Red

South Australia

Shiraz

The quality of the fruit for this marvelous wine that comes from the Magill Estate right in the suburbs of Adelaide was stunning. Opens with dark fruits of blackberry and plum with deeper notes of licorice and sage-bush. The seamlessly presented palate displays a mass of dark chocolate and dried herbs. Fine chalky tannins and a decent lick of French...

South Australia

Shiraz

This started life as a red wine trial to see how Penfolds could marry French oak with Barossa shiraz. To say it has worked is an understatement. This is a cracker. Perfumed spicy notes on the nose with a peppery fennel character. The palate is elegant, in fact as elegant and smoothly integrated as I can recall. Dark chocolate and...

South Australia

Shiraz

This is sublime. It’s a 100% shiraz from the Barossa and McLaren Vale. In some years depending on vintage, it includes some cabernet but the quality this year was perfect. Elegant and stylish with the power and poise you expect of a wine that will cellar for decades. Colour is dense black with just a little red on the edges....

Manjimup

Cabernet Sauvignon

The smooth rich opulence of the small '20 vintage is on show in this very good cabernet. Dense dark plum and blackcurrant on the nose with a liberally sprinkling of spices. The grainy concentrated palate builds relentlessly to a long finish with the support of a firm spine of oak and tannin. Has the structure and poise to handle cellaring.

Manjimup

Cabernet Sauvignon

The elegance and stylish poise of this cooler vintage is captured in this smooth and refined cabernet. Loaded with succulent blackcurrant fruits released initially on the nose and then powered through on the palate. There’s a little dried herb and bay leaf characters emerging with richer dark chocolate. A neatly presented cabernet.

Manjimup

Pinot Noir

This is the finest pinot yet released by Vic Peos. It moves the excellent Four Kings from this vintage into another level of complexity and power. This shows more black cherry into dark plum nuances with a spicy and more truffly character edging in. The palate is sublimely structured – smooth and velvety yet with structure and underlying power that...

Manjimup

Shiraz

There was no shortage of ripe fruit flavours in the opulent 2020 vintage, and this is evident in this plush and generously proportioned shiraz. Loads of plump though medium bodied ripe plum and mulberry fruit flavours with a hint of blue fruits. Fine chalky tannins balance the palate with a little help from a light touch of oak. It’s a...

Manjimup

Cabernet Sauvignon

This is a super value current drinking cabernet. Abundance of black currant, little black olive on the nose, and a lift of bay leaf, and then a palate that is powerfully concentrated but delivered with a degree of finesse, thanks to those fine tannins and just a gentle hint of oak in support. It’s bright with energy and an ideal...

Manjimup

Pinot Noir

Manjimup excelled in this terrific vintage, producing one of the best yet under this label. The aromas burst open to reveal an exotic strawberry and spicy combination with a subtle underlying savoury field mushroom depth. There is structure in the palate with chalky tannins and fine-grained oak supporting that fleshy fruit intensity. Classy wine, this.

Manjimup

Cabernet Sauvignon

This is a worthy partner to the exceptional Four Aces shiraz from this vintage. It opens with such a perfectly typical varietal cabernet nose of ripe and intense blackcurrant, dark plum, some spices, and a little leafy lift. Oh, and a dollop of dark chocolate. Then the palate is really seamlessly woven together with all those dark fruits managed with...

Manjimup

Pinot Noir

A highly expressive pinot from a season which turned out pretty well for this variety. Aromas of sour cherry and mushroom are typically pinot, and then some lighter, brighter red fruits emerge. The palate has a slightly spicy character. It's textured and seamless, with a fine thread of chalky tannins and some nice fine acidity sustaining the structural integrity that...

Manjimup

Pinot Noir

A thoroughly beautiful expression of Manjimup pinot noir. Bright red fruits on the nose of dominant strawberry but then infused with a complex mushroomy, earthy character that brings another dimension. The palate has real structure and a solid core and yet wrapped around it is the flesh of generous pinot characters. Finely crafted with excellent tannin and oak, harnessing some...

Manjimup

Shiraz

If you remember 2020, it was warm, it was early, oh, and it had COVID, but the wines produced were, in some cases, quite exceptional. This is a super example of the vintage. It’s rich, it’s textured, it’s lavish, and it’s loaded with fruit, all perfectly poised and presented. The aromas are a blue fruit, plummy mulberry combo with a...

Manjimup

Shiraz

Shiraz can sometimes be overlooked in Manjimup, it being a cool viticultural region. But in good seasons, and ’23 was one of those, the wines can be excellent. In this case, this is a beautiful medium-weight, seamless, smooth, effortless shiraz harnessing some excellent fruit characters. Aromas of chocolate and dark plum with a little lifted spice, and then a palate...

Manjimup

Red Blend

Beautiful contemporary blend of these two varieties from a season that was ideal for producing approachable, friendly and quite delicious wines. This has some lifted leafy blackcurrant aromatics with dark berry influences. A little raisin fruitcake and a dollop of chocolate. Palate lifts with more red fruits and with the fine tannins, directs through to a long finish. It’s a...

Manjimup

Pinot Noir

Highly fragrant, perfumed pinot bursting with dominant red fruits, raspberry and strawberry. And then a palate that is quite fruit-driven but with good structure. Cherry and light chocolate notes and a little mushroomy character add complexity to a well-crafted palate. Has a fine minerality as it sustains a long finish.

Manjimup

Shiraz

Ah, the ’23 vintage. It rears up again. This is a wonderful wine expressing this cooler climate region but capturing the wonders of this great vintage. It’s medium-bodied, lovely lifted fruit on the nose, displaying a plummy red fruit combination, and then a palate that is simply sublimely integrated and seamless. Fine chalky tannins, neatly applied oak, and that plush,...

Manjimup

Red Blend

This is a new wine from Peos. It's a shiraz and cabernet blend produced by combining the best barrels of the vintage. Without doubt, the best Peos wine I have tasted. Smooth and effortless, yet at the same time powerful and deeply intense. The mix of mulberry, blackcurrant and spices is engaging. The firm fine core of chalky tannin and...

Manjimup

Shiraz Blend

This is something of a powerhouse blend from a vintage which produced some excellent wines. The nose is a splash of dark fruits with blackcurrant, dark plum, and even a little mulberry. The palate has retained a firm structural feel providing definition and direction. Rich, layered black fruits, savoury and cedary characters, and slightly dusty, chalky tannins adding further direction...

Pemberton

Red Blend

This is a blend of 65% merlot, 20% cabernet sauvignon and 15% cabernet franc. Takes the standard wine a little deeper and a little longer with an immediately more complex and layered palate profile. It gets an extra year in older oak which obviously plays a part in its palate feel, creating a nice softening effect. A most complete wine...

Pemberton

Red Blend

A Right Bank-inspired blend of dominant merlot with contributions from cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc. It’s a slightly atypical Aussie style with its restrained elegance and less reliance on plump ripe fruit. This is one of the best. Bright aromas of bay leaf, black cherry and tomato bush. The palate is medium-weight with depth and poise. A fine lingering acidity...

Pemberton

Cabernet Sauvignon

This slightly more restrained vintage has contributed to a pretty and delightfully elegant wine. Has an engaging mix of light plum, cherry and licorice. On the finish a little chalky minerality adds that final tick. Love the oak and tannin integration which have contributed to the medium weight frit to create a thoroughly beautiful expression of these three varieties.

Pemberton

Red Blend

An elegant and stylish example from what was a cooler vintage, though it still crams plenty into its tight frame. There's a mix of blue and red fruits and a floral aroma. The palate is still quite tightly wound, yet the seamless integration of oak and fruit controls and extends through to a long finish with effortless ease. A nice...

Pemberton

Red Blend

Here is a sort of left bank, right bank combination. Seamlessly structured and intense red blend that captures what Pemberton can do when the season is right. Aromas of light cedar, some dark black fruits, a little perfumed lift. There's a subtle, earthy, gamey character lurking that adds so much complexity to the primary fruits. It's a wine that exhibits...

Pemberton

Pinot Noir

A most pretty wine showing delightfully friendly primary red fruit characters on the nose and then into the palate. Floral notes merge with cherry and spicy slightly earthy notes. The palate is light bodied and deliciously fruit driven, displaying bright fruit characters. The palate is balanced with excellent tannin and oak harnessing the fruit, building relentlessly to a long finish.

Pemberton

Pinot Noir

This was a super year in the most parts of the State, and you can see the thoroughly beautifully expressive sweet and sour fruit characters immediately. First things, first. It totally belies its 10 years of age. Still with primary cherry and raspberry fruits but with that emergence of a meaty, truffly character the first signs of its maturity. Has...

Pemberton

Pinot Noir

Such an elegant and most beautifully pretty wine that is classically pinot in character and structure. The cooler year has held it tight and fine, yet the deeper fruit intensity emerges. The nose is a merging of cherry and spicy raspberry with a chalky limestone dusty overlay. The structure is still quite firm with chalky tannins running the show but...

Pemberton

Pinot Noir

Here's a compelling case for holding back some of these wines. I looked at it 12 months ago, and while it was tidy and impressive then, that extra year to settle has improved it immeasurably, earning another tick from me. The aroma is floral and perfumed with cherries and plums, and the palate delivers with certainty and poise, showing slightly...

Pemberton

Pinot Noir

Well, well, well. I expected the ’23 pinot from Picardy to be pretty special, and it is. Actually, it’s better than special. Aromatics are fragrant and alluring, with bright red fruits, a subtle truffly raspberry and cherry mix, and a touch of limestone nuance. The palate is simply sublime. This is pinot noir that helps define the variety in Western...

Pemberton

Pinot Noir

In many ways, the recipe is about the same as for chardonnay, with French oak barriques, 25% new and 10 months' maturation. The key with this wine is it's made from 11 selected clones, nine of which are from Dijon. It's a marvellous example of pinots that the panels are producing these days. Savoury, chalky, faintly mushroom characters on the...

Pemberton

Shiraz

A beautifully perfumed and aromatic shiraz that sits a little closer to the syrah style in structure and weight. No matter, it has a little viognier and malbec which contribute to the initial burst on the nose. The palate is velvety smooth and integrated with a fine chalky tannin influence on the supple fruit. Gets about 18% new oak and...

Pemberton

Pinot Noir

A solid and impressive shiraz from a very good season. An opening salvo of black fruits shows intensity and drive. On the nose, there's a further lift of spicy florals and red fruits with just a trace of raspberry. The palate is firm and concentrated, a powerful wine of great presence, demonstrating what can be achieved with shiraz from the...

Pemberton

Shiraz

With a strong focus on chardonnay and pinot noir, some of the other excellent wines within the portfolio can be overlooked, and this is one of them. This is shiraz co-fermented with a small amount of malbec and viognier. Has a bright and lustrous colour, palish red with a little crimson hue. Nose is bright red fruits with a raspberry,...

Pemberton

Pinot Noir

So, here’s the thing. The ’20 Tete was the wine Bill Pannell was waiting for most of his life. It was a wonderful wine. But the ’21 comes along and delivers a wine of equal class and refinement, but in a slightly prettier more seductive and alluring form, a product of this cooler year. Complex weave of aromas with a...

Pemberton

Pinot Noir

Wow, this is something special…very special. This is at the pinnacle of the Pannell family’s quest for great pinot noir. The 2020 vintage is spoken of in hushed tones, yet this one is pushing it all the way. It was a little closed when tasted but you don’t have to look far to see its greatness. It’s a multi-clonal blend...

Pemberton

Pinot Noir

This is the best of the best from the Pannells and a wonderful testament to the endless pursuit of great pinot in Australia. In fact, great pinot anywhere. It's a wine that combines all the essential elements of pinot. It's elegant, it's refined, yet ultimately it is still powerful and defined. Red fruits and earthy characters on the nose, a...

Pemberton

Pinot Noir

My oh my. I thought the 2018 was the best yet from Picardy, but this one might have just pipped it. Let me try it in another year before I get off the fence. This is power, precision and poise. A seductive perfumed aroma of cherry and raspberry and a vanillin spicy character emerging. Has a chalky minerality that threads...

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

Not the opulence of the 2018, but instead a wine of purity and elegance with a long refined palate. Nice combination of meaty blackcurrant on the nose. The cabernet franc brings a lift of fragrant violet and red berry. The palate is medium bodied with a fine chalky tannin and a sliver of oak in support. A stylish wine of...

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

Such a stylish and elegant expression of the '19 vintage. The extra time in bottle has been so important for this vintage, as it has allowed the wine to really knit together and begin to release its riches. Gets a boost with the acidity of the petit verdot and the perfumes of the cab franc. Beautiful palate structure and texture...

Margaret River

Cabernet Blend

Cabernet sauvignon and merlot make up the bulk of the blend, but smaller components of petit verdot, cabernet franc, and malbec play important roles in completing the seamlessness and smooth integration that marks this wine. It is a wine of seamless elegance and real refinement, with opulent, fleshy fruit showing richness and presence. Already displaying complexity, but with the potential...