Has a high-end black pepper and perfume character with a little Chinese five spice character on the nose. A beautiful medium weight palate which is effortlessly long and precise. Elegant fine-boned tannin sync with the black fruits. No new oak has been used and the aim is clearly to capture the essence of Frankland which it does. Of the Farvies...
Ray Jordan99points
Frankland River
Swinney Farvie Syrah 2022
Syrah
I think this has claims to be the finest Farvie Syrah yet in its relatively short history. The colour is just brilliant and bright with a glowing purely crimson hue. Power, intensity and concentration delivered with such poise. Bright red fruits with floral dark cherry and a little black olive adds to its nuanced capture on the nose. The palate...
Ray Jordan94points
Frankland River
Swinney Frankland grenache 2025
Grenache
Delightfully fragrant, perfumed grenache that delivers medium weight but generous fruit intensity. Nice red fruits on the nose, some rose petal and a trace of lavender. The palate is more medium-bodied, beautifully smooth and supple, with this lovely raspberry fruit character dominant. So beautifully bright and vibrant, with a lively, long and focused finish.
Ray Jordan95points
Frankland River
Swinney Frankland mourvèdre 2025
Mourvèdre
This Rhône variety has really found a home in Frankland, and this is another compelling example of the variety. Lovely savoury, mineral notes float across some nice red fruits, with a subtle ironstone edge. The palate is generous but supple, with that fine thread of chalky tannins supported by very gentle oak, handling and controlling the fruit through to a...
Ray Jordan96points
Frankland River
Swinney Frankland syrah 2025
Shiraz
The boldest and richest of the Rhône triumvirate of syrah, grenache and mourvèdre. The colour is a deep inky red. The nose is an intense and engaging spicy plum and dark chocolate combination. And then a palate that is both structured and supple, with a fine thread of mineral, ironstone tannins, some well-weighted, understated oak and stacks of plush, lush...
Ray Jordan96points
Great Southern
Swinney Grenache 2022
Grenache
Fragrant, highly perfumed and thoroughly delightful opening of this bouquet. The fruit intensity is stunning especially when you consider the medium palate weight. It's such a vibrant and pure expression of the vineyard with a distinct ironstone, grainy character evident. Lifted red rose petal fruits with a trace of raspberry brightness. A distinctly linear wine with a high chalky acidity....
Ray Jordan96points
Frankland River
Swinney Grenache 2023
Grenache
The pretty much perfect season in Frankland River has resulted in some of the best grenache yet released from this region. This is certainly a case in point. Yes, it’s soft and supple with plush red fruits and florals, but there is a more serious structure and purpose through the middle palate. Radiates brightness from its deep crimson red hues...
Ray Jordan94points
Frankland River
Swinney grenache 2024
Grenache
A delightfully fragrant, light to medium-bodied grenache from bush vines on the Wilson's Pool Vineyard. The season was challenging, requiring significant fruit to be dropped and careful hand harvesting to ensure only the best grapes were used. The wine was berry-sorted and gravity-fed into small wooden and stainless steel fermenters, with a higher percentage of whole bunch added during wild...
Ray Jordan95points
Margaret River
Swinney Margaret River cabernet sauvignon 2025
Cabernet Sauvignon
The fruit comes from Rob Mann’s Calgardup vineyard, with about 6% cabernet franc. Classically cabernet in character, it has a leafy blackcurrant lift on the nose, with redcurrant, oyster shell and cracked seashell characters. Medium-bodied and wonderfully expressive, it has a vibrant tannin line that reflects the vineyard’s proximity to the ocean. There is a crunchy, energetic quality throughout, with...
Ray Jordan95points
Great Southern
Swinney Mourvedre 2022
Mourvèdre
This is a variety that is finding a safe, comfortable home in Frankland River. Lovely perfumed red fruits on the nose displaying a slightly earthy, dusty raspberry and light plummy character. The palate is soft and supple. It's medium weight with a fine chalky ironstone thing treading through the palate. The cradle of tannins and fine oak, together with natural...
Ray Jordan95points
Frankland River
Swinney Mourvedre 2023
Mourvèdre
Yet another remarkable Rhone variety expressed perfectly from Frankland River. The aim appears to have been to present this as true a reflection of the vineyard as possible. It’s from bush vines and then a combination of whole bunches to build structure, wild fermentation to build texture and then finishing off for 11 months on lees in older French oak....
Ray Jordan95points
Frankland River
Swinney mourvèdre 2024
Mourvèdre
This wine, grown from dry-grown bush vines on the Swinney Wilson's Pool Vineyard, illustrates the inherent qualities of mourvèdre in this region, along with distinctive vineyard character. It's medium-bodied with lovely fragrances and the regional influence of a slightly ironstone, ferrous note. The inclusion of 18% whole bunches with wild fermentation has added structure and texture, fleshing out the middle...
Ray Jordan96points
Great Southern
Swinney Syrah 2022
Shiraz
This is part of a triumvirate of wines that showcases the vineyard and winemaking that have crafted these super wines. This is not your fruit bomb Aussie shiraz. This is syrah and there is more than a little Old World style here. The fruit shows an almost luminosity that bursts from the glass. The palate picks up the vineyard characters...
Ray Jordan96points
Frankland River
Swinney Syrah 2023
Syrah
This excellent syrah includes the newly introduced clones 470 and 171, which contribute to a new level of complexity. It’s been made with a light winemaker’s touch and only a tiny amount of new French oak to spice things up. There is structure here diving deep into the medium bodied highly perfumed and supple fruit characters. Spices and a little...
Ray Jordan95points
Frankland River
Swinney syrah 2024
Shiraz
The colour is striking—deep red and almost opaque in parts. This wine comes from the Wilson's Pool and Powderbark Vineyards from vertically trellised syrah vines. The combination of Massale selection syrah and the more recently added clones 470 and 171 has introduced new characters and complexity to what was already an impressive wine. Whole bunches and wild fermentation bring texture...
Ray Jordan93points
Geographe
Talisman Cabernet Malbec 2020
Cabernet Blend
A thoroughly beautiful example of this blend from what turned out to be a very good vintage. Highly aromatic with lifted blackcurrant and chocolaty bay leaf. The medium weight and perfectly balanced palate reveals more plummy spicy characters augmented with richer dark chocolate. It’s a smooth and elegant wine of some class.
Ray Jordan93points
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Talisman Cabernet Malbec 2021
Cabernet Sauvignon
Talisman has been something of a champion of the combination, using malbec which seems well-suited to the property. A wave of blackcurrant invades initially with a jubey red fruit lift. The palate is quite firm with assertive tannins adding structure and bite. A little licorice and dark plum add further complexity as it sweeps to a long finish.
Ray Jordan94points
Geographe
Talisman Malbec 2021
Malbec
This is a small volume production, but it is always one of my favourites from Talisman. Loads of dark chocolate coat the primary blackcurrant with the rhubarb pie character. The tannins are remarkably smooth as they support the supple rich and quite luscious palate. Strikes a nice oak and fruit balance with those tannins lurking in the background.
Ray Jordan92points
Geographe
Talisman Malbec 2022
Malbec
An elegant, balanced and poised malbec from this very good red wine vintage. Initial aromas of red fruits with a little spice and coffee grinds. The palate has a fine minerality cutting through its medium body, holding the line to a sustained finish. Bright and lively.
Ray Jordan96points
Geographe
Talisman malbec 2023
Malbec
Malbec has been a winner at Talisman over a number of years, and I’d have to say this one is as good as any I have seen. It captures all the ripe, generous fruit that you expect from this variety, and it delivers it with the supple tannins and the support of some nice oak, plenty of vibrant red fruits,...
Ray Jordan94points
Geographe
Talisman Merlot 2018
Merlot
This now mature merlot is really showing what can be achieved with this variety. It has always been a strong performer at Talisman. Perfumed notes of earthy violet with emerging leathery spicy nuances. Balanced medium bodied palate has structure and definition to support the smooth fruit combination of leathery black olive and savoury dark fruits.
Ray Jordan96points
Geographe
Talisman merlot 2019
Merlot
Some years ago, Talisman made the important decision to add some different clones of merlot to the vineyard, and it has started to pay dividends. This is a merlot that offers the depth and the fruit weight with the structure and the suppleness that you get from the best merlots. The aromas have a deep blackberry, black olive character with...
Ray Jordan96points
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Talisman Merlot 2020
Merlot
Consistently one of the finest merlots released in WA. And this from the opulent '20 vintage is a cracker. Talisman started using new clones a few years ago, and the result has been a merlot that brings structure and definition to the table. The nose displays dark plum with a minerally graphite edge and a slightly earthy blackcurrant nuance that...
Ray Jordan96points
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Talisman Merlot 2021
Merlot
While less opulent than the plump 2020, it more than compensates with its elegance and silkiness. It takes advantage of the new clones that are now part of the vineyard. The result is a merlot that has structure and poise but at the same time retains the beautiful perfumes that are part of its DNA. A little savouriness complements the...
Ray Jordan95points
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Talisman Museum Release Cabernet Malbec 2014
Cabernet Blend
This was from an exceptional vintage throughout Western Australia. It is now a wine that bridges the divide between the primary fruit stage and the more mature early developed stage. It is drinking quite brilliantly. Has a slightly spicy and leathery aroma which merges with the primary dark fruits. The palate has a spicy touch to lift the generous medium...
Ray Jordan89points
Geographe
Talisman Spook Rock Cabernet 2023
Cabernet Sauvignon
A soft and ready to drink cabernet loaded with plush fruits exhibiting ripe plum and dark blackcurrant characters. It’s seamless and dominated by the warm fleshy fruit of this vintage. A value for money wine made for current drinking.
Ray Jordan94points
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Talisman Wild Child malbec 2025
Malbec
These malbecs from Ferguson have always been among the best in the state. This one's another excellent example. It combines a degree of power and intensity, but it delivers with those plump, ripe red fruits of malbec, providing such a buoyant, vibrant palate. As it breathes, plush, juicy red fruits continue to emerge, with a chalky tannin and minerally acidity...
Ray Jordan93points
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Talisman WildChild Zinfandel 2023
Zinfandel
The liqueur chocolate and dark cherry and raspberry characters are evident initially on the nose. But there is a vibrant perfumed lift. The adoption of carbonic maceration techniques has produced that perfumed high tone red fruit aromatic on the nose, while bringing an energy and spritely touch to the palate. It's designed as an immediate drinking zin, and it works...
Ray Jordan90points
Geographe
Talisman Wildchild zinfandel 2024
Zinfandel
This is a lighter style of zin, in fact the colour is sort of a pale crimson pink, but it has lovely aromatics with a slightly cherry ripe, chewy raspberry character. Palate has lovely, sweet fruit, and it’s neatly balanced. It’s a wine that would go well over summer and serve slightly chilled. It’s quite delicious.
Ray Jordan94points
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Talisman Zinfandel 2020
Zinfandel
When you manage to keep the alcohol down with zinfandel it can really produce something special. This still has punch but also displays a brightness and vibrancy that comes at lower alcohols. Loads of red fruit with a raspberry and milk chocolate aroma. The palate is smooth and delicious with those red raspberry fruit flavours. A most enjoyable zin.
Ray Jordan93points
Geographe
Talisman Zinfandel 2021
Zinfandel
This slightly cooler season has resulted in a more restrained and stylish zin. The nose opens with distinctive aromas of liqueur cherry and raspberry dominating over the slightly confectionary jubey characters. The palate is remarkably soft and supple with a vanillin oak influence emerging and some slightly grainy tannins sitting within. Smooth.
Ray Jordan93points
Great Southern
Terra Riche War of the Roses shiraz 2022
Shiraz
This is a lovely wine that expresses this vintage, which turned out to be mighty good in the Great Southern. A lovely combination of plums and spice with a little dark cherry on the nose, followed by a palate which is both seamless and supple but with excellent intensity delivered on a medium body. A harmonious mix of oak and...
Ray Jordan91points
Great Southern
The Lake House Denmark Pinot Noir 2022
Pinot Noir
The nose bursts with a powerful hit of black cherry and slightly earthy truffle like characters. The palate is fleshy with more strawberry dominant flavours emerging. The oak is well judged and sits with the chalky tannins to cradle the palate through to a sustained finish of dark chocolate and subtle limestone.
Ray Jordan94points
Great Southern
The Lake House Premium Reserve pinot noir 2023
Pinot Noir
Denmark is such a good region for pinot, and this one from the very good 2023 season is a beautifully expressive example/ On the nose, you get that fairly typical varietal combination of truffles and cherry with a lifted strawberry note. The palate reveals more red fruit flavours, supported by a firmish tannin thread for structure with a spicy lift...
Ray Jordan95points
Frankland River
The Yard Acacia Vineyard shiraz 2023
Shiraz
Oh wow, I’m loving this beauty. It’s such a fine and silky smooth shiraz from this super vineyard, which sits on the banks of the Frankland River. Sweet ripe fruit flavours displaying mulberry and subtle blue fruits, while the fine chalky tannins gently control and define the focused, extended finish. Super wine.
Ray Jordan94points
Frankland River
The Yard Riversdale cabernet sauvignon 2022
Cabernet Sauvignon
An excellent vintage has pumped some mighty good fruit into this classically elegant and refined cabernet from this great vineyard in Frankland River. Red and black fruits on the nose with a slightly floral perfumed lift. The flavours are held with control thanks to the fine, firm tannin influence and fine-grained integrated oak. Has a beautiful chalky minerally palate feel.
Ray Jordan96points
Margaret River
Thomas William Wines Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
Cabernet Sauvignon
It’s hard to imagine a more classically defined cabernet than this outstanding medium bodied elegant wine. Aromas of blackcurrant infiltrated by bright red raspberry and cherry with an exotic African violet lift. Add a little graphite and bay leaf with a trace of black olive, and you have classic cabernet. Totally seamless palate structure with fine tannins and oak influence...
Ray Jordan96points
Margaret River
Thomas William Wines cabernet sauvignon 2023
Cabernet Sauvignon
The power, richness, and concentrated intensity come from the source of the fruit, which is old vines in the northern Yallingup region. The nose is a powerhouse of blackcurrant and black olive, with a lift of floral red fruits. The palate is where things get interesting, with luscious, opulent dark fruit concentrated into a tight core of fine chalky tannins...
Ray Jordan95points
Margaret River
Thomas William Wines Syrah & Co. 2023
Syrah
Clever name. It’s a syrah based blend that fits well within the syrah style. I like everything about it. The aromas show a lift of white pepper and spice with a slightly exotic gingery stone fruit. The medium bodied palate is simply exquisite with fine chalky tannins understated oak, a result of the older oak use, and a fine defining...
Ray Jordan94points
Margaret River
Thompson Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
Cabernet Sauvignon
Perfumed and highly scented cabernet from what turned out to be a pretty good year after the early heat. Blackcurrant and leafy dark plum with a little oyster shell minerality on the nose. The palate is still tightly held with an angular thread of tannins and tight fine-grained oak. Structured and regal.