Viticulture

Fruit is sourced from neighboring properties in the northern sub-region of Margaret River (Yallingup). Meticulous management of bud numbers and shoot thinning ensured a balanced canopy for the crop to be ripened. Particular attention is paid to sourcing fruit from the well regarded gravelly soils of northern Margaret River. The 2016 vintage saw some late summer rain during the veraison period (colour change in berries). This had minimal effect on the grapes with the following warm conditions allowing the fruit to fully ripen with minimal disease pressure.

Winemaking

Each parcel of fruit was gently crushed into small open fermenters with traditional heading down boards where fermentation was carried out under controlled temperature conditions. Around 5% whole bunches were added to the fermenter before filling. Extraction was achieved by daily draining of wine away from skins and returning back over the top. The wine was pressed to tank after 7 days on skins where 50% was sent to new and older french barriques to complete the primary and malo-lactic ferment. A small portion of barrels were left on full lees where they were stirred  fortnightly to add texture and complexity.

Storage / Bottling

Maturation in tank and barrel lasted 16 months before the wine was carefully blended and bottled. Sealed under screw cap to retain freshness in a burgundy bottle.

James Halliday Wine Companion

2016 Shiraz 88 Points
2015 Shiraz 91 Points
2014 Shiraz 89 Points
2013 Shiraz 94 Points
2012 Shiraz 91 Points
2011 Shiraz 94 Points
2010 Shiraz 91 Points
2009 Shiraz 89 Points
2008 Shiraz 89 Points
2007 Shiraz 89 Points
2005 Shiraz 89 Points
2004 Shiraz 93 Points
2003 Shiraz 90 Points
2002 Shiraz 93 Points
2001 Shiraz 87 Points

2016 Shiraz

Silver Medal – Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2017
Silver Medal – Langton`s Margaret River Wine Show 2017
Bronze Medal – WA Wine Show (Mount Barker) 2017
Bronze Medal – Royal Hobart Wine Show 2017
Bronze Medal – Royal Sydney Wine Show 2018
Bronze Medal – Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2018

2015 Shiraz

Bronze Medal – International Wine & Spirit Competition 2017

2014 Shiraz

Gold Medal – Wine Show of WA Mount Barker 2016
Gold Medal – Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2016
Gold Medal – Margaret River Wine Show 2016
Silver Medal – London International Wine Challenge 2017
Silver Medal – Great Australian Shiraz Challenge 2016
Silver Medal – Royal Hobart Wine Show 2016
Bronze Medal – Sydney Royal Wine Show 2016
Bronze Medal – Australian Small Winemakers Show 2016

2013 Shiraz

Silver Medal – Qantas Wine Show of WA Mount Barker 2015
Silver Medal – Australian Small Winemakers Show 2015
Bronze Medal – Sydney Royal Wine Show 2015
Bronze Medal – International Wine & Spirit Competition 2015
89 Points – Ray Jordan Wine Guide 2016

2012 Shiraz

Silver Medal – 2014 Visy Great Australian Shiraz Challenge
Silver Medal – Australian Small Winemakers Show 2014
Silver Medal – Perth Royal Wine Show 2014
Silver Medal – International Wine & Spirit Competition 2015
Bronze Medal – Qantas Wine Show of WA Mount Barker 2014
Bronze Medal – Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2014
89 Points – Ray Jordan Wine Guide 2015

2011 Shiraz

93 Points – Wine Showcase Magazine New Releases Tasting April 2014
“Lots of shiraz fruit aromas. Excellent subtle use of oak with good concentration of fleshy blackcurrant and mulberry flavours for the palate.”

90 Points – Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front, May 2014
“Full-on attack of eucalypt to both the nose and palate, enough to clear the head, with mellow fruit resting in behind. Eucalypt-aside it’s an attractive, easy-to-enjoy drink. Well ripened. Well flavoured. Not overdone. Velvety tannin through the finish gives it both a tidiness and a sense of completeness.”

2010 Shiraz

Gold Medal – Australian Small Winemakers Show 2013

91 Points – James Halliday Wine Companion 2015
“Fermented with header boards in small open pots for 10 days, 50% taken to French barriques (part new) for completion of primary ferment, mlf and then 24 months maturation, the other 50% kept in closed tanks. The result is a youthful wine with fresh red fruits, but enough textural complexity to provide a complete wine. Drink by 2020.”

Silver Medal – Royal Sydney Wine Show 2013
Bronze Medal – National Wine Show of Australia 2013
Bronze Medal – Royal Melbourne Wine Awards 2013
Bronze Medal – Margaret River Wine Show 2012
Bronze Medal – Adelaide Wine Show 2013
90 Points – Wine Showcase Magazine August 2013

2009 Shiraz

Silver Medal – Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2012
Bronze Medal – Margaret River Wine Show 2012
Bronze Medal – Australian Small Wine Makers Show 2012
Bronze Medal – Cowra Wine Show 2012
Bronze Medal – Royal Perth Wine Show 2012

2008 Shiraz

Bronze Medal – Cowra Wine Show 2011
Bronze Medal – Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2011

2007 Shiraz

Silver Medal – International Wine & Spirit Comp 2009
Bronze Medal – National Wine Show of Australia 2010
Bronze Medal – Perth Royal Wine Show 2009
Bronze Medal – Australian Small Winemakers Show 2009
Bronze Medal – Qantas Wine Show of WA 2009
90/100 – Campbell Mattison, The Wine Front
3 stars, Winestate Magazine New Release Tasting 2010

2006 Shiraz

Bronze Medal – Scoop Magazine Autumn 2010
Bronze Medal – Scoop Magazine Winter 2009

2005 Shiraz

Silver Medal – Cowra Wine Show 2008
Silver Medal – Margaret River Wine Show 2008
Silver Medal – Rutherglen Wine Show 2008
Bronze Medal – Margaret River Wine Show 2007
Bronze Medal – Qantas Wine Show of WA 2008

2004 Shiraz

Bronze Medal – Perth Royal Wine Show 2006

2003 Shiraz

Bronze Medal – Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2004
90/100,Tim White: Australian Financial Review August 05

2002 Shiraz

Bronze Medal – Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2004
Bronze Medal – Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2003