- 98 points -

#69 - Top 100 Wines of 2018

A decadent yet persistently fresh shiraz, showing notes of blackberry tart, hot stones, dried herbs, blueberry cake, quartz, resin and baking spices. The palate is very sophisticated in its delivery of chewy, enveloping tannins, which coat the mouth and remain lithe and velvety at the same time. A driven line of acidity runs throughout plums and cassis, and this finishes long and intense. Minerally and tight, too...

- 97 points -

GOLD

The second release from the close planted Estate vineyard planted in '05, 70% whole bunches, 30% whole berries, open-fermented, matured in French puncheons for 14 months, with a further 14 months in bottle before release. This is an exercise in power, bay leaf staring down any attempt to add red fruits, the tannins of the same ilk, ditto oak. Despite the power, the balance and synergy of the components is undeniable.

- 95 points -

From a relatively close-planted plot on clay, ironstone, quartzite and shale. Whole bunches fermented wild in open tops with minimal agitation. A headily aromatic shiraz with notes of lavender and green olive and an underbelly of verdant herb and mezcal, the legacy of whole bunches in the ferment. Notes of damson plum, red cherry, violet and sarsaparilla trail across a raft of peppery tannins, a bit drying due to the low-yielding year. A whiff of iodine, peat and smoked meat lingers. This will benefit from some patience.

- 95 points -

Wow! Attractive plums, hazelnuts, smoked meat and terra cotta. Full body and round, silky tannins. Juicy undertones. Delicious finish. Love the texture and tension to this one.

- 94 points -

Our last look at this wine was 15 vintages ago when it was explained as a cool-climate style shiraz, a style most of the world had been chasing ever since. Indeed it’s cool, but complex, and 2017 is a great example of how cool the wine can be. Heavy rains gave way to lesser amounts during the flowering period, while the harvest was dry and long-ish thanks to record low temperatures. The result is beautiful acidity throughout this red shiraz. Balhannah Vineyard, loam over clay, ironstone, quartzite, and shale, is tightly planted and is coming into its own at a dozen years. Fragrant, stylish, balanced, and swimming in bright red fruit and white pepper, this is a wine you can savour for hours. There is a richness of texture that finishes with an intriguing meaty, spicy note. No rush to drink this. It is hand picked, sorted, and fermented as whole berries and whole bunches, in open fermenters, with minimal intervention. It spends 14 months in 500 litre French oak puncheons and another 14 months in bottle before release. Hats off to that treatment.