Recent Reviews & News

2022 Domaine de la Vieille Julienne Chateauneuf-du-Pape les Hauts-Lieux
"Black and red fruits, liquorice, dried herbs and spice, a sort of beef pan juices richness here, some floral notes manage to poke through. Full-bodied, ripe cherry, some orange peel from the Mourvèdre no doubt, balanced acidity, an impressive sweep of firm stony tannin, with excellent length, some dark chocolate to close. Feels like a long term wine to me, and while robust, it’s so very impressive." 95 Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine front

2023 00 EGW Chardonnay
"The 2023 00 Wines EGW Chardonnay begins with a pale ivory tone and opens into aromas of crushed river stones, bergamot, and early spring pear, all lifted by a faint hint of chamomile. As the wine unfolds, a gentle creaminess stretches across the palate, carrying flavors of baked quince and preserved lemon that gather richness without ever feeling heavy. A sleek line of acidity flows underneath, shaping the wine with clarity and giving each sip a refreshing drive. Subtle notes of hazelnut skin and airy vanilla bean glide in near the finish, weaving themselves into the wine’s naturally vibrant profile. The texture shifts between silk and tension, creating a layered sense of movement that deepens as it evolves in the glass. Highly recommended." 97 Points, Jeremy Young, International Wine Report

"Lots of struck match, quince, lemon curd, baked apple, mint and spicy oak. It’s an opulent and juicy wine,  honey drizzled white fruit and pineapple, a powdery texture to it, a cool tang to acidity, with a rich nutty and grainy finish of very good length. A Rolls Royce Chardonnay, if you will." 95 Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front

2023 00 VGW Chardonnay
"Lemon oil, grapefruit, lightly tropical (mango and pineapple), spicy oak, mint, toasted hazelnut, honey, some flinty smokiness. It’s nutty and savoury, green apple and green mango, some truffle, quite the burst of tangy citrus acidity, a grainy grip to texture, with a bold finish that’s tight, saline and long. It’s a bold wine that’s sort of turned up to eleven, though it’s focussed and firm all the same. Quite a lot, though much improved with a serious amount of aeration." 94+ Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front

 "Drawing entirely from volcanic soils, the 2023 00 Wines VGW Chardonnay presents a glowing pale gold tone and opens with scents that drift toward crushed seashells, citrus zest, and cool minerality, followed by hints of nectarine flesh. As it moves across the palate, the wine leans into flavors of salted golden apple and lightly caramelized orchard fruit, shaped by a supple texture that stays lifted and vibrant. A clean, shining line of acidity keeps everything finely tuned, allowing the wine’s energy and finesse to unfold with impressive clarity. This bottling serves as 00 Wines’ entry-level Chardonnay, yet it carries an elegance and confidence well beyond what the wine suggests. The VGW finishes with a gentle snap of salinity and citrus that leaves the palate refreshed. Highly recommended and editor’s choice." 96 Points, Jeremy Young, International Wine Report

2023 00 Wines Shea Pinot Noir
"The 2023 00 Wines Shea Pinot Noir opens with a medium ruby blue core that immediately draws attention to its vibrancy and depth. Blueberry and Marionberry aromas rise first, followed by a smooch of rhubarb that adds lift and brightness. Layers of dried lavender and white pepper offer an herbal and spicy counterpoint, adding nuance to the nose. On the palate, the body shows gorgeous weight, bringing perfect balance to the interplay of fruit, spice, and earth. The tannins are grippy yet polished, creating structure without overshadowing the wine’s medium-bodied frame. Moderate plus acidity keeps everything lively, allowing the wine’s detail to unfold with clarity. It is already compelling, though clearly destined to show even more in 2027 and beyond. Highly recommended." 98 Points, Jeremy Young, International Wine Report  

2023 00 Wines Chehalem Mountain Pinot Noir
"The 2023 00 Wines Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir opens with a medium ruby purple core that transitions into a shimmering neon red rim, giving the wine an immediately striking visual presence. The nose gathers beautifully, offering dried purple wildflowers, marionberries, crushed blueberries, sweet Christmas spice, and a light thread of cedary herbs. On the palate, the wine carries lovely blue fruit tones layered with earthy accents that add grounding complexity. Moderate tannins shape the structure while the medium body maintains a graceful sense of balance. A moderate plus lift of acidity brings freshness without overshadowing the fruit. As the wine glides toward the finish, the interplay of earth and vibrant fruit remains at the forefront, creating a lingering and expressive close. The combination of texture and aromatics suggests continued development in the years ahead. Highly recommended." 98 Points, Jeremy Young, International Wine Report  

"Aromas of meringue, vanilla, dried apples and flint are more than evident. Medium-bodied with chewy yet integrated phenolics that run up and down the palate. Racy finish. Drink or hold." 96 Points, James Suckling

2023 00 Wines VGR Pinot Noir
"Transparent and minerally, showing dark-cherry and forest-floor aromas with some ink and blood undertones. Medium-bodied with beautiful integration and excellent length that goes on for minutes. Firm tannins. Vivid. From ungrafted vines planted in the 1970s. Drink or hold." 97 Points, James Suckling

2023 00 Wines Seven Springs Chardonnay
"Lots of coconut and wood on the nose with apple pie and citrus. Both dried and cooked apples with coconut continue on the full-bodied, really flavorful and tangy palate. Some yogurt and matchstick in the finish. Delicious and fresh. If you like full-throttle chardonnay, this is it. Drink or hold." 95 Points, James Suckling

2023 Jane Eyre Santenay Blanc
"A blend of several parcels coming from the Chassagne side of Santenay. 25%  new oak. White nectarine, honey, mint and white flowers, a little spice. It’s gently nutty with a sort of brittle toffee richness, white peach, a citrus cut lends freshness, acidity is bright and juicy, and the finish is fine and long with some lemon peel to close. It offers richness, but also has energy. Excellent." 94 Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front

2023 Jane Eyre Gevrey-Chambertin Les Corbeaux 1er Cru
The grower is the same as for the Gevrey village and as he always likes to point out, his village vineyards are situated opposite premier cru vineyards, and Les Corbeaux sits right next to Mazis-Chambertin Grand cru on the south side of the village. This year I increased the whole bunch percentage to 60%.” Tasted alongside the village Gevrey, and this wine certainly shows more richness and concentration, as you’d expect.

"Red cherry, spice, dark cocoa, a little toasty and earthy, dried roses and herbs, a liquorice richness emerges with air It’s supple and offers good density, rich silty tannin, dark cherry and strawberry, a softness to acidity, a sage and rose mouth-perfume, finishes with excellent length and sooty tannin grip. Perfume continues to rise with time in glass. Very nice." 95 Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front

2023 Jane Eyre Yarra Valley Pinot Noir
From 30 year old dry-grown vines (Syme on Yarra, Gruyere). Hand-picked and sorted. 20% whole bunch. 20% new oak.

"Cherry, ripe strawberry, sweet spices, dried roses, with something a bit more earthy here, which adds an extra dimension and complexity to the wine. It’s medium-bodied, red fruit and rhubarb, a cool almost blood orange tang to acidity, fine dusty tannin, pulling dry and firm on a gently sappy finish of excellent length, a twist of orange peel to close. Stylish. It’s Yarra, but there’s also something of a Burgundy character about it, which is interesting." 94 Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front

2024 Jane Eyre Tasmania Pinot Noir
A selection of three vineyards in the north of Tasmania. 20% whole bunch and pressed directly into 500L barrels (20% new) after a 2-week maceration. Indigenous yeast ferment and unfined ahead of bottling.

"Pops with juicy cherry and redcurrant, aromatic herbs, rose petals, biscuit spice and roast red capsicum. It’s a lively wine, red fruit with a cranberry freshness to acidity, something of an earthy and dried herb character, a fine grainy grip to tannin, fresh strawberry and spiced peel closes a finish of brightness and fine length. Fine bones, but still delivers a good amount of flavour. Could do with a year or two more to show its best side." 94+ Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front

2024 Billy Button The Versatile Vermentino 
"This is a white wine of character, prettiness and intensity. It’s excellent, full stop. It tastes of lime rind and aromatic herbs, brine, fennel, nectarine and roses, with lemon and red apples for afters. It’s very, very slightly textural but mostly it’s aromatic, flavoursome, pure and refreshing. Seek this out. It’s a beauty." 94 Points, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front

"The acid brightness, the cut apple freshness really tingles and excites. It's hard to imagine further ageing when vermentino tastes this good so young. Tight, firm, great acid line and length. Along the way the drinker is refreshed in lemon, grapefruit, pear and apple scents and flavours dressed in an almond skin, dry, light savouriness. A cool year delivers something crunchy and super tasty." 94 Points, Special Value,  Jeni Port, Halliday Wine Companion

2024 Billy Button The Torment Riesling
"This wine has a bit going for it. It tastes of apples and lime, spice and leaf, but it also has beautiful texture, lilt, length and flavour. There’s a steeliness to this; tonic and steel. It’s very good." 94 Points, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front

2024 Mr Riggs The Magnet Grenache 2024
"The fruit here is sweet but the length, mouthfeel and overall impression is delicious plus plus. This is a lovely wine to drink. It tastes of raspberry, potpourri, peppercorns and sweet, roasted spices, and both the overall flow and the finesse of the tannin are spot on. McLaren Vale grenache, once again, for the win." 93 Points, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front

2024 Jean-Paul Thévenet Morgon Vieilles Vignes
"Cherry, strawberry, quite some spice and perfume of rosehip tea. It’s light to medium-bodied, a crispness to it, strawberry, raspberry and dried cranberry, quite lively and sappy, and this vintage perhaps recalls an older school of Beaujolais, where crunch and freshness is the signature, rather than some of the more recent bolder vintages where tannin and lushness is the theme. The finish is lively, red fruited and a little nutty and creamy. It’s a very good wine, and in particular, it smells lovely."  94 Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front

2024 Dune Blewitt Springs Shiraz

Trophy: Best Shiraz - McLaren Vale Wine Show
Trophy: Best Shiraz, One Year Old or Younger - McLaren Vale Wine Show
Gold Medal - Sydney Royal Wine Show
Gold Medal - Melbourne Royal Wine Awards

2024 Pegasus Bay Riesling
"Pegasus Bay has this riesling thing sussed. This in particular balances on a fine fulcrum of acidity and residual sweetness, its aromas and flavours long and endearing. Lime, peach and apple fruits meld with hints of elderflower, crushed stone, honeysuckle, citrus blossom, quince paste and minerals. Taut and textural with just a touch of grapefruit pith, fine, tight acidity and a long draw on the finish. Just lovely drinking ... roast pork would be good!" 94 Points, Special Value, Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion

"Wonderful nose, perfumed florality, wisps of gunflint, apple, mandarin and honey. Honeyed entry, apple, citrus, greengage plum, some chewy grip building texture and impact, drier on the close than one might have thought. Lots of flavour nuances, complexity, now peach, a deeper note akin to lavender, a wonderfully long finish with refreshment. A delight to drink." Outstanding, Mark Henderson, Otago Daily Times, NZ

"Delicious on the nose and palate, a wine of complexity and purity. Aromas of apples and limes, mineral and honeysuckle, perhaps a lick of botrytis. Delicious, fresh, and dry as the wine touches the palate, with flavours that mirror the bouquet, supported by a backbone of acidity, salivating freshness, and a long finish with lemon peel and mineral notes." 95 Points, Cameron Douglas MS

"Gorgeously styled and expressed, the elegantly perfumed bouquet shows pineapple, lemon sorbet, crunchy apple, and rich floral aromas with a hint of spicy overtone. The succulent palate delivers a finely flowing mouthfeel, accompanied by elegant sweetness and bright acidity, finishing in a splendidly harmonious and lingering manner." 95 Points, Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

2021 Pegasus Bay Virtuoso Chardonnay
"Bright, even, straw yellow. The nose is full and bold, with aromas of gunflint, roasted almond, stonefruit, butter popcorn, lemon sherbet and spice. Full-bodied, aromas of lemon sherbet and peach have a pure core, entwined with butter popcorn, Oriental spice, roasted almond and flint. The rich, flinty elements are well-proportioned and powerful yet elevated, flowing smoothly along a creamy mouthfeel and enlivening acidity, which provides balance and elegance to an impressive, sustained finish. A robust, flinty Chardonnay with outstanding balance, elegance and layers." 19+/20, Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Wine Reviews

2022 Pegasus Bay Chardonnay
"So much happening on the nose, wild yeast match and gunflint, honeyed aspects, spices, ripe peach, that flinty note turning mineral. Some toasty char leads the palate, peach, nectarine, bright lemony citrus, exuding quiet richness and depth. Power matched by brightness, fresh, vital, a lovely each way bet to enjoy now or tuck in the cellar. you can easily reach for another glass." Excellent to Outstanding, Mark Henderson, Otago Daily Times, NZ 

97 Points, Special Value, Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion

"Bright, raspberry, rose petal, spices like fennel seed and cardamom, and quite exotic in that way. Medium-bodied, strawberry and raspberry, very bright and pretty, a luminous style, with delicate tannin, and a long finish. Giles Cooke says ‘you can really get about it’, which neatly distills the essence of this wine in fewer words than I’m capable of. Paperbark tannin and a stone fruit juiciness rounds it out. Delightful. 94 or 95, and I think the latter is the go." 95 Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front

2023 Pierro Chenin Blanc Nunc Tempus Est 
50% was matured in old oak for two months, the other 50% seeing stainless steel only. "This is a wine of presence and detail but it finishes taut, which makes me think that its best days are a while ahead. Green apple, lots of spice and gravel characters, thistles, citrus, woodsmoke and green mango. It’s a powerful wine, sure-footed, textural and charismatic. It’s enough to turn you onto chenin. Indeed, it’s enough to make you want to cellar it. This is a wine of clear excellence." 94+ Points, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front

2023 Bream Creek Reserve Pinot Noir
“Bright medium-deep colour, youthfully purple and fresh; there are smoky reduction and dark-cherry varietal aromas, while the palate presents deliciously sweet, ripe cherry pinot flavour and gorgeous silky texture. There is charm to burn here. Utterly delicious wine to enjoy now, although it will happily keep for several years.” 96 points Huon Hooke (The Real Review) July 2025

2024 Bream Creek Pinot Noir

Royal Queensland Wine Awards:
Trophy “Grand Champion”
Trophy “Best Red Wine”
Trophy “Best Pinot Noir”
Gold Medal - 96 Points

2021 Parker Estate First Growth
"100% Abbey vineyard. Maturation occurred in 75% new barriques for 16 months. Just as the '20 vintage hinted at its future potential, with subtle yet distinctive signs, the soon-to-be-released '21 vintage remains intriguingly reserved, keeping its secrets close in this exceptional year. A beautifully fruit-focused wine beginning with rosella and persimmon, following up with ruby figs and just-picked blackberries. There are coffee grinds, sansho pepper and paprika spice. A spider’s web of intricate tannin ensures this wine will age gracefully, unfolding at its own unhurried pace. The prestige it carries makes this a vintage you won’t want to miss. While already drinking beautifully, its true character will emerge between 10 and 18 years from now. I quiver at the thought of how sensationally this wine will evolve." 97 Points, Shanteh Wale, Halliday Wine Companion

2022 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon
“Harvested through the first three weeks of April. 50% new oak. Because we most often review these wines before they are available commercially, I rarely have a bottle image to hand, so I took my own. I’m sure Leeuwin will shudder at its rough charm and send me a nice one promptly! This seems to be our equal second highest rated Cabernet from the 2022 Margaret River vintage – also bear in mind that we are generally less profligate with our scores than many other publications.
What I like most about this wine is its cool feel and lovely tightly-knit graphite tannin. It’s medium-bodied, tobacco and pencils, nutty and spicy, quite some perfume, and yes there’s a bit of peppermint floating about, though it sits well within the wine. Red and black fruit, nutmeg, a flicker of liquorice richness, and it’s so very long and composed. Top shelf.”  95+ Points, Gary Walsh, the Wine Front

2024 Thistledown Wines Fool on the Hill Grenache
"Fermented in concrete pyramid with 20% whole bunches; 11 months in seasoned French oak. This from a new site to the brand, the Trial Hill vineyard, now owned and managed by Joel Mattschoss. This speaks the Thistledown dialect, expressly pure fruited yet intrinsically savoury, floral, elegant yet deep, finely but properly structured. There’s the usual cohort of red fruits, but it’s a little more earthy and spicy than its Vale peers. Day two is when this truly shines, becoming more fragrant with musk and souk spices. This is a wine to watch." 96 Points, Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion

2023 Thousand Candles Single Vineyard Syrah
"A select parcel of fruit from a now 30-year-old vineyard. A vibrant crimson purple. A discreet and poised bouquet of kirsch and incense together with lightly crushed violets and a smidgen of olive tapenade. Even better on the medium-bodied, well-delineated and balanced palate. The tannins are so well knit, you barely notice them on the long, expansive finish. A lovely, understated and age-worthy wine." 96 Points, Special Value, Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion

2023 Mount Pleasant Maurice O’Shea Shiraz 
"Wow, just wow. You know the blending bench has had tireless hours of tasting and conversation for this wine. The icon, the flagship, the cumulation of vintage and pedigree. It is a work of art, in every sense, and captures the magic of Mount Pleasant. Waves and curls of raspberry puree, rosehip and Alpine strawberry. A hint of Kirsch and bilberry. An undeniable sandy clay earthiness is tangible in each sip followed by white pepper, billy tea tannins and carried by eloquent and effortless acidity. It’s seamless to be quite frank and hard to imagine how the $ figure covers it. This will make you proud to be living in the state of New South Wales let alone the continent. At an early pre release this is drinking stonkingly well and will continue to evolve in ways the mind can only imagine. A magical mystical vintage of Maurice O’Shea!" 98 Points, Shanteh Wale, Winepilot

"Maurice O'Shea is the flagship blend of the best parcels from the finest vineyards of the Mount Pleasant estate. For this vintage, the vineyards included the 1880 vines of Old Hill and the Rosehill 1946 vines, with all grapes hand picked, destemmed and sorted, leaving the whole berries to soak before fermentation. The result is a stylish, medium-weight shiraz with incredible flavour intensity and an inherent lightness and energy. Beautifully supple, it bursts with warm strawberry fruit, enhanced by nuanced, fragrant oak. The mid-palate has impressive weight, while the intense, succulent flavours on the finish are captivating and memorable. Though it will cellar for decades, its remarkable approachability makes it hard to resist opening now." 98 Points, Toni Paterson, Halliday Wine Companion

Mount Pleasant 1880 Old Hill Shiraz 2023
"Sourced from the esteemed 1880 plantings and the stimulus for Mount Pleasant and its future. The 2023 Old Hill is worth taking a seat for. Brimming with blackberries, dark Bing cherries and top of the tree, impossibly out of reach, mulberries. This quite literally is the aroma of a childhood day well spent, the total freedom of outdoor Australia. Climbing trees, gorging on backyard mulberries, returning home with scuffed knees dirt between your toes. In situ with black toned fruit is fresh potting soil, wild moss and black cardamom spice. Sinewy tannins are shadowed by lingering long lines of acidity. It’s a fleshy wine with power packed into a tight frame of tailored precision. This will hold your full attention for longer than a blockbuster, a swift decant to get the full HD experience or allow to cellar for an additional 20-30 years. This wine is meant for only the best quality dry aged rib eye your money can afford." 97 Points, Shanteh Wale, Winepilot

"The grapes, sourced from the 1880 plantings (block MP-01), were picked in three passes to ensure perfect ripeness. It is an incredibly intense wine with a definitive dark fruit profile, featuring ripe mulberry, plum conserve and dried fig tones. The palate is generous and expansive and, despite being laden with sweet fruit, it finishes with freshness. The tannins are exceptionally well integrated, making it surprisingly approachable now while simultaneously possessing the strength to age for decades. The sheer intensity of the dark fruit is its hallmark, culminating in an explosive finale of flavour on the close." 97 Points, Toni Paterson, Halliday Wine Companion

2023 Mount Pleasant Mountain A Medium Bodied Dry Red 
"Fruit is sourced from the 1965 vines planted at Rosehill. Matured in less than 20% new puncheons for 9 months before blending. A stroll through a botanical garden could be likened to this floral, aromatic showstopper of a wine. Hibiscus, tea rose and creeping ivy meets raspberry leaf tea, redcurrants and wild fig. Lemon thyme, persimmon and blood plums. Acidity centres the plot of this wine, circling back to the moreishness and succulent palate. Tannins are powdery and even. Some black cherry pit gives a rounded depth to the middle palate, there is so much going on with this wine. It’s a bottle for opening and drinking over many hours, uncovering truths as you go. Drink with good conversation, a charcuterie board and warm socks on. Beautiful. Drink now or will age glacially if cellared well for another decade and more." 97 Points, Shanteh Wale, Winepilot

"Rosehill '65 vines with a 10% addition of '46 Rosehill shiraz post-maturation. Utterly gorgeous and expansive with a generous mid-palate and opulent, dark, soft fruits. Dark cherries and mulberries with distinctive floral tones. Supple, silky and sumptuous yet fluid, vibrant and alive." 96 Points, Toni Paterson, Halliday Wine Companion

2023 Mount Pleasant 1946 Rosehill Shiraz 
"A wine that has always moved me to tears, which may sound phony but such is the power and emotion the Creek block planted in 1946 evokes. The flowers are vast and totally exquisite, almost like the scent of climbing roses or budding Sweet peas. It’s tender in its perfume. Alongside sit wild strawberries, tayberries and Mariposa plums. Crumpled autumn leaves and cassia bark. Fruit is wholly ripe and juicy with an intensity matched by poignant acidity. There is the strength of spun silk tannins and the wine is nothing short of dynamic in every sip. It stands apart not just for its vine stock but for the delicate composition and alluring aerial aromas that leave you soaring up in the clouds. A vintage not to be missed. This wine cellars like a dream come true. Treat it well and it will reward ten fold. Serve alongside a blushing pink lamb loin rack." 97 Points, Shanteh Wale, Winepilot

"The Rosehill vineyard, with its slightly higher elevation and north-easterly aspect, is one of the last vineyards harvested in the Hunter Valley. This year's wine is a blend of the '56 and '65 vines. It has excellent flow and balance, with pitch-perfect medium weight, cherry fruit, faint florals and impressive vitality. It is a superb drink, with its seamless nature, fine tannins and softly sculpted palate. Easy to love." 96 Points, Special Value, Toni Paterson, Halliday Wine Companion

2023 Mount Pleasant O.P & O.H Shiraz 
"Sourced from the Old Paddock and Old Hill vineyards. A wine for peering into its depths, this is delicate with redcurrants, toffee apple and Rainier cherries. A swirl of blackberries and thistle too. Sage leaf, bitter carob and cumin spice. An ideal demonstration of the spectrum of fruit and nuance Shiraz offers when oak is judicious and site is the superstar. Acidity thrills in elegant undulating waves, tannins are silt like. This can rival any fine wine region or varietal, for its purity, definition of lacey texture and plume of perfume. This is innately beautiful and a wondrous wine that speaks not only of remarkable Australian history but of the future of fine wine and the legacy woven in the Mount Pleasant tale. Drink now or cellar further for another 15-20 years. This truly is some of the best value wine for your money, period." 96 Points, Shanteh Wale, Winepilot

2023 Mount Pleasant Mount Henry Shiraz Pinot Noir 
"To many generations the nifty blend of Shiraz and Pinot Noir might seem like a modern blending twist, but it is in fact a pioneering act of genius by Maurice O’Shea amongst many other acts of wonder. Both varieties are sourced from estate vineyards. This is a gateway wine for the delights of Mount Pleasant red program. Gala apple skin, rosella and red cherries compote. Bay leaf and sumac spice. There are wafts of rose thorn and rusted coin, red clay and nigella seed. Astute tannins peacock from front to back palate with a salted licorice twinge. Acidity pulls the focus of the wine back into its svelte and utterly drinkable shape. This is unlike anything else and a wine for breaking boundaries, the adventure of new beginnings and bringing sexy back. A nice pairing might be gochujang Korean fried chicken. You just never know till you try it, right! Drink now or will cellar well for 10-15 years." 95 Points, Shanteh Wale, Winepilot

2024 Coriole Negroamaro
"Another beautifully medium-weighted negroamaro. That’s not a sentence you hear often. This is a world away from the often opaque, craggy and warm-throated wines from Puglia. That said, this is Italianate in its heady but savoury perfume. Pale in the glass. Redolent of dried cherry and cranberry, plum skin, pressed wildflowers, fennel pollen, star anise, warm terracotta and caraway. The palate is gently but persistently tannic, edging down from mid-weight. Such a beautifully thoughtful and engaging expression of the variety. A delight." 94 Points, Special Value, Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion

2015 Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir Aged Release 
"Focused and refined notes of dark cherries, damson plums, potpourri, wet bark and porcini. The medium-bodied palate has seamless tannins and bright acidity, showing notes of blueberry bush, violets, cocoa beans and dried herbs. A wonderfully integrated and refined new-world pinot with some old-world charm. Excellent." 97 Points, James Suckling Wine Reviews

2015 Pegasus Bay Riesling Aged Release
"The extended age shows dried apples, pears and white flowers. Full-bodied with loads of fruit and phenolics that frame it nicely and give it length and polish. A waxy, lemon curd sense to this. Long, flavourful and very, very textured." 96 Points, James Suckling Wine Reviews 

2015 Pegasus Bay Riesling 
"Aged Release Fantastic bouquet—the Pegasus Bay signature of complexity, style, and a moment of botrytis—classic. I do notice a lick of ‘kero’ in the bouquet; it adds breadth, depth, and a certain Germanic quality. The bouquet also has an equal intensity of lemon and peach, with a distinctive minerality and an unmistakable layer of intrigue. Outstanding on the palate—off-dry and tense with acidity. Flavours of citrus and apricot, then apple and honeysuckle follow. Lengthy and delicious, with a lick of orange peel and pith." 94 Points, Cameron Douglas MS, www.camdouglasms.com

2021 Pegasus Bay Finale Noble Sauvignon Blanc Semillon
"Noble sweet white blend made in the style of Sauternes. Very luscious without being cloying. Plenty of honeyed botrytis influence with vanilla, ginger, bush honey and quince characters. A wonderful dessert wine" 96 Points, Bob Campbell, The Real Review

2024 Pegasus Bay ARIA Late Picked Riesling
"This is immediately appealing on the nose with orange peel, grilled pineapple, Manuka Honey, and warm spice aromas, followed by a plush palate that's richly textured with delectable sweetness, wonderfully balanced by juicy acidity. Opulent with excellent harmony and structure, making it hugely appealing." 96 Points, Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

2024 Mandala Chardonnay 
"A mixture of clones, barrel fermented and matured in French oak (20% new). A full yet bright green gold. With its bouquet of yellow peach, apricot and orange blossom, this is more open knit than the '23 at the same age. It's flavoursome and harmonious on the palate, too. Finishes with good persistence." 93 Points, Special Value, Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion

2024 Mandala The Prophet Pinot Noir 
"From a single site in Yarra Junction; 100% whole-berry fermentation and matured for nine months in French oak (40% new). A medium deep ruby red. A perfumed and attractive bouquet combining red and black fruits, rose petals and a little blood orange. It's richly fruited and nicely balanced on the palate, finishing with succulent, balanced tannins. All adds up to a wine that can be enjoyed now and over the next six to eight years." 95 Points, Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion

2020 Mr Riggs The Chap Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 
The colour is something akin to a black hole – so deep, opaque and impenetrable. It’s a blend of McLaren Vale shiraz and Coonawarra cabernet sauvignon, and this is just the fifth release from the first in 2012. The McLaren Vale component from the cooler Clarendon subregion brings both elegance and a vibrant middle palate, sweetness and density. The earlier ripening Coonawarra input is all about structure and definition. But this is not a bruising big wine. It is refined and elegantly presented with a brilliance and purity of fruit. Hard to put down now, but cellaring for 20 years would not be a problem. 98 points. Ray Jordan.   

2022 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay
"If you were sitting quietly in a corner, contemplating the vicissitudes of life, and a glass of this exceptional chardonnay came your way, well, all would be very well indeed. And you’d perk up. It’s a wine that tends to be scintillating in youth, driven by all manner of citrus flavours – lemon, pink grapefruit with a dash of lime but also a mille-feuille of leesy lusciousness, oak spices and a moreish savouriness. It seems powerful and explosive with its acidity, drive and energy yet manages to remain classy and complex." 97 Points, Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion

“This iconic Australian Chardonnay never allows standards to drop and this is yet another stellar effort from the great Chardonnay production line. A shimmering pale lemon, we have notes of spices, lemon curd, ginger, pink grapefruit, lemongrass, florals, peaches, nectarines, jasmine and stonefruits. There is a whiff of smoky oak as well and integration is proceeding well. There is complete balance here, with focus and energy. The wine is still very young and it will certainly be better if you can wait for two or three years before opening. Then enjoy it for a further ten to fifteen years. There is juicy acidity here, with a supple texture and a long and lingering finish, along which the intensity is maintained for the full journey. A cracker.” 97 points, Ken Gargett, Winepilot

"There’s authoritative presence straight off the bat here with a wine that exudes confidence. Rich aromas of nougat, ripe peach, and hazelnut praline lift from the glass before nectarine, dehydrated lime, ginger and grapefruit freshen things up and foil any heft. Cedar wood sits beneath it all as a seasoning, and some sweet peach blossom adds lift while the wine’s nuttiness remains present through it all. The palate is textural, powerful and deep set – ripe peach, grilled nuts, ruby grapefruit, kumquat, preserved lemon, lemon oil. All of this before a firm line of chalk-laced phenolics shapes and frames the back palate to keep it all in line, pulling the preserved lemon and grilled nuts long through the finish. There’s heft and power here, but masterfully controlled structure to balance it." 95 Points, Tom Kline, Winepilot

2023 Billy Button Wines The Feisty Friulano
"Growing interest in the friulano grape variety is warranted. Here, we see super cool-climate Whitlands fruit combined with partial fermentation in seasoned oak to produce a richly textured, gently savoury wine that lingers on the tongue. It's a glorious mix of poached quince, grapefruit, preserved lemon, yellow pear and sweet white florals. An almond, ginger biscuit quality is a feature. The wine is smoothly rounded and rolls ever so nicely along.' 94 Points, Special value, Jeni Port, Halliday Wine Companion