Hand-picked, open-fermented, matured in new and 1yo 2700l French casks for 15 months. This is opulent and rich, bringing back memories of '59, '61, '65 and '66 ('65 the standout). The black fruits are wrapped in velvet, the oak and tannins watching on enviously. A wonderful wine with its own part of history.
97 points, James Halliday, Wine Companion, January 2019.
Purple fruit, violet and vanilla, great perfume and finesse. Medium-bodied, purity and purpose through the mouth, presenting an even flow of flavour from front to back. So much charm. Almost silky and creamy, but the tannin bobs up on the finish and tightens the nuts. Subtle earthiness. What a delight. Polished to perfection. And perhaps not quite the individual character of some of the 2017 single site releases, but nonetheless, a superb Shiraz.
96 points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front, May 2018.
Medium to deep red colour with tinges of purple, the bouquet subtly spicy, smoky, earthy and fruit-driven. Oak is barely noticeable. The wine is medium-bodied and finely-textured, with soft, mild tannins running through the length of the palate. It's a finer, lighter style of shiraz in traditional Hunter style. It will build much more complexity with cellaring.
93 points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review, July 2019.
This wine has a magnificent aroma; concentrated yet complex. I love the bright, intense raspberry, red plum and red mulberry notes, plus the slight roasted meat nuances, which add depth and interest. It is a pure and focused, medium-bodied wine with careful tailoring. Juicy and vibrant. Love it.
96 points, Toni Paterson MW, The Real Review, May 2019.
Wonderfully fresh aromatics such as crushed violets, dragon fruit, elderberries, rosewater and citrus. Medium to full body with fine, beautiful acidity running through the impressively polished tannins. While the floral flavours dominate, this isn’t short on delicious blue fruits. It finishes long, tangy and chewy.
95 points, Nick Stock, jamessuckling.com, August 2018.
Purest blackberry fruit and sweet spice with jamminess but lift too. Long violet fragrance. Expressive, panoplied length. Classic Shiraz, and classic Australia too.
17.5 points, Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com, August 2019.
The Hunter Valley is the most important quality wine-producing region in New South Wales, even though it represents only a fraction of the state’s production. Established in the early 1800s, the first vignerons recognised that the coastal fringe north of Sydney was too wet and humid for viable viticulture and thus took the decision to move into the hinterland. Although the region can be particularly hot, the cloud and rainfall patterns significantly modify the microclimate. The Hunter Valley is maritime influenced, with afternoon sea breezes funnelling up through the Hunter River and Goulburn River gap. Rainfall is very erratic and can arrive at the most inopportune time. Soils are generally rich volcanic and alluvial. The best vineyard sites are located within sight of the imposing Brokenback Range that is exposed to the cool sea breezes. Further inland, the maritime influence gives way to a greater degree of continentality. The Hunter Valley is best known for exceptional age-worthy Semillon and fresh savoury medium-bodied Shiraz, although Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay also perform well.
