Wine Reviews By Barry Weinman
Wines of the Month
Singlefile – Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot – 2024. OK, so this is a contender for value wine of the year. Beautiful fruit and beautiful winemaking combined in a wine that can be picked up for around $30.00.
This is a superb-value wine. The way it balances depth and elegance is remarkable. Berry fruit is ripe and vibrant, but it is the way that it has been married into the oak that makes it quite remarkable. I could not imagine a better-drinking young cabernet, given the seamless nature of the palate. Yet medium-term cellaring will be rewarded with increased complexity. The wine was aged in French oak barriques for 14 months (30% new). 14.5% alc | 94–95pts | $33.00.
Singlefile – The Philip Adrian – Cabernet Sauvignon – 2022. Wow! What a wine. This has all the ripe, vibrant fruit that one would hope for, combined with a degree of power and gravitas, thanks to the texturing oak and finely polished tannins. A wine of clarity and focus. As good as it is today though, this will be so much better with 15–20 years in the cellar, which will allow the fruit to unfold and the secondary characters to add impact. However, if you choose to drink this now, you will not be disappointed. 100% Houghton clone cabernet sauvignon, the wine spent 14 months in French oak barriques (40% new). 14.4% alc | 96pts | $115.00.
Rowe – Cabernet Sauvignon – 2024. This may be my favourite wine of the tasting, given the way it manages to combine delicious approachability with refined structural components. It is not necessarily the best wine, or the most powerful or opulent. Rather, it sits in a lovely middle ground, balancing fine tannins and acidity with subtle berry fruit. 14.0% alc | 95pts | $60.00.
Picardy – Chardonnay – 2025. This is a sophisticated wine. Complex and with a degree of richness, yet still with admirable restraint. The length of flavours is outstanding. Stone fruit characters are the key theme running through the wine, with the winemaking influences presenting as a delicious creaminess that runs the length and breadth of the palate, thanks to the high-quality oak and supple lees work. But with air, complex almond and apricot kernel characters really build. A powerful wine that challenges preconceptions about just how good Pemberton chardonnay can be. Great now. Balanced, complex and with a degree of subtlety, this is a New World chardonnay tipping its hat to Burgundy. 13.0% alc | 95.5pts | $65.00.
Howard Park – Chardonnay – 2024. This is altogether more precise and focused, with the stone-fruit notes complemented by complexity-building nutty/mealy components. The pineapple-infused acidity is a core feature of the wine, adding great life and energy. It also serves to cut through the richness on the palate and will be a great asset when it comes to pairing this with food. Excellent length and persistence. A lovely wine now, but one that will be even better in five years. 13.0% alc | 95pts | $72.00.
Singlefile – Family Reserve – Chardonnay – 2025. Another cracking wine and this is, if anything, even finer and more elegant than the last. It has the same quality and intensity; however, here, the white nectarine characters are supported by subtle citrus notes. There is also a degree of minerality that comes through from the acidity. What really sets this apart is the way the fruit continues to build on the palate long after the wine has gone, with cascades of flavours flowing across the palate. The seamless finish rounds out what is a very special wine. But it will benefit from several years in the cellar, as this has been made in a tightly wound style.
The fruit was whole-bunch pressed into oak (one-third new, the remainder one year old) from four different coopers for fermentation and then aged for eight months, with some barrels undergoing malolactic fermentation. Weekly bâtonnage was carried out for the first five months. 13.4% alc | 96pts | $65.00.
Tenafeate Creek Wines – One Tree Hill – Grenache – 2024. I love the vibrant colour of this wine, with its translucent, almost ethereal hue. Very pretty and floral, this has a lot in common with fine pinot noir. Both the nose and palate are packed full of irresistible cherry/plum fruit, with layers of minerality, chocolate, coffee and liquorice coming over the top. Very medium bodied, this is all about the fruit. There has been a minimalistic approach to the winemaking (old oak), which is perfectly in keeping with the fruit. Totally delicious, with one panellist declaring this the best grenache they have tasted this year. If you see this in a wine bar, grab a glass. You won’t be sorry. From a single 35-year-old vineyard in the northern part of the district. 14.5% alc | 95pts | $30.00.
Tenafeate Creek Wines – One Tree Hill – Shiraz – 2023. The vibrancy of this wine in the glass is quite arresting and very beautiful. The first whiff suggests a wine of power and intensity. But there is also a purity to the fruit that is captivating. The palate, however, is where this really shines. There are layers of ripe plum fruit that cascade across a palate that is remarkably refined and near seamless for a wine of such richness. And the structure is a highlight. The key feature for me, however, is the restraint that this wine shows. It makes for an excellent drink today with an eggplant parmigiana, or a wine that will build depth and complexity with extended ageing. Basket pressed and aged in a combination of new and older large oak barrels. 2024 was a very late harvest and the winemaker is suggesting that this is destined to be one of the best vintages of the decade. A great find. 15.0% alc | 96pts | $35.00.
Tenafeate Creek Wines – One Tree Hill – Cabernet Sauvignon – 2024. This is more closed and structured, with the fruit shrouded in a blanket of ever-so-fine tannins. But there is no denying the intrinsic quality on show. The fruit has impressive density, and the seamless palate transition is testament to the skills of the winemaker. But it needs time, lots of time, to show its best. A masterful expression of the sheer power that cabernet can attain. With air, the sweet fruit starts to shine, with densely packed violets coming to mind. Who knew that Adelaide Hills cabernet could be this good! 14.5% alc | 95.5pts | $35.00.
Recent Articles
Barry Weinman – June 2026
There has been a remarkable evolution in Australian cabernet and shiraz over the last three decades. In general, the wines have become ever more polished and refined. There is still great fruit quality and intensity, but the way the tannins and acids are now polished in the winery makes the wines so much more approachable than wines of old.
New Release Chardonnay – June 2026
Despite the quality and success of their pinots, following the release of the 2025 vintage, I am convinced that chardonnay is the best wine that Picardy produces. Especially when value comes into the equation.
A New World chardonnay that tips its hat to Burgundy.
Barry Weinman – June 2026
Every now and then, the panel reviews a wine that defies expectations. Sometimes, this is a very well-renowned wine that fails to impress. And now and then, it is a wine that I am not familiar with that excels.
And rarely, a whole range of wines comes along that knocks my socks off. And so it was with Tenafeate Creek Wines.
Hay Shed Hill: Finding a Value Needle in the Haystack
Barry Weinman – May 2026
Established in 1973 on what was once a group-settlement dairy farm in Wilyabrup, the estate is part of the original pioneering wave that helped define Margaret River as a world-class fine-wine region. The name relates to a hay shed perched on a rise above the then-pastures, where the wines were originally made.
Rowe Wines
May 2026
Richard Rowe is not a household name when it comes to great Australian wine, but he should be. For more than 50 years, he has been instrumental in crafting some of Australia’s finest wines during stints at wineries including Leasingham, Evans & Tate and KWV.
Rumour has it that, after retiring to the Margaret River region of Western Australia, his children talked him into starting a boutique winery in the region. The results are spectacular.
Idée Fixe: Fixation, Place and Precision
May 2026
In 2012, Paul Holmes à Court, proprietor of Vasse Felix, acquired an additional Karridale vineyard — one of Margaret River’s most marginal and slow-ripening sub-regions. Sitting close to the ocean and influenced by the Leeuwin Current, it consistently produced chardonnay with unusually high natural acidity and restrained fruit expression. Whilst these qualities were considered challenging for table wine, they proved revelatory for sparkling wine production. Trial bottlings sparked what would become a decade-long preoccupation.
Henschke: 2022 Vintage
Barry Weinman – May 2026
Some days in wine are more remarkable than others. And so it was when John Jens reached out to ask whether he could bring around the new Henschke reds from the 2022 vintage.
To taste the Hill of Grace or Mount Edelstone is a rare treat. To taste them side by side, alongside the Wheelwright and the Hill of Roses, was an extraordinary privilege — and the wines did not disappoint. Whilst the sheer quality was a given, the highlight for me was the subtle variations in style that each vineyard presented.
New Release Pinot Noir: May 2026
Barry Weinman – May 2026
With the cooler weather settling in, it is the perfect time for pinot noir. Last week’s panel tasting presented a number of wines well worth seeking out.
The most surprising wine was Singlefile’s 2024 Run Free Pinot Noir. How a wine of such quality can be sold for $30 is beyond me. The 2024 pinot from Battles is the first release of the variety from this producer, and it is a cracker. And the Picardy and Singlefile Family Reserve pinots showed the more serious side of the variety.
New Release Highlights: May 2026
Barry Weinman: May 2026
Across various blind tastings conducted over the last few weeks, these are some of the standout wines.
On the Tasting Bench: March 2026
Here are three of the highlights from the last few weeks of tasting.
The 2023 Leeuwin Art Series Chardonnay is another stunning rendition of this wine, and the 2023 Moss Wood cabernet is the best young Moss Wood that I have tasted in several years.
And a wine that I know nothing about, but charmed the panel was the Thunderstone Pinot Noir 2024. Great stuff!
Vasse Felix 2024 Vintage Chardonnays: Chasing perfection
Barry Weinman: 25th March 2026
Hot on the heels of the brilliant Cullen Kevin John and Pierro chardonnays from the 2024 vintage comes the trio of premium wines from Vasse Felix.
If you needed any further proof of the potential of the 2024 vintage for premium chardonnay in Margaret River, these three wines deliver that in spades.
Whilst the quality is the reason for this review, it is the contrasting styles between the three wines that are the most interesting part of the story. Same winery, same winemakers, same region, but each is a unique expression of high-quality chardonnay.
Swinney Farvie – 2024 Vintage in Focus
10th February 2026
The Great Southern, whilst geographically large, is relatively small from the perspective of wines produced. In 2024, the total crush for the region was 4,322 tonnes. This is only 17% of the size of Margaret River’s crush (25,593 tonnes).
Barossa Beauties – Welland Wines
February 2026
With the current release reds from Welland Wines in the Barossa, Quality/Price ratio is off the scale.
Howard Park Global Sparkling Tasting
Held: 20 November 2025
In November 2025, Howard Park hosted a global sparkling wine tasting that went well beyond a simple comparison of great Champagne. Curated by Chief Winemaker Nick Bowen, the tasting was designed to explore how place, style, winemaking decisions and time shape the world’s finest sparkling wines.
Over the course of 2025, I was fortunate to taste many exceptional wines, both in formal settings and shared with friends around the dinning table. Looking back, the Howard Park Global Sparkling Tasting stands out as the most thoughtfully conceived and intellectually rewarding tasting of the year.
Rather than simply assembling famous bottles, the tasting invited comparison and contrast across styles, countries, winemaking techniques and vintages. The result was a rare opportunity to understand not only which wines impressed most, but also why.
Castle Rock Estate
Barry Weinman | September 2025
Perched high on the cool, granite shoulders of the Porongurup Range, Castle Rock Estate has been quietly focusing on producing high-quality wine since Angelo and Wendy Diletti planted the first vines in 1983. The site—elevated, wind-kissed and east-facing—has proved perfect for Riesling, alongside increasingly distinguished Chardonnay and, importantly, Pinot Noir.
When the Constellations Align: USA Superstars
Barry Weinman |October 2025
For the team at Constellation, bringing high-quality wines from their USA stable of wineries must be a bit like trying to sell ice to Eskimos or taking coal to Newcastle, given the spectacular quality of Australian wines that are available.
Singlefile Wines
Barry Weinman | October 2025
Singlefile Wines was co-founded in 2007 by geologists Phil and Viv Snowden, together with their daughter Pam and son-in-law Patrick Corbett. The family’s passion for wine was kindled during Patrick and Pam’s time living in Italy, which deepened their appreciation for exceptional wines.
Grosset 2025 Rieslings
Barry Weinman |October 2025
Grosset needs no introduction to lovers of Australian Riesling, having long sat at the very pinnacle of Clare Valley Riesling, acting as a quality beacon for others to aspire to.
Over the last decade, wines from Tasmania and the Great Southern in particular (Porongurup, Mt Barker, Frankland River) have emerged as contenders for Australia’s best Riesling, but Jeffrey Grosset has not rested on his laurels, continuing to finesse his wines and taking advantage of ever-maturing vineyards.
Dukes Vineyard
Barry Weinman | October 2025
The original Duke vineyards were planted in 1999 with an initial 9 hectares under vine. Since Ben Caine and Sarah Date purchased the operation in 2022, there have been significant efforts being put into the vineyard to improve quality. For example, they have embarked on a project to completely revise the trellising system, starting with Riesling and working through the vineyard.
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.