Pursuit of Purity: An Afternoon with Pure Wine Co

There is something particularly enjoyable about an afternoon that brings together good wine, interesting people and plenty of conversation.

We recently joined Pure Wine Co for its Pursuit of Purity masterclass at the Ovolo Hotel in Woolloomooloo, an exploration of Pinot Noir and Shiraz through two dedicated tasting sessions. Set against Sydney's waterfront, the afternoon brought together winemakers, wine professionals, trade representatives and passionate wine enthusiasts.

The Masterclass: Pinot Noir and Shiraz

The afternoon began with five Pinot Noirs, showcasing different interpretations of a variety that continues to captivate wine lovers.

The lineup included Yarra Yering Pinot Noir 2023, Montalto North One Pinot Noir 2024 and Small Valley Reserve Pinot Noir 2023. Zephyr Pinot Noir 2024 and a 2023 Domaine Prieuré Roch Savigny-lès-Beaune Dessus les Gollardes completed the selection. You can never really go wrong with Yarra Yering. An iconic Australian producer, its Pinot Noir is always worth revisiting. However, the surprise for us was Small Valley. Particularly at its price point, it offered impressive value and made a compelling case for looking beyond the familiar names.

Following the Pinot Noir tasting, the focus shifted to five Shiraz, with another opportunity to explore regional character and different winemaking approaches.

The selection featured Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No.2 2024, Montalto Tuerong Syrah 2024 and Kaesler Old Bastard, alongside TWR Syrah and Domaine Georges Vernay Blonde du Seigneur Côte-Rôtie 2022.

Once again, Yarra Yering delivered. Its Dry Red Wine No.2 is the sort of bottle everyone should have tucked away in the cellar. Ideally, a spare or two for those unexpected guests who appreciate a very good glass of wine.

However, Old Bastard was the wine that really took it out of the park. We remembered this wine differently, making this tasting all the more interesting. The restraint and poise were impressive, revealing a more refined expression than we recalled. It had presence without relying on sheer weight or power.

Australian Shiraz: Not As We Know It

It also got us thinking about where Australian Shiraz is heading. The days of bigger, bolder and more muscular styles no longer define the entire conversation. Increasingly, we're seeing wines that favour elegance, balance and restraint without sacrificing character.

I was reminded of a comment by the late Matthew Jukes during the 200-year anniversary celebrations, Shiraz is the next Australian wine to watch. It's a sentiment that has stayed with us. Tastings like this reinforce why. Australian Shiraz is evolving, and the move towards more refined, restrained expressions is an exciting direction for the variety. We think Matt was onto something.

What Came After

The masterclass may have been the centrepiece, but there was plenty more to discover across the tasting floor. It was particularly lovely to revisit the wines from Domaine de La Nerthe. Their Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2022 and 2016, alongside Les Cassagnes Côtes-du-Rhône Villages 2022, were a welcome reminder of the depth and diversity of the Rhône Valley.

There were other bottles that caught our attention, too. Devaux Champagne's 180 Ans was a fitting discovery for an anniversary celebration, while Domaine Georges Vernay's 2022 Condrieu Les Chaillées de l'Enfer offered another glimpse into the extraordinary wines coming out of the Northern Rhône.

One bottle that really caught our attention was a 2014 Prieuré Roch Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru Magnum. We had the Savigny-lès-Beaune at the masterclass, but this was our first time trying the Nuits-Saint-Georges. Not something you'll find sitting on a retail shelf, this was a special bottling reserved for friends and family. Getting to encounter a wine like this is one of the privileges of being in a room with people who live and breathe wine.

The People: The Best Part of the Wine Industry

Of course, no wine event is complete without the people who make it. It's always a pleasure attending Shanteh Wales' masterclasses. She has a wonderful ability to bring an element of fun to what can often be a serious topic, making the learning experience both engaging and enjoyable.

Sarah Crowe is another person we always enjoy spending time with. A mentor to many in the wine industry, Sarah is someone you can always learn something from, whether it's a conversation about wine, winemaking or the people behind it.

It was also our first time meeting Tim Dolan, third-generation winemaker and Chief Winemaker at Kaesler, who also owns Small Valley. Having just tasted Small Valley's Pinot Noir in the masterclass, it was particularly good to put a face to the name and hear more about the person behind the wines.

Then there was Stephen Dew, Senior Winemaker at Kaesler, whose experience includes an impressive ten vintages at Domaine Prieuré Roch in Burgundy. Given our earlier Pinot Noir tasting, that was a particularly interesting connection. It's not every day you get to meet someone who has spent a decade making wine at one of Burgundy's distinctive producers.

Beyond the Winemakers and Industry Mentors

Some of the best moments happen simply by wandering the floor and catching up with people. We crossed paths with Reid from Dan Murphy's, Peter from The Forest Vine and Kenny, whose love of good food and wine makes him exactly the sort of person you want to run into at an event like this.

It was also wonderful to finally meet Nick, who kindly extended the invitation and made us feel so welcome. His generosity, particularly in sharing the opportunity to taste the extraordinary 2014 Prieuré Roch magnum, made the afternoon even more special.

One of the great pleasures of attending trade tastings is the opportunity to mingle with people from across the industry. From winemakers and importers to sommeliers, retailers and passionate wine enthusiasts, everyone brings a different perspective to the table. There were plenty of conversations, introductions and shared moments over beautiful cheese and charcuterie boards.

These connections are what make the Australian wine community so special. It's an industry built on relationships, generosity and a genuine passion for what's in the glass. For us at The Wined Up Podcast, the stories behind the people, places and wines are what make this journey so rewarding.

A big thank you to Nick and the Pure Wine Co team for bringing everyone together. We left with plenty to think about, some wonderful new connections and, of course, a very enjoyable afternoon!