Tysons Stelzer, Wine Business Magazine. “There is something quite special about a truly cool season in the Hilltops, and I love the medium-bodied elegance and most of all the heightened varietal character that it has drawn out of Shiraz. This is a fine-boned wine of fine-strung mineral tannins, tangy acid drive, crunchy blackberry fruit and that glorious white pepper that only cool climate Shiraz can deliver. An absolute bargain. And age-worthy.”
Ned Goodwin MW “This is a very good Hilltops bottling, a sub-region with the altitude to obviate the wet weather of a cooler year, while accentuating a bit more ripeness. Mid-weighted, spicy and boasting real verve. Riffs on clove, menthol, white pepper, blue fruit allusions and dried aniseed ripple across a vertical skein of freshness, while finely wrought, gently gritty tannins compress the long finish. Excellent showing. Drinkable now, but best after 2026.”This is a very good Hilltops bottling, a sub-region with the altitude to obviate the wet weather of a cooler year, while accentuating a bit more ripeness. Mid-weighted, spicy and boasting real verve. Riffs on clove, menthol, white pepper, blue fruit allusions and dried aniseed ripple across a vertical skein of freshness, while finely wrought, gently gritty tannins compress the long finish. This has the most concentration of the three shiraz/syrah without being heavy in the slightest. Excellent showing. Drinkable now, but best after 2026. Screw cap.
JamesSuckling.com 93pts This is a very good Hilltops bottling, a sub-region with the altitude to obviate the wet weather of a cooler year, while accentuating a bit more ripeness. Mid-weighted, spicy and boasting real verve. Riffs on clove, menthol, white pepper, blue fruit allusions and dried aniseed ripple across a vertical skein of freshness, while finely wrought, gently gritty tannins compress the long finish. This has the most concentration of the three shiraz/syrah without being heavy in the slightest. Excellent showing. Drinkable now, but best after 2026. Screw cap.
Campbell Mattinson – The Wine Front 93 pts I’ve always been partial and I’d say that this is a very good release.Mint, peppercorn, sweet spice, salted nuts and floral notes run into fresh red cherry and plum flavours. There’s a smoky meatiness at play here too and while it’s not overt I’d also say that it’s a key part of this wine’s shtick. Tannin is fine, length is sound, oak is integrated and all the components feel as though they’re pulling in the one direction. This is a good wine and (very) good value. Drink 2023-2028+
