Our Best Australian Shiraz

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99 Points - Stuart McCloskey “Compared to the ’17 Standish The Standish, the broodiness has been dialled up a notch or two. Deep, pensive, savoury and wonderfully cooling – minty-fresh. The sweet, raspberry, blue and blackberry fruits have a distinct mineral tone to them. Game is beginning to emerge – the exotic spice adds real warmth. Orange peel, anise and perhaps a little balsamic too. The palate is deeply impressive and throbs with tension – almost sullen, which creates intrigue and intellectual complexity. Full-bodied, but by no means heavy – freshness creating balance. Actually, and despite the fruit concentration, I would declare a level of refinement – almost elegance as this glides like silk across your palate. It feels like falling into your own universe. There is a floralness, but and unlike 12-months ago, the Viognier has merged with the Shiraz in a perfect, symbiotic relationship. The fruit, tannin and acidity are now as one – nothing is edgy. I love the detail. This is a truly wonderful wine speaking fluently of a great, Aussie Shiraz. Utterly superb and will be at its peak in a decade or so. Drink now (decant for at least 12 hours) through to 2040+. Served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware.” Tasted 24 Nov 2021

  2021 Best Shiraz Wines - Wine Companion Awards

Decanter Magazine – Top 10 wineries in McLaren Vale

97 Points James Halliday "Block 6 is a 1.4ha east-facing block of 125yo vines with very complex soils. Hand-picked, crushed and destemmed, 11 days on skins, matured for 20 months in French and American puncheons (40% new). If ever there was an iron fist in a velvet glove this is it, but with one qualification: the iron fist was created by a master sculptor, the wine quite special, and fully deserving its price."

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Mike Bennie, The Wine Front "Big, heady, dark and powerful red wine. Scents of clove, mint, cocoa powder, ripe plums. Supple, soft, decadent in the palate, molten tannins that pucker to close, a heady, rich, charismatic wash of chewy, dark plummy fruit, sweetness, ground nuts and cocoa powder again. A huge wine but in its stride. Good stuff."

98+ Points – Stuart McCloskey “The bouquet exudes tranquillity and beauty (almost Burgundy like and demonstrating cool-climate Shiraz in perfect form). A mix of wild berries, raspberry, a real sense of vivacity provided by the deep aroma of blood orange, a little orange zest, wonderfully floral (rose and violet) along with tangible game notes. There’s spice too – exotic spice with liquorice, bergamot and cedar adding to the plethora of aromas. Equally, the palate conveys a sense of serenity which is the addictive element. Breathtaking in its beauty, effortlessness and by far one of the most refined Aussie Shiraz wines I have ever sampled. Vibrant, wild hedgerow fruits are in abundance along with blood orange – The palate is ample and akin to silk. Freshness is provided in abundance – it’s chiselled and on-point.  Pure and simple, this is an outstanding wine with purity and elegance being at the core of its DNA.  We should doff our hats as this wine shows the sceptics that greatness can come from, firstly New World Shiraz and most importantly, cool-climate, Aussie Shiraz. Drinking now to 2030. Decant for 1-2 hours. Served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware.”

Barossa Super 100 Classification – Wines over $100

With over 100 wines featured in the Classification the list represents the depth of collectable wines of distinction being made in Australia’s most famous wine region.

96 Points - James Halliday

Made in the same way as Clos Otto other than 9 days on skins and maturation in American oak (50% new). The American oak is much more assertive than French, its signal soaring on the first whiff, likewise the first sip. It works well here, tipping its hat to Grange, the flavours coating every corner of the mouth, yet doesn't overstay its welcome. And it pays no attention whatsoever to its alcohol.

97+ Points - Stuart McCloskey “Sourced from the Howard family Somerset Vineyard and a blend of three slopes: Eastern, Northern and Western – planted 1966, 1968, and 1970. Warm earth, dried spices, raspberry, green olives and vanilla waft from the glass. Medium-bodied, layered, elegant and immensely appealing. The tannins are super-fine and meld beautifully with the fruit, which is ripe, crunchy and juicy. I love the subtle star anise, spice, liquorice, touches of violet and toast which I imagine emanates from the French oak in which the wine rested for 16 months. Incredible length and finely polished – sensitive winemaking and will drink beautifully over the next decade. Ideally, leave this in the cellar for 3-5 years. Served in Zalto Bordeaux glassware”

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97 Points - Stuart McCloskey “A thrilling, single vineyard Shiraz which has been meticulously crafted by the skilled hands of Craig Stansborough. The site is around 260-280m above sea level with vines planted in 2000 and is own rooted, clones are heritage and 1654. The nose is heady and aromatically perfumed with intense black raspberry, crème de cassis, bramble and fennel seed. The warm earth notes keep it grounded (forgive the pun!) as do the cedar notes. Vanilla kicks in after many hours in the decanter (we decanted for 6). Read more...

 Alan Cooper, Founder & Vigneron “Very much typical of our Syrah from a cooler year, aromatic on the nose, savoury spice and a fine dusting of black pepper to finish. The essence of granite. Focussed and expressive of our amazing terroir. The classic iron fist in a velvet glove. Huge latent power and structure to burn. This wine will reward you even more with age!”

Gourmet Traveller Wine 'Best buy wines over $30'  "It’s really hard not to think of the great syrahs of the northern Rhône (St-Joseph, Hermitage) when tasting this exceptional, nervy, peppery, thrillingly dark-fruited syrah. And even harder to ignore what great value it is in comparison to them."

96 Points - James Halliday "Fruit off the estate's Marananga vineyard planted in 1899. The wine is matured in 35% new French oak and aged 16 months. It's full-bodied, bold and rich with densely packed tannins and all manner of dark fruit, spice and gravelly/ironstone notes. Retains purity, even a brightness."

  2021 Best Shiraz Wines - Wine Companion Awards

Decanter Magazine – Top 10 wineries in McLaren Vale

97 Points James Halliday "Block 6 is a 1.4ha east-facing block of 125yo vines with very complex soils. Hand-picked, crushed and destemmed, 11 days on skins, matured for 20 months in French and American puncheons (40% new). If ever there was an iron fist in a velvet glove this is it, but with one qualification: the iron fist was created by a master sculptor, the wine quite special, and fully deserving its price."