2017

James Halliday – "Part from the oldest estate block (planted '48), and Rayments clone 1654 (planted '96), destemmed, berry-sorted, lightly crushed, 3 days cold soak, wild yeast-open fermented, pressed at 1 degrees baume for primary and mlf in French oak (35% new). Great fruit, great vintage, great winemaking." James Halliday | 98 Points

World Wine – One of the best examples of this wine we have shipped. Nothing like the stereotype of Bordeaux, this is fresh, vibrant and medium bodied. Lovely purity, the red cherry, blackberry, iodine and subtle spice aromatics leading to a pretty, juicy and energetic palate with plenty of pulpy fruit and round tannins and a lip-smacking, tangy close. Another bargain.

Decanter – Founded in 1993, Craggy Range is known for its wines from both Gimblett Gravels in Hawke's Bay and Te Muna Road in Martinborough. The Te Muna Road vineyard is separated into two distinct terraces, with Pinot Noir grown on the rocky, clay infused soils of the upper terrace. Hand harvested grapes are fermented in a combination of French oak and open top stainless steel tanks with indigenous yeasts. The wine is aged in French oak barriques, of which around 25% are new. Drinking window 2020-2028.

World Wine – The 2017 vintage was one of the milder vintages in WA. The latest Moss Wood captures this vintage perfectly and is without doubt one of the more restrained and tightly framed Moss Woods of recent years. Not the opulence of 2014 or the firm power of the 2016. Yet it retains the elegance, perfume and soft approachability that is Moss Wood. And hidden within is a wine that I suspect will be still drinking beautifully in 30 years. Make sure you decant it even now before drinking. 97/100 Ray Jordan (Best drinking: Now to 2050)

Huon Hooke – Deep red colour with a purple tinge. The bouquet is shy and closed, with some char-oak aromas plus blackberry, violet and other black fruits, the palate full-bodied and savoury, well-endowed with savoury, fine-grained tannins which run the full length of the palate. A stunning wine in the making. It's all about potential. Must cellar for best results. 96 points - Huon Hooke

World Wine – Pretty hard to find fault with a wine of this class.' Ray Jordan 98/100

Wine Spectator – Intense, stylish and pure, with a gorgeous beam of Jonagold apple, Cavaillon melon and quince flavors laced with extra hints of white peach and honeysuckle. A long quince echo shows on the succulent finish, which is deftly balanced by fine acidity. Best from 2014 through 2024.

James Halliday – A 3-way bet of 70/20/10% cabernet sauvignon/merlot/cabernet franc. They must be magic numbers, because this is an enchanting outcome. The aromas are like perfume: all floral, blackberries and exotic spices. But it is the palate that really puts on the charm. Medium bodied, exquisite tannins and vivacious, yet elegant throughout.

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate – ‘A négoce blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah, the 2017 Cotes du Rhone Reserve Mont Redon combines black cherries and black olives in a supple, medium to full-bodied wine that's ideal for quaffing over the next several years. Drink 2019-2023.’ 87 points, Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate, August 2019.

World Wine – Sleek and savoury pinot noir with spice, dried herb, violet, cherry, furniture polish and nutty oak flavours. This is a supremely elegant and complex wine, with a distinctive regional/vineyard character. May be enjoyed now but will undoubtedly develop well with bottle-age.

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate – The Pouilly-Fume Tradition has much less of the green flavors often connected with this appellation. Instead, it is rather floral, displays more yellow colored fruit aromas (also citrus), whereas the fascinating foundation is built up by crushed limestone rocks. On the palate this is an expressive and powerful, yet elegant and persistent Pouilly that is still young and should benefit from further bottle age. Beautifully balanced, though it does not lack a thrilling structure. Since this wine does not cost a fortune, I highly recommend seeking it out.

Allen Meadows – This wine comes from the two districts of Bué and Sancerre, from vines that are between 30 and 60 years old. A blend of richness and a tight mineral structure, it is a firm wine, full of white fruit and likely to age well. Drink from 2018.

James Halliday – "Follows Bailey Carrodus's method of co-fermenting small amounts of viognier, marsanne adding floral notes, and mataro adding spice. It's another exquisite wine from '17, capturing all the senses immediately you assess the bouquet and palate. It's only just into medium-bodied territory, but it's mouthwatering in its intensity, red fruits flying high like a gaudy scarlet kite." - James Halliday (Halliday Wine Companion)

The Wine Front – Hattingley Valley are a premium sparkling wine producer from England, a country with a surprising history in the fizzy wine world. Indeed, some historians claim sparkling wine’s origins are from England. This wine comes from southern England vineyards. It’s a blend of pinot noir and pinot meunier with a portion that spends time in barrels to mature and lend complexity. This wine has some bite, in the best possible sense. Acidity is ultra perky, it’s all red apple and white strawberry in the palate with a toothsome chomp that sits amongst the vibrant fizz of the wine. Fragrance is on point; red berries, vanilla, smoke. The wine is powerful, racy and very refreshing. The finish is so good – like a sip of fresh grapefruit juice. Those who like labels would call it ‘an excellent aperitif style’. And it is.

Jancis Robinson – Rather delicate red fruit. Very crisp and zesty and super-tight. Finesse in texture and purity. Really fruity and long and zingy. I think this has more to give, given time.

The Wine Front – Really meaty scents, loads of green pepper and beetroot and briar too. That fantastic feral kind of scent, angry, wild, mashed fruit in undergrowth, grapes moulting off vines. Wild in flavours too, more meat and savouriness, black plums, salty liquorice, but silky as fresh satin sheets, long, settling in the palate with ultra fine tannins and cool acidity. It’s really captivating. I imagine sitting over this wine for a very long time.

Wine Spectator – A tasty version, with hints of straw and brioche adding range to the mix of white peach, lemon curd and honeysuckle flavors.

James Suckling – A sauvignon blanc with pretty density and undertones of attractive dried peaches and light oranges. Medium body and a fresh finish. Screw cap. Drink now.

Decanter – Bright in appearance with fresh flavors of grapefruit and gooseberry on the nose. A full bodied palate that is crisp and well rounded, a zesty acidity with a minerality specific to the Klein Constantia terroir. The wine concludes with long and refreshing finish. Drinking Window 2018 - 2028

James Halliday – Sourced from 48yo vines on the 2.2ha Block 2 on the Hay Shed Hill property in Wilyabrup. Matured 18 months in French oak barriques. The nose presents a classical combination of black pepper, plum, raspberry, cassis and mulberry, backed by spiced oak. The palate follows suit and is further ameliorated by the presence of finely grippy tannins which caress the fruit through the lingering finish.

World Wine – A full array of foresty berry fruits here again, all layered in neat, fitted together with the precision and detail of an expert joiner; this has impressive polish. The fruit aromas run through red, blue and dark tones, chocolate and liquorice, a hint of spice.

James Halliday – 96 Points - James Halliday, Wine Companion "Great Southern shiraz (this wine is from Mount Barker) has a precision and a sense of inevitability about it: the depth and hue of the colour, the freshly picked fruit, the multi-spices, the cracked pepper, the persuasive tannins and the length."

World Wine –