australia

2016  

Margaret River, 95pts JH -- "A vibrant, unwooded style of Verdelho with lashings of fruit aromas on the nose marrying with tropical fruit flavors and hints of spice on the palate. The wine stays focused and finishes crisp and dry yet has a powerful and refreshing length that makes this wine the perfect accompaniment to spicy, full flavoured dishes. Famous for its natural acidity, this variety ages beautifully. Cellaring for more than five years rewards with complex spice and honeysuckle and developing nutty and toasty characters."

2017  Thomson Family

Thomson Family ---- "The Best's Great Western Thomson Family Shiraz 2017 encapsulates the best of Australian shiraz, and at 13.5% abv to boot! Grapes are meticulously hand-harvested, selected and sorted. It was first made in 1993, one hundred years after the Thomson family settled in the area. It is produced predominantly from the fifteen rows of vines planted by Henry Best in 1868, recorded as "Hermitage" by Henry in his daily journal. It was elevated to the highest and rarest Langton’s Classification of "Exceptional" in the 2018 Classification VII. It is the only Victorian Shiraz in this category." James Halliday: "Predominantly from the 1868 plantings, with lesser amounts from 1996 and '70, hand-picked and sorted, 50% crushed, 45% whole berry, 5% whole bunch. You'd stand up for royalty, and that's this wine. To use the spit bucket is lese majeste. Just savour it, drop by drop, as it magically finds its way unbidden down your throat. It's got the full rainbow of cool-grown shiraz flavors, a conjunction with a year made for it by Dionysis, and, glory be, comes with a screwcap." - 99 Points JH

2019  Thomson Family

Thomson Family ---- "Best’s remains at the top of its game because of wines like this; wines that hold true to the Thomson family’s winemaking philosophy, celebrating old vines and its distinguished sites. It all comes together beautifully, perfectly, in Thomson Family Shiraz. Tasted 1 year before release and it’s already an elegant and noble wine. Dark berry fruits, hints of sage and cassia bark with gentle leafiness. Oak and tannins, well, they are seamless and supple. A complex life awaits." - 96 points, James Halliday

2014  

Predominantly made from Shiraz grapes (PT23 1654) grown on our estate vineyard in Murrumbateman with a small amount of fruit from Long Rail Gully and Quarry Hill vineyards. Soil is decomposing granite. The fruit was handpicked and de-stemmed into small 2 tonne open fermenters. Fermentation took approximately 2 weeks with gentle hand plunging twice daily. Following fermentation the wine was drained to old 500 litre French oak puncheons (20% new) for 15 months of maturation. 400 cases made.

2012  Gundagai

400 cases produced. 100% Shiraz. 13% abv. Silky, sexy and fragrant, the 2012 Gundagai Shiraz, sourced form a single vineyard on the Murrumbidgee River represents exactly what Gundagai Shiraz is all about. Power and density wrapped up in a medium bodied style. Amongst the sheep paddocks of Gundagai old soils formed over 400 million years ago by rich rain forests and dense wetlands have become verdant soils for viticulture. Rich, dense boysenberry nose with a whiff of coffee follows through on the palate.

2021  Barossa Valley Semillon

100% Semillon planted in 1941 in the Magnolia Vineyard, Vine Vale, Barossa Valley. Dry farmed, organically farmed, single vineyard. Soil: Deep alluvial granitic sands. Elevation: 1000ft. No fining, no filtration. "Aromas of lemon, lemon rind, lemon zest with saline and mineral lines. White flowers and oyster shells. A palate of soft minerals with a saline lemon thread. Fine, balanced and pure through the palate with a mouth-watering and refreshing finish. 12.0% Alc."

NV  Barossa Valley Semillon

"Medium pale colour. Lovely waxy, apricot, tropical fruit with hints of butterscotch/ honeycomb. Minerally fresh palate with apricot, white peach, waxy crème brulée flavours, with fine chalky textures, attractive mid palate volume and fresh lemony acidity. A fascinating wine with the bass notes of barrel maturation, the treble of acidity and the tenor of the alluvial terroir. A multi vintage blend ( 1/3 each of 2018, 2019, & 2020) from 1941 (44%), 1975 (39%) and 1971 (17%) plantings. Wonderfully different." - 95pts, Andrew Caillard MW

2021  Barossa Valley Grenache

From a single block planted in 1858 (166 year old vines). ---- "The 2021 SGG 1858 comprises 95% Grenache, 3% Mataro and 2% Shiraz from Springton. It is svelte, supple, lithe and lingering in the mouth, with layers of exotic spices woven through the finish. It's a wine of distinct plushness, without any obvious oak or thickening in the tannins. It remains fine...somehow. Balanced and lovely, this is an excellent wine. Eden Valley on show in this ripping wine. It offers black and blue fruits, crushed rocks and black olive tapenade, all encased in sweet raspberry fruit. So. Good. 14.8% alcohol, sealed under natural cork." - 95pts WA

2019  Yarra Junction Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley

2016  McIntyre Vyd.

96 Halliday - "From the oldest vines on McIntyre Vineyard. The bouquet is significantly more complex than its siblings, although the vinification remains the same. The palate dutifully follows suit, with more power and a fruit range including Granny Smith apple as an additional, but not dominant, component" 96 Suckling - "A beautiful and intensely flavored white with caramel and toffee, as well as cooked apples and lemons. Full body. Flavorful and pristine. Class and soul in this one. Drink now. Screw cap."

1994  

95 JH 94 JO

2006  

"Made from fruit coming predominantly from the Barossa Valley this year (97%) and containing 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2006 Grange has been added to my list of favorite recent vintages. Deep garnet-purple colored, it’s still a little youthfully mute, offering notes of warm cherries, black currants, anise, coffee and toast with underlying hints of soy, yeast extract, black olives and Indian spices. Tight-knit and solidly structured on the medium to full-bodied palate, the concentrated fruit is densely coiled around the firm grainy tannins and very crisp acidity at this stage, but promises something very special in the years to come. It finishes very long, complex and layered with the cedar poking through the fruit purity. Patience is required for this vintage; it should begin opening out around 2016 and drink to 2030+." - 98+pts WA