Our March/April cover boy Nick Dugmore has a bit to say. He shares his thoughts on KI Cabernet, the Riverland, meditation, being a father figure, equality, buzz words, team work, regenerative agriculture and Inkwell’s Hacking the Future of Shiraz project. WBM is available in print or digital. Click the link in our bio to subscribe. @stokewines_au @katiespainwrites #wine #KangarooIsland #subscribe

Haselgrove Catkin McLaren Vale Shiraz 2023 scores 93 points from Mike Bennie in WBM. “Deep black ruby colour, looking the part from the get-go. The nose is all kinds of intense with raspberry, cola, dark cherry, ripe plum and dashes of mocha and clove. On the palate it’s rich and full of flavour, but it’s not heavy – there’s a grace to it. The fruit is lush and generous, and woody spice lends both palate staining intensity and some woody structure to the wine. Serious, done well.” $93. @haselgrove_wines @mclaren_vale #Shiraz #McLarenVale #serious #donewell ❤️🙌

Chalmers Felicitas Heathcote 2022 scores 93 points from Mike Bennie in WBM. “A Fiano that spends 23 months on lees, set to sparkling mode. Exciting. It delivers good distinction of the variety in green pear, a bit of waxy texture, faint saline minerality and light, pleasingly bitter nutty inflections. The fizz is fizzy, the energy is high. A frisky, fun and interesting sparkling, very much made well, and worth the entry fee.” $50. @chalmerswine @heathcotewinegrowers #frisky #fun #interesting ☺️🙌

WBM columnist Dan Traucki reports on emerging wine varieties. “Today there are 26 wineries producing Carignan, still mainly a blending material, however the Kimbolton and the Brash Higgins varietal wines are outstanding.” Viva Iberia! @brashhiggins @kimbolton_wines #Wine #Emergingvarieties #carignan #wine

Scarborough Keepers Of The Flame Barrel Selection Hunter Valley Chardonnay 2023 scores 94 points from Mike Bennie. “Scarborough have long held court with Chardonnay lovers, typically producing well balanced yet fuller flavoured wines from the variety. This pulls things back a little; restraint in chalky, minerally charm wrapping up stone fruits, ginger, green apple and touches of preserved lemon and fresh lime. There’s plenty of flavour here, but it’s a little perkier than expected. And in that, a compelling, complex wine.” $100. @scarboroughwines @huntervalley #compelling #complex 🙌