fine though prodigious tannins make their presence felt on the finish. That said, the fruit then builds on the finish, almost magically coating the tongue from back to front, and continues to linger for an age. A lovely wine that will reward cellaring for a decade or more. A belter of a wine. 14.5% alc.
Drink: 2030-2040 | 95 points
Sittella The Arsenal Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec/Cabernet Franc 2023
This is an impressive wine. Fine fruit, polished winemaking and supple oak come together in a more accessible style than the Berns Reserve. This is a case of less being more as, despite not being the most powerful or biggest wine in the tasting, it has presence and, importantly, excellent drinkability. Given its sheer drinkability, this is one of those wines that is likely to be drunk young, therefore missing the best that it has to offer if you can be patient. 14.5% alc.
Drink: Now-2038 | 95 points | $39
Forest Hill Riesling Block 2 2025
More phenolics here, and much more intensity. Intense lime juice, hints of toast and even a touch of struck match minerality. Compared to the Block 1, this is moving to a more Germanic style; the hint of residual sugar adds texture and drinkability, without adding any overt sweetness. The acid is the hero here, seamlessly driving the palate without adding any aggressiveness. A textural wine that is superb drinking now on its own, or with food, but is likely to age well in the medium term.
Drink: Now-2030 | 96 points | $40
Forest Hill Riesling Block 1 2025
2025 was a more typical year, though harvest was 2-3 weeks earlier than usual. Across the board, grapes were picked in optimal conditions and have resulted in a wine that is stunningly pure. This is very fresh: lime, jasmine and so much more. The palate is so long and powerful, with a refreshing ocean-spray saline tang that rips across the palate. The fruit was picked at perfect ripeness, riper than is typical for Australian Riesling, which adds texture and mouthfeel from the subtle phenolics without sacrificing precision. From the original plantings.
97 points | $TBC
Forest Hill Cabernet Malbec 2023
Wow. The blueberry fruit is just spectacular. So fresh and pretty, with remarkably fine tannins and oak in perfect balance with the fruit. The fruit quality is just superb. Medium-bodied, with a touch of savoury bay leaf and hints of violet. Incredible length and persistence. A superb drink now, or any time over the next 10-15 years. The Cabernet comes from Block 7, 1975 plantings of Houghton clone. 35% Malbec from 20-year-old vines, and sees almost no new oak. 180 cases produced.
96 points
Forest Hill Block 5 Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
Stunning wine. So intense and powerful, yet seamless and silky in the same breath. The fruit takes on darker tones compared to the Cabernet Malbec, with a brambly, almost earthy component sitting behind the blackberry fruit. With air, the pretty fruit really builds, gaining depth and intensity. On the very close, the textural grippy components also build, adding important textural components. 25% new 300L French oak barrels. Best rows of the block are used in this wine, particularly those from the crest of the ridge on the vineyard. 250 cases made.
97 points | $80
Recent Articles
Sittella in Focus
Barry Weinman | September 2025
The current releases from Sittella continue to reinforce their reputation for delivering high-quality wines at very affordable prices. And as the range has expanded, so too has the versatility that the wines provide.
Forest Hill Vineyard
September 2025
We were recently on the road in the Great Southern to meet with some of the key producers in the region, with a focus on Denmark and Porongurup.
First up was Forest Hill, who surely must be one of the unsung heroes of the Western Australian wine industry. The quality of the wines produced, particularly under the “Block” range, is superb and tremendously underpriced in the global context.
On the Tasting Bench: June 2025.
Barry Weinman: 27th July 2025
Here is a round up of some of the better wines reviewed in the last month that did not make it into other tasting notes.
A highlight for me was the 3drops pinot. Brilliant drinking and good value.
Lenton Brae – Value meets style
Barry Weinman: 25th July 2025.
With the first vineyard being planted in 1982, Lenton Brae has long been part of the Margaret River wine scene. Part of the interest for me related to the fact that founder Bruce Tomlinson did not stick to the script for Margaret River, with pinot blanc being one of the key varieties planted, along with a dedicated focus on making age-worthy sauvignon blanc-based wines.
Barry Weinman: 23rd July 2025
The 2017 pinot was the wine that brought Shepherd’s hut to my attention. A fantastic effort (especially at the price) and a wine that is still drinking brilliantly today. If anything, the 2018 was even better and remains a go-to wine when I am looking for a mid-week glass wine.
Faber Vineyard – 2025 Benchmark Tasting
Barry Weinman: 20th July 2025
John Griffiths, Faber’s larger than life winemaker/proprietor hosts what must surely be some of the most enjoyable and best value events held locally each year.
Of all the events, the Benchmark Tasting is the one that lovers of Australian shiraz should put into their calendar.
This is an opportunity to taste twelve high quality shiraz (blinded to the order they are served in) from a cross section of Australian wine regions, complemented by a delicious and substantial four course meal, all washed down with some gems from the Faber cellar.
Barry Weinman: 22nd June 2025
In a line up of predominantly very high-quality chardonnay, the Moss Wood Elsa sauvignon blanc was a real eye opener. A brilliant wine that shows the potential that can be achieved with this style in Margaret River. And great value!
And the panel were very pleased with the quality of sparkling wines that is being made in WA. In a line up of 10 wines, the Frazer Woods and Marri Wood Park both stood out.
Xanadu Premium Release – 2023 Chardonnays and 2022 Cabernets
Barry Weinman: 19th June 2025
The release of the premium Xanadu wines is always eagerly anticipated by the panel and the current batch did not disappoint.
It is fascinating how different the wines are, even though they are only separated by a few km. The Wallcliffe wines feel markedly cooler in character to those from Wilyabrup
In 2023, I have put the Stevens Road ahead by a whisker for the chardonnays, but the Reserve is the wine most likely to win you new friends. It is such an approachable and friendly wine.
With the cabernets, it was hard to separate them on absolute quality, but stylistically, they are very different.
Barry Weinman: 11th June 2025
The 2021 Tom Cullity is one of the finest wines from Margaret River that I have had the pleasure of tasting. And the 2023 Diana Madeline is a superstar.
But what had the panel talking was the 2022 Blackstone Paddock from Aldi. Sensational value.
Windance Estate Winery – Consistent Excellence
Barry Weinman – 8th June 2025.
Windance Estate Winery was established by Drew and Rosemary Brent-White in 1998. Daughter Billie and her husband Tyke are now in control, with Tyke responsible for winemaking.
Barry Weinman: 31st May 2025
After the intense focus on chardonnay for the last few months, it is time to look at some of the superb reds that have stood out with the panel.
One of the most noteworthy wines was Grosset’s Gaia cabernet. In amongst many of WA’s superstars, the 2023 vintage was a standout. Yes, it is a subtly different expression compared to its Margaret River counterparts, but it stands up well against the best. And the relative value is very good.
On The Tasting Bench – April 2025
Barry Weinman: 1st May 2025
With the plethora of local chenins and rieslings available to provide refreshing (and serious) drinking, New Zealand sauvignon blanc does not get much of a look in at home.
But the 2023 Te Muna Sauvignon Blanc from Craggy Range is a timely reminder of just how good these wines can be.
Barry Weinman: 28th April 2025
The tasting panel behind Weinman on Wine tastes blind at every opportunity to ensure that preconceived ideas of quality and value do not influence the tasting results.
Chardonnay Season Part 4 – A new discover
Barry Weinman: 26th April 2025
It is very easy to be complacent when it comes to chardonnay when you live in Perth, given the quality of WA wines. So it is great to get a wake up call from time to time, to remind me that there is more to fine chardonnay than just Margaret River (or the Great Southern).
Chardonnay Season Part 3 – Vasse Felix
Barry Weinman: 19th April 2025
It has been a privilege to watch the evolution of Vasse Felix’s chardonnays, and in 2023, they have released a stunning trio of wines.
Barry Weinman: 2 April 2025
Lamonts recently held a tasting of premium Western Australian chardonnays, to get a picture of the quality of the lauded 2023 vintage.
Before the event, the panel sat down to taste the wines, blinded to the composition or order of the wines served. This proved a fantastic opportunity to get a handle on the vintage, and to see which producers excelled.
26 March 2025: Barry Weinman
There has been a plethora of wines that I have reviewed over the summer, so expect a number of reviews over the next few weeks.
To get things started, here is a cross section of Rhone varietals that particularly impressed for either value or outright quality (or both).
23 March 2025: Barry Weinman
Given the warmer weather, the panel seemed drawn to Chardonnay, with several superb tastings, including a 2023 tasting held at Lamont’s in Cottesloe.
It seems, in Western Australia at least, there has been a never ending run of good to great vintages for chardonnay.
12th December 2024
At a time when there is a trend for an ever-expanding range of wines being made at a number of Australian wineries, it is refreshing to see Woodlands focusing on what they do best.
Yes, for those on the mailing list there is an assortment of small batch wines made available from time to time but in the main the focus is primarily on chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon.
Howard Park Global Sparkling Tasting
14th November 2024
This was possibly the most thought-provoking tasting that I have ever had the privilege to attend. It was not just the diversity of styles and grape varieties that made me stop and think. It was also the way the wines were sorted into brackets to explore different factors that can influence quality and style in sparkling wines.
Houghton Jack Mann Vertical Tasting: 1994 – 2023
Sitting down to taste 20 vintages of Houghton’s Jack Mann was an unbelievable privilege for two reasons.
Firstly, it was an opportunity to look at every vintage of the wine ever produced including the never released 2018 as well as the yet to be bottled 2023 vintage. The 2018 was not released due to a fire at the storage facilities Houghton was using. Not only did it destroy all bottles of the 2018, it also destroyed their entire museum.
The second reason that this was such a memorable event was having the opportunity to sit down with eight current and former Houghton winemakers as well as to hear from Corinne Lamont and Dorham Mann, Jack Mann’s children.
Singlefile New Release – October 2024
Barry Weinman: 16th October 2024
Since its inception, Singlefile has continuously delivered wines of the highest quality. Wines that have continually challenged the very best from Margaret River and further afield. And with the current releases, winemaker Coby Ladwig has further entrenched Singlefile as one of the leading Western Australian wineries.
Grosset Rieslings – 2024 Vintage
Barry Weinman: 30th September 2024
Let me get straight to the point. The 2024 Rieslings from Grosset are the best they have ever released
And the 2024 Polish Hill is at least as good as any Australian riesling I have ever had the privilege of tasting. It may very well be the greatest I have tried, but my memory is not good enough to say that definitively.
Wines I like to Drink: Deep Woods in Focus
Barry Weinman: 23rd September 2024
That the team at Deep Woods are making great wines should come as no surprise to anyone. Their show record over the last decade with cabernet is unmatched by anyone. And the chardonnays have quietly been amassing a swag of trophies and gold medals along the way.
This run of show success is likely to continue, given the superb quality of the upcoming spring releases.
Howard Park: A Sparkling Future
Barry Weinman: 15th September 2024
Given that he had spent more than a decade under the guidance of the legendary Ed Carr at Arras, the appointment of Nic Bowen in 2021 to the role of Chief Winemaker at Howard Park clearly signalled the winery’s intentions to be in the upper echelon of Australian sparkling wine producers.
Sittella Wines in Focus: August 2024
Barry Weinman: 21st August 2024
Sittella has been a favourite of mine for a number of years, driven by the high-quality wines on offer along with the outstanding quality/price ratio that they have offered.
Their name may not have the same cachet as some of the more prestigious WA producers, but I feel this relates more to the quiet, understated way they go about promoting themselves, along with the Berns family’s steadfast belief that they must deliver great value with everything they do, rather than any reflection on quality.
New Release highlights – June 2024
Barry Weinman: 2nd July 2024
Across the month, there were a few wines that stunned the panel for their ridiculous value and quality. Wines that will delight this winter at a variety of price points.
Picardy in Focus: New Releases June 2024
Barry Weinman: 16th June 2024
Established in 1993, Picardy have been quietly forging a reputation for high quality wines from the Pemberton region for three decades now. And, when judged as a whole, the current releases are, in all likelihood, the best ever released by the Pannell family under the Picardy label.
Barry Weinman: 30th May 2024
I love good pinot noir, and my obsession with the variety has been fuelled over the years by the challenges of finding high quality wines at affordable prices.
In recent times, the overall quality of Australian pinot has improved in consistency greatly, to the point where there are now a number of (relatively) affordable wines that offer excellent drinking.
Value Picks from Singlefile: May 2024
Barry Weinman: 23rd May 2024
It may seem a little unusual for a winery with Singlefile’s reputation to be singled out for value, but the panel was very impressed by the value on offer when looking through a range of new releases from the 2023 vintage.
The pinots appeared in a masked tasting of high quality wines and were amongst the cheapest in the tasting. But this did not prevent them from standing out for quality and drinkability.
Swinney – Farvie – 2022 Vintage in Focus
5th May 2024
Right at the start, let me make one thing clear. The 2022 vintage Farvie reds from Swinney are outstanding. And the wines have been highly lauded, with Brendan Jansen MW going so far as to pronounce the 2022 Farvie Mourvèdre the best wine he had tried in the last twelve months.
Reviewing the wines, however, required the most analysis of any wines that I have tasted in recent times and there was a lot to unpack to get to the heart of these wines. This was because the wines presented in a way that is different to most wines reviewed.
Juniper Estate – Cornerstone Chardonnay releases
21st April 2024
I recently reviewed the excellent Cornerstone cabernets and the new release chardonnays are also very impressive indeed.
In this case, the wines come from two contrasting vintages which, if anything, should accentuate the differences between the cooler Karridale region and Wilyabrup which is warmer.
New Release Whites: April 2024
7th April 2024
There were a couple of left-of-centre wines that stood out in this tasting.
One was an excellent value ($23 from Dans) Vouvray from Famile Bougrier, a delicious, textured summer drink.
Cracking Cabernets: Bargain Alert
24th March 2024
There is an almost never-ending stream of great cabernets coming out of Western Australia, but they often come with a premium price tag.
However, there is value to be had at several price points as the panel discovered in a large tasting of primarily top-end cabernets this week.
Ok, so none of the wines are outright cheap, but if quality is what you are after, then these wines offer superb value at several price points.
Chardonnay – When only the best will do!
21st March 2024
Here is a preview of some new release superstars of Western Australian chardonnay. These are wines that every collector should have on their wish list.
What sets these wines apart from their predecessors is the immediacy that they offer. Both the Leeuwin and the Cullen are more delicious in their youth than in previous recent vintages.
Vasse Felix Chardonnay – 2022 Vintage
17th March 2024
I recently wrote about the superb Tom Price Cabernet/Malbecs from Vasse Felix and the great passion the viticultural and winemaking teams have for cabernet sauvignon and malbec. If anything, their passion for chardonnay is even greater, reaching an almost reverential nature.
Barry Weinman: 3rd March 2024.
To celebrate the launch of the 2020 Tom Cullity, Paul Holmes à Court (proprietor) and Virginia Willcock (chief winemaker) hosted a tasting of six vintages to give us the opportunity to see how the wines had developed in bottle, and how the style has evolved over time.
New Release Margaret River Cabernet – February 2024
Barry Weinman: 22nd February 2024
Whilst it appears that every year is a good year in Margaret River, there are clear vintage variations that impact on the style of the wines. And some years are just that little bit better. 2018 was lauded as one of the best vintages of recent times, and the 2020 appears to be at least as good.
Wines to Watch – February 2024
18th February 2024
I have not seen anything on the Mandoon Estate 2023 Wild Bunch Chenin, but it is a cracking wine and one that is sure to be crazy value given that it is a Swan Valley white wine.