Viticulture

The Home Block Shiraz vineyard comprises 0.7 ha of open lyre, minimal irrigated vines planted on ironstone gravel over deep friable loam. Judicious shoot and bunch thinning is always used to maintain a very light crop which was hand picked in late March of 2023. Harvested at 13.4º Baume the fruit exhibited intensely concentrated flavour and colour.

Winemaking

The hand picked fruit was harvested early in the morning and processed straight away. 5% whole bunches, including stalks were placed into the bottom of the fermenter before filling. The remaining fruit was de stemmed into the small open fermenter with heading down board, which keeps the cap fully submerged between drain and returns. After nine days of fermentation, the fruit was pressed into a blend of new and used French Burgundian barrels.

Storage / Bottling

Maturation lasted 11 months before the wine was carefully blended and bottled. Bottled under screw cap to retain freshness in a premium Burgundy bottle.

Awards & Achievements

2022 Home Block Shiraz

Decanter World Wine Awards 2023 | Silver – 93 points
Ray Jordan Wine Guide 2024 | 93 points
London International Wine Challenge 2023 | Silver
Royal Queensland Wine Awards 2023 | Silver
The 2023 Great Australian Shiraz Challenge | Bronze
Perth Royal Wine Awards 2023 | Bronze
Royal Hobart Wine Show 2023 | Bronze
Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2023 | Bronze
Sydney Royal Wine Show 2023 | Bronze
Margaret River Wine Show 2023 | Bronze

2021 Home Block Shiraz

Wine Show of WA Mount Barker 2022 | Bronze
Australian Small Winemakers Show 2022 | Bronze
Margaret River Wine Show 2022 | Bronze

2020 Home Block Shiraz

Great Australian Shiraz Challenge 2021 | Gold
Royal Queensland Wine Show 2022 | Silver
London International Wine Challenge 2022 | Bronze
Royal Sydney Wine Show 2022 | Bronze
Australian Small Winemakers Show 2021 | Bronze
Margaret River Wine Show 2021 | Bronze

2019 Home Block Shiraz

James Halliday Wine Companion | 93 Points
Perth Royal Wine Awards 2021 | TROPHY – Best Shiraz of the Show
Perth Royal Wine Awards 2021 | Gold
Decanter World Wine Awards 2021 | Gold
London International Wine Challenge 2021 | Silver
Winestate Magazine 2021 – 98 Points 5 Stars
Royal Sydney Wine Show 2021 | Bronze

2018 Home Block Shiraz

James Halliday Wine Companion | 90 Points
Wine Show of Western Australia 2019 | Bronze
Royal Hobart Wine Show 2019 | Bronze
Australian Small Winemakers Show 2019 | Bronze

2016 Home Block Shiraz

James Halliday Wine Companion | 95 Points
Decanter World Wine Awards 2019 | Silver
London International Wine Challenge 2019 | Silver
Sydney Royal Wine Show 2019 | Bronze
Royal Hobart Wine Show 2019 | Bronze
Margaret River Wine Show 2018 | Bronze
Wine Show of Western Australia 2018 | Bronze
Margaret River Wine Show 2017 | Bronze
Wine Show of WA Mount Barker 2017 | Bronze

2014 Home Block Shiraz

James Halliday Wine Companion | 92 Points
Silver Medal – International Wine & Spirit Competition 2018
Silver Medal – London International Wine Challenge 2018
Silver Medal – International Wine & Spirit Competition 2017
Silver Medal – Royal Perth Wine Show 2016
Bronze – Decanter World Wide Awards 2018
Bronze – Royal Hobart Wine Show 2016
Bronze – Royal Queensland Wine Show 2017
Bronze – Margaret River Wine Show 2015

2012 Home Block Shiraz

James Halliday Wine Companion | 96 Points
Silver Medal – London International Wine Show 2016
Silver Medal Outstanding – International Wine & Spirit Competition 2016

2011 Home Block Shiraz

95 Points – James Halliday Wine Companion 2015
“Hand-picked from a 0.7ha block, destemmed, then into open fermenters with heading down boards for 7 days, thence to French oak (part new) for 20 months, some on lees. Bright crimson-purple; a sure-footed, classy shiraz with juicy red and black fruits providing half the action, the other half by quality tannins and integrated oak. The modest alcohol is a pleasure to deal with. Drink by 2031.”

Gold Medal Outstanding – International Wine & Spirits Competition 2015
Silver Medal – Australian Small Winemakers Show 2013
Bronze Medal – Qantas Mount Barker Wine Show 2013
Bronze Medal – Margaret River Wine Show 2013
Commended – International Wine Challenge 2013

2010 Home Block Shiraz

James Halliday Wine Companion | 92 Points
Gold Medal – Qantas Wine Show of WA Mount Barker 2013
Silver Medal Outstanding – International Wine & Spirits Competition 2014
Bronze Medal – Cowra Wine Show 2012
Bronze Medal – Australian Small Winemakers Show 2012

2009 Home Block Shiraz

James Halliday Wine Companion | 90 Points
Bronze Medal – Cowra Wine Show 2011
Bronze Medal – Mount Barker Wine Show 2011

2008 Home Block Shiraz

James Halliday Wine Companion | 90 Points
Gold Medal – Scoop Magazine Tasting 2010
Silver Medal – Cowra Wine Show 2010
Bronze Medal – Qantas Wine Show 2010
4 1/2 Stars – Winestate Magazine 2010

2007 Home Block Shiraz

James Halliday Wine Companion | 94 Points
Silver Medal – Margaret River Wine Show 2010
Silver Medal – International Wine & Spirit Comp 2009
92 Points, Nick Stock: WINE100, December 2009
91 Points, Gary Walsh: The Wine Front
3 stars, Winestate Magazine Best of the West 2010

2006 Home Block Shiraz

No Home Block Shiraz made

2005 Home Block Shiraz

Minimal quantity made

2004 Home Block

James Halliday Wine Companion | 90 Points
86 Points, Campbell Mattinson: The Wine Front
Bronze Medal – Qantas Wine Show of WA 2008
Bronze Medal – Qantas Wine Show of WA 2007

2003 Home Block Shiraz

James Halliday Wine Companion | 94 Points
Bronze Medal – Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2005
Bronze Medal – Qantas Wine Show of WA 2006
93 Points, Tim White: Australian Financial Review 4/2/08
89 Points: Ray Jordan’s Guide to Wine 05/06

2002 Home Block Shiraz

93 Points, James Halliday: 2005 Wine Companion

2001 Home Block Shiraz

Silver Medal – Sydney Royal Wine Show 2003
Bronze Medal – Margaret River Wine Show 2002
93 Points, Philip White: Adelaide Advertiser 2003