Intense colour of dark magenta. Lifted floral notes compete with black cherries and red plum fruits. Graphite adds much to the equation here. The palate is long, racy and savoury with an oak compliment adding spice and lovely fine grain tannins. An excellent follow on from the 2012 vintage with an overlay of sweet undergrowth and dark meaty characters. A powerful wine that will certainly evolve given time in the cellar. (Giaconda)
Made with ultimate skill and respect for the strong sense of place this great wine invokes; Beechworth and Shiraz are joined at the hip to an extent equalled only by Shiraz and Nebbiolo. The perfumed bouquet of violets and white pepper leads into a supple, silky medium-bodied palate with fruit, oak and tannins in ultimate harmony. Drink to 2038.
98 points, Wine Companion.
Deep red colour with a purple rim and a leafy, blackberry, spice aroma which also summons dried herbs. Stylish oaky touches as well - and nicely balanced. Very complex. The palate is tight and firm, with ample grip and mouth-watering acidity. A wine of loads of charm and appeal. There is elegance and softness here. It's about digestibility rather than brute muscle. A multi-faceted shiraz.
95 points, The Real Review (September 2015)
Beechworth
Located in the foothills of the Victorian Alps, Beechworth is a small cool climate region with high continentality. The vineyards enjoy a large number of sunshine hours and are generally planted at altitudes of 400m. A variety of soil types are found with the two dominant ones being ancient sandstone gravel and clay and granitic loams over decomposed gravels and clays. While north or north-easterly slopes are generally favoured, the best sites are located away from higher altitude, cold-air drainage channels, with the risk of frost high in both spring and autumn. Restricted water availability means most vineyards are dry-grown. A region of small boutique producers, Beechworth is best known for premium Chardonnay, Shiraz and Pinot Noir, although plantings of Italian varieties including Sangiovese and Nebbiolo also show great promise.
