Recent Reviews & News

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 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

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

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

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

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

2022 00 Wines Chardonnay Freya Hermann Cuvée 2022
"One of the richest, most expansive chardonnays from 00 Wines, this goes deep in poached apple, marzipan and brown butter flavors backed by vivid acidity. So alive, layered and concentrated yet light on its feet, with moderate alcohol of 13.5%. Drink now or hold." 98 Points, Jim Gordon, James Suckling

2022 00 Wines Chardonnay Kathryn Hermann Cuvée
"This is so fragrant. Pralines, sesame seeds, wild herbs, lemon tart and dried apples on the nose, with lightly bitter green-tea and fennel flavors coming through on the palate. It’s caressing, textural and creamy, with beautiful integration. Minerally, lightly nutty and salty all at the same time. From Wente clones. Matured for two years in barrels. Drink from 2026." 97 Points, Claire Nesbitt, James Suckling

2022 00 Wines Pinot Noir Shea
"Beautiful aromas of wild cherries, sliced strawberries, chocolate digestives, peaches and sweet spices. It’s medium-bodied, pure and silky on the palate, with very fine tannins and wonderful transparency and finesse. Very long, cool finish. Made from hand-destemmed whole berries fermented in clay amphorae, then aged in barrels. Drink or hold." 96 Points, Claire Nesbitt, James Suckling

2022 00 Wines Chardonnay Hills Seven Springs 2022
"Wild and perfumed, this full-bodied chardonnay has aromas of miso, white sesame seeds, cardamom, nutmeg and white fruit. It’s wonderfully creamy and textural on the palate, so layered and mouth-filling, but tense and energetic at the same time. Long and vivid. From Dijon clones. Drink or hold." 98 Points, Claire Nesbitt, James Suckling

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

2024 Pegasus Bay Riesling
"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 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

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 Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon
This stunning Margaret River Cabernet has 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot included. The team talk of some of the difficulties encountered by Margaret River wineries during this year, but everything is relative and a difficult vintage here seems to be the dream of many other regions. It was a year that finished extremely well, though, with a longer than average ripening period. Yields were down but in the end, some stellar fruit was harvested. Maturation was in French oak, 16% new, for around seventeen months.

A deep maroon hue, there are notes of spices, herbs, black fruits, cloves, cassis, graphite, chocolate and tobacco leaves. A touch of biscuity oak, very well integrated, this is a wine of focus and intensity, and at all times it is immaculately balanced. Utterly seamless and seductive, there is a line of fine acidity running the full journey and the silkiest of tannins on the finish. This will easily sail through the next fifteen to twenty years, providing immense pleasure along the way. A superb Cabernet. 98 points.Ken Gargett, The Wine Pilot

"Medium deep crimson. Attractive cassis, truffle, vanilla aromas with hints of mocha/ cedar. Inky deep with fresh blackcurrant vanilla, espresso flavours, fine grainy tannins and well-integrated vanilla/ marzipan notes. Finishes chalky and long with chinotto and aniseed notes. A classic Moss Wood vintage with lovely richness, definition and mineral length. Should last the distance. A lovely 50th anniversary wine. 94% cabernet sauvignon 4% cabernet franc 2% petit verdot." 97 Points, Andrew Caillard, The Vintage Journal

"Exceptional purity to the 2022 Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon as it radiates with blackcurrant, warm slate, gravel and earthy aromas. It is a fuller-flavoured vintage but retains the estate signature of finesse with powerful, sweet cassis and red earth flavours with a not unwelcome touch of mint. Mid weight and stylish while pliable tannins hold the dark berry flavours firm and controlled over an extended finish in a package where overall length and balance are exceptional." 95 Points, Angus Hughson, Wine Pilot

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

2024 Billy Button Wines The Versatile Vermentino
"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 Thistledown Charming Man Grenache
"This is from the Smart vineyard in Clarendon. I just had Giles Cooke MW over for a tasting, and he’s a very nice man, I must say. This was the standout wine of the tasting, and the best since 2021, so starting at the top… Fermented in a concrete pyramid with 20% whole bunch in the mix.

Souk spices, red cherry, fresh raspberry, a bit stony and ferrous, Japanese ginger, rosehip, and gee, the aromatics here are quite something. Medium-bodied, a lovely tannin profile, mildly assertive but fine, with a pumice stone texture, acidity is pure with a cranberry crunch to it, and the finish is long and perfumed, with stony grip to close. This is a showstopper. Superb. Beautifully made and a bell-clear expression of Grenache." 96+ Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front

Thistledown Sands of Time Grenache
"From a 1957 patch in Blewitt Springs. Trott Vineyard. 33% whole bunch.
Very aromatic, ripe raspberry, rosehip, exotic spice, slight liquorice, orange peel. Medium to full-bodied, but bright, but good concentration, raspberry, balanced acidity, fine stony tannin, albeit with some firmness, and excellent length, with something of an amaro tang on the finish and some peanut flavour. Super wine. It’s maybe a little warmer and more breathy than the Charming Man, but gee, it has impact and power." 95 Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front

2024 Thistledown The Vagabond Grenache
"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 Sons of Eden Notus Grenache
"The Sons of Eden crew do a good grenache. This one seems to me to be a bit deeper in fruit than the previous year's release. Those plum tones are a little darker, there's a sarsaparilla-like edge to the bunchy tones (25% this year) but the palate is still silky and supple with purple floral facets and an appealing density of fruit and spice. Fine, sandy tannins and bright acidity provide a frame for the fruit as it slowly fades." 94 Points, Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion

De Iuliis LDR Vineyard Shiraz Touriga
"De Iuliis were the first to plant touriga in the Hunter Valley, as it thrives in hot, dry conditions. It introduces a gorgeous floral and savoury tone to shiraz, adding a rustic base note that counterbalances the plentiful sweet fruit. Glacé cherries, pink rose petals, boiled sweets and dark, plummy fruit. The palate is juicy and plush, with creamy oak, lemony acidity and a faint, earthy minerality lying deep within." 95 Points, Special Value, Toni Paterson, Halliday Wine Companion

2023 Thousand Candles Gathering Field Pinot Noir
"20–30% whole bunches and matured in older barriques and hogsheads. A light, bright ruby red. Poised and nicely defined aromas of red fruits, gentle florals and a little spice. It's a touch closed, in a good way, on the medium-bodied, energetic and very well-balanced palate. A quite delicious and well-priced wine to drink over the next three to four years.' 95 Points, Special Value, Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion

2022 Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir
"I've long loved the pinot noirs from Pegasus Bay. There's a minerally vibe that always draws me in. Complex and meaty with herbal and floral nuance that keeps shifting in the glass, keeping the old schnozz on its toes. The interplay of fruit, acidity and tannin is fascinating; kinetic and sinewy with a gentle struck-flint reduction lending added complexity as the wine slowly trails off." 94 Points, Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion

2019 Mount Pleasant Lovedale Semillon
"An iconic wine sourced from the Lovedale vineyard, planted in '46 by Maurice O'Shea. As a '19 cellar release, this wine is just beginning to reveal the greatness that lies ahead. Scented and alluring like an exquisite perfume, it offers notes of zest, lemon thyme and cultured butter. The palate seamlessly combines power and suppleness, enhanced by age, with charred citrus notes and satisfying mid-palate generosity. Although beautiful now, the defined vein of limey acidity reminds the drinker that it's only partway through its journey." 96 Points, Toni Paterson, Halliday Wine Companion

2021 Coriole Lloyd Reserve Shiraz
"Ink black at its centre, deepest purple into the rim. Heady aromatics of blueberry, beef stock, black pepper and iodine. Palate is packed heavily with ripe and plush dark berry fruits, intertwined with peppery spices, dried herbs and bloody hints. Tannins wrap the body well, keeping it slightly compressed so tension and drive is maintained ensuring a phenomenal length to the finish." 96 Points, Stuart Knox, The Real Review

2022 Pierro Nunc Tempus Est Chenin Blanc
"Such a distinctive chenin, as in very much a Pierro wine. Highly perfumed with lavender, green olives in brine, mastic verging on the smell of just-cut raw pine wood. There’s a lot going here: textural with barely ripe Packham pears, raw quince flavour and phenolics with a slip of creaminess. Super dry on the finish, super delicious to drink." 95 Points, Special Value, Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion

2020 Pegasus Bay Virtuoso Chardonnay
"A fantastic bouquet with power in and intensity, with a core of roasted stone fruits and oak, baked apple and layers of wood spice and wood smoke. As the wine opens out in the glass these ideas intensity and develop. Full bodied, dry, and very intense, flavours mirror the bouquet with stone fruits and lemon, some quince and wood spices all vying for attention on the palate. Medium+ acidity, fine wood tannins frame the wine beautifully. Balanced and well made, a wine that is ready enjoy from today" 96 Points, Cameron Douglas MS, www.camdouglasms.com

"Immensely complex and seductive, the bouquet shows mango, apricot, baked fig, and roasted hazelnut aromas with a lovely flinty nuance. The concentrated palate displays outstanding weight and depth, wonderfully supported by creamy mouthfeel and brilliantly pitched acidity. Multi-layered and engaging with a prolonged, gratifying finish." 97 Points, Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, www.wineorbit.co.nz

"Bright, even, pale yellow gold. The nose is striking and full, with aromas of gunflint, lemon, grapefruit, pineapple, spice and cornbread. Full-bodied, aromas of lemon, grapefruit and charred pineapple intertwined with gunflint, vanilla, spice and popcorn. The invigorating acidity lifts the rich palate and expands in length and breadth. Reductive gunflint nuance is compatible and contributes to opulence and complexity. This rich, reductive Chardonnay is seductive and well-balanced." 19/20 Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Wine Reviews

"Blended from the 'best barrels', this wine is estate-grown and hand-harvested from vines over 30 years old at Waipara, in North Canterbury. Fermented with indigenous yeasts, it is matured on its yeast lees for 10 months to a year in French oak puncheons, and bottle-aged prior to its release. The 2020 vintage is bright, light yellow/green, with a fragrant, complex, slightly smoky and 'funky' bouquet. Weighty and savoury, it has rich, vigorous, stonefruit flavours, finely integrated oak, and a dry, tightly structured finish. An elegant, distinctly cool-climate style, it's well worth cellaring…" 5 STARS, Michael Cooper, Wine Writer

2022 Main Divide Pinot Noir
"A consistently rewarding, top-value red from Pegasus Bay … It was matured for 18 months in French oak barriques (20 per cent new). Full, bright ruby, it is invitingly perfumed and full-bodied, with strong cherry, plum and spice flavours, showing very good complexity and harmony, gentle acidity and a seductively smooth finish. A subtle, savoury, finely textured wine, it's already drinking well." 4.5 STARS, Michael Cooper, The Listener Magazine

2023 Mount Pleasant Estate Semillon
Halliday Top 100 2024 Best Whites Under $40:
"The fruit is crushed to the press, settled and racked to tank for a cold ferment and lees ageing. Scented white flowers and lemony freshness with a cleansing palate. The fruit has good integrity, and the mid-palate has pleasing texture and breadth, plus soft, rounded edges. It is a harmonious, balanced drink with a beautiful limey core. Excellent value." 95 Points, Special Value, Toni Paterson, Halliday Wine Companion

2023 Thistledown Sands of Time Grenache
Halliday Top 100 Wines 2024 Best Reds Over $50:
"From the Trott vineyard in Blewitt Springs, planted in 1952 to deep sand. Fermented in alternating layers of whole bunches and crushed fruit in concrete; maturation in oak and concrete for 10 months. This is coiled but given air, the potential is evident, if not fully revealed. Blue and red floral notes, dark red cherries, orange oil and a humus-like earthiness. This is presently the most reticent member of the ’23 grenache suite, with acidity feeling vigorous against the tensile complement of tannins, both cinching in the fruit presently. Based on the track record and the impeccable framing of fruit and site that’s already evident, this will grow amply in stature, and what an exciting prospect that is." 97 Points, Special Value, Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion

Henriot Brut Souverain
“Harvest date 2018. 45% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay, 15% Meunier. 40-50% reserve wines. Dosage < 6g/L I’ve always liked this producer, and good to see them back in the market.
Gently smoky, white flowers, brioche, a salty character, with white strawberry and cherry. It’s saline and savoury, but carries a juicy red fruit flavour, pleasing pixelated bubbles, pastry dough, balanced acidity and excellent length. Very nice.” 93 Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front

Henriot Blanc de Blancs NV
"It’s NV though I like that it says ‘Harvest base 2017’ on the back label, which means I can review it. Complex style offering some richness too. Honey and nuts, white peach, lemon zest, oyster shell and salt. It’s dry and saline, some toast and nuts, with balanced acidity, a gentle grip to it, a light prickle of dense bubbles, and a saltine cracker finish of excellent length and dryness. Very good. It’s a style I like, savoury, but not at the expense of freshness and drinking appeal." 94 Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front

Henriot Brut Rosé NV
"Harvest base 2013 here. 60% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, 10% Meunier. 20-40% reserve wine. 8 to 10% still Pinot Noir. Ageing>3 years. Strawberry, raspberry, gently smoky and spicy, a gently oxidative character with a slight truffle note. It’s complex and a little bit nutty, soft resolved bubbles, a little savoury and saline, a little creamy, with some grip and a dry finish of good length. Really nice. Shows an extra dimension via bottle age too. Not your average NV rosé, I feel." 93 Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front

2023 Coriole Sangiovese
"Coming off five sites, and seven clones, this was raised in older oak for 11 months. Referential to Tuscan origins, but its local identity firmly rooted, this is a thoroughly engaging expression, classically redolent of red cherries, woody herbs, dried flowers and a grounded, dry-toned earthiness. Spice notes, too. The varietal tannin and acid union tension the palate, with fruit contained, wound in, but not quashed. It’s approachable and fragrant, speaking of the cool year, but that immediate appeal is paired with layered detail, too." 94 Points, Special Value, Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion

2024 Coriole Rosé
"90/10% mataro/sangiovese raised in tank (75%) and old oak (25%). A peachy rose gold in the glass, this has quite a degree of sophistication, skipping overtly fruity notes without losing any immediate appeal. Blood orange, mandarin oil, peach iced tea, wild red berries, a dusting of cinnamon and sumac, none of it shouting for attention, backed up by a harmonious twinning of texture and sapid drive. Very nice indeed." 93 Points, Special Value, Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion

2024 Coriole Piquepoul
"This saw a classic cool-steel ferment, with some pressings blended back. Picpoul can be linear and acidic with not too much else going on, a perfect seafood and sunshine wine. This still fills the latter brief, but there’s also real depth and detail to the fruit flavours – it’s the 10th release, so vine age may also be chiming in. Classic green apple and lemony zing, red apple skin, a burr of grip, there’s tension and nerve, with a briny, maritime quality. It’s dry, mouth puckering, salivating. Lovely." 93 Points, Special Value, Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion

"Gee, Coriole are knocking out some excellent white wines. Love the texture here, it’s really chalky and pithy, and in with that some brine, a little lavender and lemon thyme perfume, ripe lemon and pink grapefruit, juicy and zippy acidity, with a peppery finish of excellent length. Delightful. So clean and fresh. I’m giving it a bonus point for being so interesting and good to drink." 94 Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front

2023 Pegasus Bay Sauvignon Blanc
"An exciting and vibrant bouquet of fresh citrus fruits, a fine savoury quality then layers of peach and pith, an apple crisp quality and layer of stones and gravels. A taut firm palate with a high acid line, the fine savoury idea returns as a definitive texture, flavours mirror the bouquet and there’s a gently warming alcohol. A wine that’s all about bouquet, flavour and mouthfeel simultaneously delivering at volume and intensity. This wine will age well" 94 Points, Cameron Douglas MS

"Wonderfully fruited with savoury nuances, the wine shows grapefruit, mango, lemon sorbet, and dried herb aromas, followed by a wonderfully weighted palate offering excellent focus and drive. Richly textured and mouthfilling, it's splendidly structured by bright acidity." 94 Points, Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

"This Sauvignon Blanc has a youthful straw yellow colour with a shining hue. On the upbeat aroma you are greeted with quince, pineapple skin, lemon curd notes and citrus zest. On the sensory engaging palate, you have those vibrant citrus characters, highlighted by a fine minerality weaving through a deft lemon pastry nuance. This expression has defined breadth across the palate, while kept fresh and focused from good varietal acidity leading you to a memorable dismount on the animated finish." 5 Stars, Gavin Hubble, Grape-to-Glass

2023 Seresin Leah Pinot Noir

"Core hues of ruby and purple lead to a bouquet of plum and dark berries, some black currant and a mix o fruit and barrel spice layers. Firm, taut and dry as the wine touches the palate. Flavours from the bouquet repeat and are framed by an abundance of tannins and acid line. A youthful, lengthy, taut and delicious wine with best drinking from 2027 through 2036+." 94 Points, Cameron Douglas, MS

"Certified organic, the good value 2023 vintage (****1/2) was estate-grown in the Raupo Creek Vineyard, in the Omaka Valley, and matured for eight months in French oak barriques (8% new). Deep, bright ruby, it is mouthfilling and fruit-packed, with concentrated, ripe, cherryish, plummy, spicy flavours, showing some savoury complexity, balanced acidity and good tannin backbone. Fresh, youthful and vigorous, with obvious cellaring potential, it should be at its best mid-2026+." 4.5 Stars, Michael Cooper

"Pure and fragrant, meltingly sweet, compact red fruit with a coulis of raspberry at the core wrapped in subtle cinnamon oak. It is counterbalanced beautifully by fine, ripe, gravelly tannins, some fresh savoury herb notes and a crystalline finish which lilts to earthy beetroot. Elegant, vibrant and precise. Deceptively approachable already but with the balance to age well. 2024–2032" 93 Points, Stephen Wong, MW

2022 Jean Collet Chablis Butteaux 1er
This one gets small oak treatment, which is apparent, though the intensity of the fruit carries it well.
"Yellow fruit, spice, ripe lemon, green olive and aniseed. It’s firm and fleshy, but has quite some energy, the acidity is present and sits so well within the wine, the texture is all crushed stone and chalk dust, and the finish is long, with ginger, lemon and honey in the aftertaste. There’s a subtle parmesan rind savoury character too. Needs maybe another year to settle, but such a good an emphatic bottle of Chablis here." 94 Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front

2022 Shy Susan Sangiovese
"A new wine under the Shy Susan brand that takes winemaker Glenn James away from Tasmania and closer to home. Boasts a richness and weight not usually seen in sangiovese, a complexity, too. Concentrated and boasting layers of deep flavour, it canvasses the grape's immediate earthy red fruits, plum and spice against a structure of well-managed oak, coiled tannins and discreet savoury influences. What a beauty." 96 points, Special Value, Jeni Port, Halliday Wine Companion

2023 Shy Susan Wines Riesling
"Shy Susan now looks to the King Valley rather than Tasmania for its riesling. The move is a natural fit. Fragrant and pure in lime, lemon, green apple and gentle alpine florals. A fine-pitched palate, taut in acidity and structured with time on its side. Lime and grapefruit, some pithy texture and a crisp, juicy finish now, but watch it grow." 95 points, Special Value, Jeni Port, Halliday Wine Companion

2023 Shy Susan Wines Pinot Gris
"A new wine for Shy Susan, which looks to a rich, layered, textured and complex expression of pinot gris but with enough acid cut to support. The result is fresh and vital. It's a fascinating wine, one worth the extra investment. Honeysuckle, Asian pear, ginger and exotic notes of papaya, tangerine and almond run deep and long across a creamy, mouth-filling, supple and fleshly-packed palate. Wow!" 95 points, Special Value, Jeni Port, Halliday Wine Companion

2021 Shy Susan Wines Pinot Noir
"Sourced from a 25-year-old vineyard in Tawonga, MV6 clone, 30% whole bunches, maturation in oak puncheons (45% new). A stunning, fully expressive pinot that should draw attention to the quality now to be found in the high, cool Alpine Valleys. Terrific dark red cherry hues. A purity of clean pinot aromas: cherry, cranberry, rosehip, red licorice and allspice with just a smidge of vanillin oak. Boasts texture, succulence and a degree of tannin edginess that smacks the lips and works the tastebuds." 95 points, Jeni Port, Halliday Wine Companion

2018 Shy Susan Wines Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay
"Shy Susan is an endangered Tassie wildflower that relies on pollination from just one native bee. The front label and message are as striking as the wine itself, a distinctly individual Tasmanian sparkling with class. Honey cake, nectarine, white peach, grapefruit, lemon curd. Brings an oyster shell rockpool mineral tang to the palate in line with superfine bubbles. Beautifully expressive." 94 points, Jeni Port, Halliday Wine Companion

2023 Dune The Empty Quarter
"Blewitt Springs. Shiraz, Grenache, Mataro with a little Touriga Nacional. I’ve read all the Dune books, though I’ve not yet seen either of the new films.

Such a pleasing wine to drink. Blue and purple fruit, coal dust and ozone, sage and thyme, some dried flowers, pastrami and aniseed. It’s medium-bodied, has a distinctly ‘mineral’ feel to it, with fine dusty and peppery tannin, a quiet juicy blueberry succulence, and it’s also quite savoury, bresaola and Spanish black olive, I reckon, with a gently sticky and tactile finish of excellent length. Fresh. Spicy. Yum." 94 Points, Gary Walsh

2023 Saddleback Pinot Gris
Double Gold 97 Points | New Zealand International Wine Show *Release early Nov.

2024 Sons of Eden Freya Riesling
Best 2024 Riesling, Barossa Wine Show
Best White Wine, Barossa Wine Show

2023 Pegasus Bay ARIA Late Picked Riesling
"Estate-grown at Waipara, the 2023 vintage is packaged in a full-sized (750-ml) bottle. A lovely mouthful, it was harvested at a very ripe 28 brix, with 30-50 per cent botrytis infection. Bright, light yellow/green, it is attractively scented, finely poised and intense, with rich, vigorous, peachy, gently honeyed flavours, crisp, sweet (87 grams/litre of residual sugar) and lasting. Already delicious, with obvious cellaring potential" 5 Stars, Michael Cooper, Independent Wine Reviewer

2023 Seresin Pinot Gris
"Charming and elegantly complex, the bouquet shows grilled apricot, poached pear, orange peel and warm spice aromas, leading to a wonderfully weighted palate delivering richly textured mouthfeel backed by beautifully pitched acidity, finishing splendidly long and satisfying. Certified organic. At its best: now to 2030." 94 points, Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

"Delicately luscious pinot gris with refreshing tree fruit flavours that are enhanced by a hint of sweetness and a suggestion of honeysuckle." 93 points, Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review

2020 Luigi Vico Barolo DOCG Prapò
"Ruby with garnet edges. It is intense and fresh to smell, fragrant strawberry and redcurrant fruit, pure and clean, with a floral headiness and subtle allspice oak influences, very alluring. Flavours are also pristine, with vibrant fruit sweetness, taut and tangy acidity, well-judged wood spice adding complexity and velvety tannins on a texturally fine palate. All capped off with a long and flowing finale. Seductive now, it will also age gracefully, gaining complexity." 96 Points, Steve Blandford, The Real Review

2020 Luigi Vico Barolo DOCG del Comune di Serralunga d'Alba
"Garnet colour. A welcoming bouquet opens with poached strawberry, cinnamon and a hint of chocolate, some savoury hung meat aromas adding complexity; a little alcohol tickles the nose as well. It is succulent and lively to taste, the savoury charcuterie notes in balance with the berry sweetness, blood orange acidity giving zip, fine powdery tannins drawing the wine through to a lithe and spicy finish. A lovely wine." 95 Points, Steve Blandford, The Real Review

2022 Attwoods Glenlyon Estate Macedon Ranges Chardonnay
"A nod in the direction of Jura. Delicious at that. Sea spray and brown lime, fresh cut apples, even a touch of apple pie, some fennel notes and a layering in of green almond savouriness. Long, quite luxurious with a cut and thrust of briny minerality refreshing at each turn. Layers and layers to this wine, an inherent complexity and a compelling and distinct personality. So very delicious. Reeks of quality." 95 points, Mike Bennie, Wine Business Magazine

2019 De Iuliis Aged Release Single Vineyard Semillon
"Lime and lemongrass, a honey toast thing, bright and juicy, excellent flavour with a gentle chalky grip, has weight but it’s nicely balanced and the finish is very long. This is excellent. Right in the slot, though no hurry." 95 Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front

2019 De Iuliis Limited Release Shiraz
I visited the winery last Friday and tasted quite a few wines, including a vertical of this one – 2014, 2018, 2019 and 2023. This is the current release, and the Limited was not produced in 2020, 2021 and 2022, given it was not quite up to the expected quality.
"Earthy, black fruit, ginger biscuits, dried mango perfume. Medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated, acidity is balanced, tannin is thick and sooty, nice and ripe, with a liquorice finish of excellent length. Excellent wine. Plenty of time left in it too." 95 Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front

2024 Mount Pleasant Estate Grown Semillon
Primarily Lovedale, some old vine, with some 8 acres, and a new (but old) block that sits over from the winery on sandy soil that was purchased from Draytons.
"Slightly peachy, citrus, pink grapefruit, a bit floral but not estery: very clean. Bright, flavoursome, a nice chalky pucker to texture, lime and lime rind, nicely balanced, sherbetty acidity, with juicy grapefruit finish of excellent length. A lot of energy here and a very good wine. A tickle of spritz. A fair bit of crunch. Excellent." 94 Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front

2021 Dune Paliorema
"Liquorice, blue and black fruits, a little aniseed and dried herb. It’s fleshy and full of stony/graphite tannin, really rolls through the mouth with a thick feel, so much chew and satisfaction in the texture, a little saline too, with black olive and meaty savoury stuff, and some dark cherry/liquorice to close. Feels almost like a Sagrantino, or something of a more Italianate bent. I like it. Hearty and good to drink. That tannin profile is quite something." 93 points, Wine Front

"Blewitt Springs material. Abstemious yields. A dollop of sangiovese suffuses perk and a welcome edge to the tannins. Fermented wild on skins for several weeks. Pulpy. Fullish, but limpid and alive in the glass. The tannins, long limbed and succulent, as if chewing the most delicious grape until it disintegrates. Australians were once terrified of real tannins. Now we have wines like this to show us the way. Iodine, licorice allsorts, blue fruits, mint, soaring florals, polished suede...and the 3rd glass, please." 93 points, Halliday Wine Companion

2023 Pegasus Bay Aria Late Picked Riesling
"Ripe, luscious riesling that is sweet without being at all cloying. Flavours include apple, honey, apricot, exotic spices and crystallised ginger. Great with dessert at the end of a meal but equally appealing as an aperitif." 95 Points, Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review The Real Review

"Gorgeously fragrant and enticing, the bouquet shows marmalade, clove, star anise and honey notes, followed by a splendidly expressed palate offering delightful sweetness with creamy texture and bright acidity. Superbly harmonious and balanced, making it hugely appealing." 96 Points, Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, www.wineorbit.co.nz

2022 Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir
"This is one of North Canterbury's greatest Pinot Noirs, typically very rich in body and flavour. Many of the vines are over 25 years old and the wine is matured for 15 months in French oak barriques. Full, bright ruby, the youthful 2022 vintage is invitingly perfumed. Already highly approachable, it is generous and silky-textured, with strong cherry, plum and spice flavours, seasoned with nutty oak, and gentle acidity. Deliciously savoury, harmonious and smooth…" 5 STARS, Michael Cooper, Wine Writer

"Youthful, varietal and enticing bouquet that comes alive after 30 mins open. There’s classic mineral, dry clay, red beery fruits and dried herb qualities as the wine begins to open up. Baking spices and wood scents of vanilla and clove, some smoke moments then a flinty reductive complexity. A dry wine touches the palate with burst of flavour that reflect the bouquet, the reductive quality sticks around for a while, yet adds some funk and style. Balanced polished tannins, medium+ acid line and a lengthy finish. A wine for the cellar" 94 Points, Cameron Douglas MS

"Moderately deep ruby-red, lighter on the rim. The nose is gently full, with penetrating aromas of black cherry, plum, earth, herbs, and savoury nuances. Medium-full bodied, aromas of black cherry and plum entwined with dried thyme, liquorice roots, undergrowth and earthy elements. Supple, silky tannins reflect earth and herb details, providing a savoury frame and broadness to the palate. Lively, ripe acidity entices and carries a lengthy, elegant finish. This earthy, savoury Pinot Noir is refined and has well-balanced freshness and precision." 18.5/20, Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Wine Reviews

"Dried strawberries, cedar and fresh rose petals come through clearly. Some citrus. Medium-bodied with firm, creamy tannins and a juicy finish. Lovely texture and fruit to this. Really nice to drink now but better in three or four years." 94 Points, James Suckling Wine Reviews, www.jamessuckling.com

2023 Main Divide Pinot Gris
"From Pegasus Bay, this is a consistently good buy. Aiming for a "classic Alsatian style with a North Canterbury twist", the bright, light lemon/green 2023 vintage was fermented and aged on its yeast lees in stainless steel tanks. Already highly expressive, it is aromatic and full-bodied, with strong, peachy, gently spicy flavours, hints of pears and ginger, and an off-dry, smooth finish. Showing good varietal character and drinking well now" 4 Stars, Michael Cooper, The Listener Magazine

2023 Main Divide Chardonnay
"A rich, complex chardonnay with marzipan, lemon curd, toast, white peach, vanilla and wood smoke supported by mellow acidity and fine oak tannins." 93 Points, Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review

"Bright, even, pale yellow with depth. The nose is full, with powerful aromas of gunflint, tree fruit, hazelnut, vanilla and spice. Full-bodied, aromas of pear and apple are fresh, enriched by roasted hazelnut, gunflint, lemon zest, vanilla and toffee. Ripe phenolics texturise the creamy mouthfeel, along with nutty, flinty elements layering on a lively acid line harmoniously, lending a satisfying and structured finish...." 18.5/20, Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Wine Reviews

2023 Bream Creek Pinot Noir
Tropy, 'Best Wine of Show', Royal Sydney Wine Show
Trophy, 'Best Red', Royal Sydney Wine Show
Trophy, 'Champion Wine of Show', 2024 National Cool Climate Wine Show
Trophy, 'Red Wine of Show', 2024 National Cool Climate Wine Show
Trophy, 'Best Pinot Noir', 2024 National Cool Climate Wine Show

2021 De Iuliis Steven Vineyard Shiraz
"Excellent bright crimson-purple colour heralds a most attractive wine from the estate-owned Steven vineyard. Red cherry is the cornerstone of the bouquet and palate alike. Typical Hunter shiraz, only medium bodied, but with decades to run for those able to keep their hands off it." 96 Points, James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion

2022 Mount Pleasant Rosehill Vineyard Shiraz
"A perfumed, vibrant, utterly delicious wine that draws you in with its wild raspberry aromas. On the nose, the clarity of fruit is spectacular, accented by dainty pink peppercorn spice followed by an intense, expansive palate of bright red fruit perfectly framed by tannin. This shiraz, sourced from one of the region's most historic vineyards, is a modern interpretation of a classic Hunter style, with graceful flow, medium body and mesmerising intensity." 97 Points, Special Value, Toni Paterson, Halliday Wine Companion

Peregrine Pinot Noir
Double Gold / 97 Points | New Zealand International Wine Show

Champion, 2024 Aotearoa NZ Organic Wine Awards

2025 Halliday Wine Companion Awards - Short List
Best Value Winery: The Finalists: BILLY BUTTON WINES