Grape Observer Wine Review

Domaine Huet is one of Loire Valley in France’s most famous producers, and this Vouvray Sec from the 2023 vintage does not disappoint.  Chenin blanc is one the most adaptable of the “big 5” white grape varieties (chardonnay, riesling, sauvignon blanc, pinot gris/grigio and chenin) and probably does not quite get the credit it warrants. Like riesling, chenin is able to produce...

Chatto is a serious winemaker producing tiny quantities of pinot noir from the far south of Tasmania in the Huon Valley.  This region is the likely future of high quality Australian pinot noir, though it remains the case that you will find Australia’s best examples of pinot noir in Macedon, Mornington and Geelong.  This wine from Chatto however is a very good one and it has a...

This wine from Cooks Lot is a cool climate mineral, stoney expression of Australian chardonnay.  It’s from the cool climate Orange region and the 2025 vintage. Now, there are broadly four styles of modern Australian chardonnay: (i) modern cool climate with restrained stone fruits, (ii) very restrained and high acidity expressions of chardonnay with partial or no malolactic fe...

This wine, a chardonnay, is from Eric Boigelot, the 2023 vintage and the Bourgogne Côte d’Or appellation.  Bourgogne Côte d’Or? This particular appellation was established in 2017 and is essentially the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune together.  Now, to the wine. It is a very good one and well worth seeking out. It has a very restrained aroma with a little nectarine. The pal...

This is a very good new release chardonnay from Ross Hill and the 2025 vintage. From Orange in Australia, their “Pinnacle Series” chardonnay is in the modern Australian cool climate chardonnay style, with its closest analogue being the chardonnays of southern Victoria. It has aromas of cedar, almond meal and peach. The palate has reminders of nectarine and stone fruits. It’s ...