Reviews

2018 mollie & merle VERDELHO

"The name of this dry white honours the Willson sisters’ two grandmothers. Most Australian verdelho is grown either in the Swan Valley or a continent away in the Hunter Valley, but has been part of the Langhorne Creek viticultural scene for more than a century and a half. The wine is fresh, crisp and what I call racy. It would be a lovely wine to wash down half a dozen fresh oysters. And keep some aside for a main course of grilled white-fleshed fish."
John Rozentals
 

2017 Special release fiano

“A dry white of considerable textural to mineral interplay, hinting at the herbal pungency of this southern Italian indigene, without fully embracing it. In any event, a brisk race across the palate with plenty more moxy, precision and drinkability than most. Portends to a bright future at this estate.”
Ned Goodwin - 95 points
 

2017 special release vermentino

“This is like sucking on a ripe Meyer lemon before a cavalcade of apricot pith, quince and a herbal, saline spray of mineral take up the rear. A solid, textural rendition of this wonderfully versatile variety."

Halliday Wine Companion - Ned Goodwin - 91 points

2016 bâtonnage chardonnay

“The term batonnage refers to the stirring of a wine's lees during maturation, in this case in high quality French oak. This imbues texture and cremeur, a platform for a frantic build of stone fruit flavours, grilled hazelnut and nougat chew across the palate. The finish is forceful and long, taking few prisoners as an ode to flavourful chardonnay.."
Halliday Wine Companion - Ned Goodwin - 92 points

2016 TAMBLYN
CAB/SHZ/MAL/MER

"The 2016 has hit the bullseye. The blend is seamless. The colour is deep, and the nose promises dark berries, chocolate and fresh herbs. The wine delivers on the promise with a perfect balance of ripe fruit and savoury notes, depth and length, rich and smooth. Fruit-driven, full-bodied and generous. Drinking well already, but give it time to breathe or decant it, this red will please crowds over the next 5 years or so."
Kim Brebach - 94 points

2016 SELKIRK SHIRAZ

"Oodles of dark berry fruit flavours are crammed into a fulsome palate, lit by violet, iodine and a smidgeon of pepper grind. Some oak vanillin, too. This is a crowd-pleaser for those reared on warm climate Aussie shiraz, albeit, one rendered in a restrained style."
Halliday Wine Companion - Ned Goodwin - 92 points

2016 coulthard CABERNET

"I rather like cabernet's nuanced expression along the Fleurieu. Despite the intense heat at times, the maritime influence seems to tame the billows of dark fruit flavours, edging them persuasively away from jammy flavours while delivering stern, stiff-upper lipped tannins; graphite mineral bite; saline acidity and plenty of comeuppance when quality oak, as with here, is used."
Halliday Wine Companion - Ned Goodwin - 93 points

  

2014 CHW SPARKLING SHIRAZ

All the glory of Langhorne Creek shiraz shines in enticing layers of satsuma plums, black cherries, fresh liquorice straps, dark fruit cake and mixed spice, impeccably framed in milk chocolate oak, supple dosage and finely textured tannins. It’s at once deep and bright, culminating in a creamy bead and grand persistence. Bargain sparkling shiraz.
Tyson Stelzer - 93 points

2015 Special release mourvédre

“The tension between the acidity and the mourvédre’s earthiness makes this rather delicious. On the lighter side of medium-bodied, it’s moreish, all earthy, rusty nails, some red fruit brightness, sinewy tannins and crisp tart-tangy acidity to finish”
Jane Faulkner - Halliday Wine Companion - 92 points

 

NV MISTELLE

“Its orange-amber hue is enticing and so, too, the flavours of burnt orange toffee and apple tart; clean spirit and warming with bright acidity keeping the sweetness in check and wine balanced.”
Halliday Wine Companion - 90 points
 

2016 bâtonnage shiraz malbec

“An ode to experimental winemaking proclaims the back label, with the malbec component stirred across 14 months of barrel work to confer texture and poise. A patina of anise, violet, black fruits asunder and oaky spice complement each other across a warm, toasty palate spread nicely across a weave of juicy tannins. Highly charged." 

Halliday Wine Companion - Ned Goodwin - 93 points

2014 OLD ADAM SHIRAZ

“Intensely concentrated and complex with red plum, exotic spices and vanilla accents. The palate is deliciously full, rounded and generous, with bright red fruit, dark chocolate and ripe, integrated tannin. The fruit has excellent integrity, the oak quality is high, and the balance is impeccable. It is both succulent and persistent. If drinking young, decanting is a must to unfurl the layers in the wine. For a wine of this quality, the price is very fair. Enjoy now or age for further complexity."
Toni Paterson - 95 points

2013 Walter's CABERNET

“Gosh, no shortage of colour; unusual, appealing aromas of curry powder and new leather with full-bodied palate laden with ripe blackberry/mulberries/currants and dusty, Aussie bush eucalypt/bark nuances. Sweet-sour acid tang keeping everything fresh.”
Halliday Wine Companion - 93 points
 

2014 BEST OF VINTAGE

“Attesting to the quality capacity of cabernet in Langhorne Creek, this is blackcurrant, anise, sage and graphite strung across firm, balancing tannins. The 40% of shiraz echoes along riffs of violet and dried seaweed. Pillars of well poised oak help to rein it all in. A quintessential Aussie classic in the making."
Halliday Wine Companion - Ned Goodwin - 95 points