Winepilot

Winepilot is your personal wine guide - a First Class ticket to the best drinks from Australia and around the world from leading critics and sommeliers.

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03/06/2026

Wynnsday 2026

The Wine Pilot team reviewed the 2026 Wynns release in time for Wynnsday. Among the standout wines, Tony Love awarded the V&A Lane Cabernet Shiraz 97 points, describing it as “a wine of the highest social connectivity”, while Cyndal Petty gave the O’Deas Cabernet Sauvignon 96 points, calling it “the perfect wine for starting your cellaring journey.”

The full collection of reviews is available online.

26/05/2026

Located in Gaiole in Chianti, in the heart of Chianti Classico, this estate traces its connection to wine back to the 11th century with the Benedictine monks. However, it was not until 1256 that the name Castello di Meleto appeared in written records.

The castle’s rich history and foundations have been treated with great respect, a philosophy that extends to the vineyard. Castello di Meleto is among the largest producers of organic Chianti, with vineyards spanning 160 hectares and ranging in altitude from 350 to 600 metres above sea level. All wines are made from estate-grown grapes, predominantly harvested by hand.

Positioned between Florence and Siena, the estate stands as a masterclass in Chianti — its history, its people, and its land.

Shanteh Wale reviews the wines of Castello di Meleto. Full story available online.

19/05/2026

Australia has welcomed a new Champagne label – EPC, a play on the word ‘epicurean’.

Established in 2019, EPC Champagne is the work of Édouard Roy, Jérôme Queige and Camille Jullien Gilardi with a vision to benchmark the wine category with a focus on transparency and championing the people and places that go into each bottle.

“Brings an impressive depth of flavour to what is a beautifully precise and elegant Champagne. 93pts” – Jeni Port on the EPC Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut NV

Ken Gargett and Jeni Port review the range’s Blanc de Blancs Brut and Champagne Brut, reviews are now live online.

14/05/2026

The team review SOUMAH’s inaugural Mezzaluna Yarra Valley Reserve Nebbiolo 2022.

“Strong in heart and fine in delivery 95pts” – Jeni Port
“The wine is focused and has real direction. 94pts” – Ken Gargett
“One for the cellar. 93pts” – Tom Kline

12/05/2026

Every Australian winelover will surely be aware of just how much Penfolds love to release special wines, whether they have regional, varietal or historical significance. It would be fair to say that these wines won the trifecta. The first release in the Superblend series was from the 2018 vintage.

Who knows when we will see the third release in the series (well, no doubt Penfolds do, but they keep secrets far better than most intelligence services – looking at you, Pete H). The wines are basically two different versions of the same theme. They are high quality examples of the great Aussie red blend, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, a style with which Penfolds has extensive experience, perhaps even to the extent of making the wine considered by many to be the greatest ever Australian red, the famous 1962 Bin 60A.

Ken Gargett reviews the anticipated Penfolds Superblend release.

04/05/2026

Join our very own Cyndal Petty at the Tasting Australia Drinks Academy.

Alongside other industry stars, she will guide you through two immersive experiences - Aroma Bar and Secrets of the Sommelier - designed to deepen your appreciation of wine, flavour and pairing.

Expect hands-on tastings, expert insights and plenty of inspiration.

Industry stars including: Caitlyn Rees, Chayse Bertoncello, Alex Marchettli of Salopian Inn, Amelia Nolan of Alkina, Guy Palmer-Brown of Mighty Isle, Peter Edge of Dr Edge and Matilda Innes of Ottelia.

29/04/2026

Grampians Winemakers Shiraz The Barrique 2024

Each year, the Grampians winemakers pool together and blend their best Shiraz to send to auction at their annual Grampians Grape Escape wine festival. The ’24 Grampians Winemakers’ Shiraz is a wine to impress, not only because it is a rarity – just 300 bottles or one barrique’s worth are to be released – but it sings with a true Grampians Shiraz heart. Dark purple hues. Aromas of black pepper, anise, five spice, black berries and black cherry fruits produce a pure Grampians amalgam of dark fruits, spices and earth.

This is a wine with time on its side. It remains young and is still settling down, but the groundwork already laid is strong. A lovely, gentle peppery spiciness guides black fruits across the palate with earthy, briar, anise notes lurking below together with integrated oak. There’s an impressive intensity of flavour on show, real focus, wrapped in firm, fine tannins. Finishes fresh and alive with good length. Will age well.

Points: 95
RRP: $80-$100
Drink: 2026-2037

Dates and Times
Friday 1 May, 2026: 4pm-8.30pm
Saturday 2 May, 2026: 10am-5pm
Sunday 3 May, 2026: 10am-5pm

For more festival information visit: https://grampiansgrapeescape.com.au/festivalinfo/

22/04/2026

Tom Kline reviews the latest single vineyard release from Shaw + Smith.

From the Lenswood Pinot Noir, described as “seductive, velveteen, and alluring,” to the Lenswood Chardonnay, celebrated for its freshness, complexity, and precise definition—these wines showcase the finest vineyard expressions.

Read the full reviews online.

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21/04/2026

The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) International Symposium is regarded as the marquee event in the global wine calendar. Launched in Oxford in 1982 and last hosted in Wiesbaden, Germany in 2023, the 11th International Symposium will see the event travel to Adelaide, South Australia. The host of the 2027 event is the South Australian Government with support from Wine Australia.

The event is organised by the Institute of Masters of Wine. The IMW’s mission is to foster excellence, interaction and learning across all sectors of the global wine community. As well as running the MW study programme, the IMW programme of worldwide events offers unparalleled opportunities to taste and learn.

These tastings and seminars, including the international symposium, are open for anyone to attend – you don’t have to be a Master of Wine to join in.

17/04/2026

Thunderstone is a new venture from Tony Davis and Remond Sweeny. This union of two mates, sometimes known under the banner of Snake & Herring, is united by a shared passion for land, grape, and the boundless potential of the Great Southern.

Rooted in Tony’s backyard of Porongurup and enriched by Remond’s deep knowledge of the region. In the Porongurup Ranges, the Wishart family have farmed the land for three generations, now in the care of young Laura Wishart, this vineyard forms the foundation for the three inaugural releases.

Thunderstone marks a progressive step into the future of Western Australia’s southern lands — a journey long in the making, now finally realised.

Shanteh’s reviews on the Thunrderstone release now live.

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