James Halliday – Binder's malt chocolate tannins melt across this powerful wine's attack of dark fruit flavours
and spice: plum, dark cherry, mace and five-spice spring to the nostrils. There is nothing
whatsoever jammy about this, with the kinetic fruit held tightly to the plush breast of all
American oak and impeccably drawn out grape tannins. The end result is one of power,
intensity and yet, a lingering impression of savouriness.
The Wine Front – Made using old vine grenache, mataro and shiraz. Beautiful wine. Lovely pitch and flow. Raspberries, violets, woodsy spices and boysenberries. A bit of jamminess but in a context of both spice and freshness. Tannin, fine-grained, like mesh. Ticks all the boxes. Grenache blend in an excellent place.
James Halliday – From family vineyards in Lyndoch and Rowland Flat, matured in a mix of French and American oak. It is medium-bodied, and fresh as a daisy with its shower of red and dark cherry fruits. It carries its modest oak with ease, the tannins positive and balanced.
The Wine Front – Blackcurrant, sage and mint, full on Eden perfume, rich sweet dark fruit, supple tannin, long too. A whole lotta Eden here, and some dark chocolate flavour. Sweet and perfumed and brooding. Very good.
The Wine Front, 6 May, 2021
James Halliday – CAMPBELL MATTINSON - HALLIDAY'S WINE COMPANION
It's just got that extra linger of flavour. It's a smooth river of licorice, black cherry, sweet spice and deli meat characters and when combined with supple texture, fine-grained tannin and floral highlights it marks itself as just a little bit special.
James Halliday – Rosé produced from grenache and mataro from a variety of subregions – Greenock, Nuriootpa and Mengler's Hill. Pale salmon in the glass with aromas of ruby red grapefruit, nectarine and raspberry along with hints of soft spice, almond blossom and stone. Plenty of savoury appeal on the palate, finishing with bright, crystalline acidity and a crisp, dry wash of delicate red fruits and clotted cream.
James Halliday Wine Companion 2023, 3 August, 2022
James Suckling – 96 Points - "Representing a lighter shade of Barossa, the suite of wine from Alex Head gets better each year. While this is full-bodied in terms of extract and alcohol, it is vibrant, subtly reductive, detailed and immaculately poised, making for effortless drinking. Limestone soils impart a je ne sais quoi tension to a whirl of white pepper, clove, boysenberry, deli meats and lilac. Yet what makes this so impressive is the combination of tannin, juicy freshness and confident oak handling, all boding well for cellaring. Drinkable now, but best from 2026. Screw cap." - Ned Goodwin MW (James Suckling)
Huon Hooke – Ink black heart into a glass-coating deep purple rim. Dark fruits, lifted North African spices and black olive tapenade on the nose. Deep and dense on the palate, dark fruits, loam and bay leaf show early then roll into a melange of spices, blood and stones. Undoubtedly full-bodied but the fine brush of acidity and gravelly tannins control it and bring a vitality that’s unexpected. Lingers forever on the palate. A great example of big Barossa handled with great care and attention. - Stuart Knox, The Real Review
The Wine Front – Barossa Valley blend of grenache and cinsault from one of Australia's premier producers. It's light. It's spicy. It's insistent. This is not heavy in any way and yet it presses itself upon you. It's hard to fathom how it does it. It tastes of super-fresh raspberry, earth and crushed spice and, simply, it just works
James Halliday – "Pete Schell makes a damn fine rosé. This year it's 52/30/16/2% grenache/mataro/shiraz/cinsault and it sits light salmon in the glass showing aromas of nectarine, raspberry and grapefruit along with hints of redcurrant jelly, white flowers, crushed stone and maybe a touch of lanolin. Sapid and fine with a lovely shimmering acid line and savoury palate shape and an endearing lipsmacking briny finish that begs another glass.” - Dave Brookes, Wine Companion
Robert Parker/Wine Advocate – “Pale crimson/salmon-like colour, redcurrant flavours, dry, savoury, earthen, that kind of thing. Firmly in the ‘pale and dry’ camp. Watermelon characters, maybe some grapefruit, definitely some spice. Light in a good way. Frisky but with plenty going on. Good gear.” - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front
The Wine Front – I’d maybe drink sparkling wine (of any style) only a handful of times per year, though I do really like this offering from Torzi. It’s dry, it’s flavoursome, it has no hard edges or abrasion, with a gentle almost silky and creamy texture, a saline complexity, fine bubbles and a long dry slightly grainy finish. Outside of that it has some lime leaf and floral perfume, lemon zest, finger lime and green apple, maybe oatmeal, and drinks a charm. Tasted: Jan23 12% alc. $28 Cork Drink: 2023 - 2027 - Gary Walsh, The Wine Front.
Wine production in Australia boasts a rich history that dates back to the 18th century. From its humble beginnings, the wine industry in the country has flourished, leveraging the varied climatic zones to cultivate a diverse array of grape varieties. While regions like Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, and Hunter Valley might ring familiar to many, there are over 60 wine regions in Australia, each with its unique terroir and specialties.
One of the standout features of Australian winemaking is the innovative spirit. From pioneering new viticultural techniques to experimenting with grape varieties not traditionally associated with the Australian terroir, winemakers consistently push boundaries. This zeal for innovation is balanced by a deep respect for tradition, resulting in wines that are both groundbreaking and deeply rooted in the country's winemaking legacy.
Shiraz might be the grape most synonymous with Australian wine, but the country also produces exceptional Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Riesling, among others. The complexity, depth, and character of Australian wines make them a favorite on the global stage, celebrated for their uniqueness and authenticity.
Wine grapes arrived in Australia in 1788 with its first colonists. However, experts credit James Busby for popularising viticulture in the country in 1833, when he brought many wine grapes to Australia, including the now-famous Shiraz (AKA Syrah). Wine production exists in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania. Most vineyards are near the coast, where the grapevines benefit from the oceanic cooling breeze, while irrigated regions inland are also a significant source of wine. Australia has both warm and cold wine regions. Some are a few miles from the seashore, and others are on the mountains.
Shiraz is Australia’s flagship grape. The French variety feels right at home in the country, especially in South Australia (the country’s most important wine region.) Shiraz is the most planted varietal in Australia, followed closely by Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Other grapes with significant plantings include Merlot, Pinot Noir, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and those used to make GSM blends along with Shiraz — Grenache and Mourvedre. You’ll also be surprised to find rare grapes in Australia, from Italian Nebbiolo to Spanish Tempranillo. Of course, these wines are hard to find but worth seeking.
For types of wine, the most popular wine styles in Australia are youthful red wines made with Syrah, oak-aged Chardonnay, age-worthy Shiraz and Cabernet, and elegant Pinot Noir. Fragrant Riesling and refreshing Sauvignon and Semillon are famous, too! Fortified wines were once the most celebrated wine style in Australia. Although the category still exists, it has fallen out of fashion as dry table wines dominate the global wine market. And let’s not forget about the refreshing sparkling wines produced in several Australian regions, most notably in Tasmania — they are amongst the best in the world.
Wine is a noble drink. You usually get what you pay for. Fine wine is expensive to make, and it’s often produced in small quantities. That means that the best wines in Australia are not cheap. Having said that, Australia is a source of extraordinarily well-priced wine, and the quality-price ratio is very convenient, especially for everyday wines. The most age-worthy red wines from prestigious regions like Barossa and Eden Valley can go for a few hundred dollars, while inexpensive Shiraz or Chardonnay from the irrigated area inland are often inexpensive.
The best Australian wines are the ones you like the most. The good news? Australian winemakers produce all types of wine to satisfy your every need. Look for Australian wine in World Wine and choose your favourite. From collector’s items to lovely weeknight sippers. Australia has it all!
We aim to have all wines be vintage specific. In the case the listed vintage is out of stock and you note you would like that particular vintage, we will inform you via email for approval to go ahead.
Delivery Times
To be able to supply such a unique & extensive range of boutique wines, we don't hold much of the inventory. So with us, there is the added step of receiving the wine from our local suppliers before it is dispatched to you. Most orders are dispatched within 3-6 working days.
Quality Guarantee
Replacement or refund offered if bottles are faulty or damaged. All our deliveries are insured against loss, however you must notify us in a reasonable amount of time.
Sending a Gift
If you would like to include a gift message with your order, please enter that in the order instructions section. We'll print your message in a lovely font on A5 paper. We also won't include the invoice. Tracking will be sent to the email on file.
We aim to have all wines be vintage specific. In the case the listed vintage is out of stock and you note you would like that particular vintage, we will inform you via email for approval to go ahead.
To be able to supply such a unique & extensive range of boutique wines, we don't hold much of the inventory. So with us, there is the added step of receiving the wine from our local suppliers before it is dispatched to you. Most orders are dispatched within 3-6 working days.
Replacement or refund offered if bottles are faulty or damaged. All our deliveries are insured against loss, however you must notify us in a reasonable amount of time.
If you would like to include a gift message with your order, please enter that in the order instructions section. We'll print your message in a lovely font on A5 paper. We also won't include the invoice. Tracking will be sent to the email on file.