The Wine Front – Gary Walsh - 94 Points - So purple. So good. It’s spicy, floral, liquorice, dark fruits and boysenberry, with a bloody ‘mineral’ character from the Mataro. Light grip of open-weave tannin, freshness and vigour, and a long shapely finish. Wonderful expression of Barossa here.

James Halliday – Deep colour; a distinguished, full-bodied Bordeaux blend with blackcurrant, mulberry, black olive, briar and French oak all in play. Has the length and balance to repay extended cellaring." Halliday Wine Companion '17

The Wine Front – Biodynamic farmed from a single vineyard on the Paxton estate. Grows up in French and American oak barrels. Paxton have been a leading light in showing biodynamic (certified) viticulture can be done to scale, well. Inky, deep, throaty red of hearty, dark fruit character, all inky cassis and choc-berry, liquid spice, fat tannins. A juicy, fleshy, plush flow of espresso tinged plummy fruit, gritty, savouriness to close. This is a big, bold red of warming character and density. Touch of warmth in the mix. It’s done pretty well for its style.

James Halliday – Biodynamic-grown fruit, open-fermented, matured in French and American barriques for 18 months. A celebrated McLaren Vale single vineyard wine, effortlessly providing a deep well of black fruits and fine-grained tannins, the oak a positive contributor, not a rabble rouser.

World Wine – Chocolate, dried plum and anise notes are juicy and bursting with blackberry accents. Balanced and smooth, especially on the finish. Drink now through 2026.

James Halliday – 45/35/25% grenache, shiraz and mataro; vines up to 80yo; small open fermenters, wild yeast, 10% whole bunch; 2-week ferment, hand-plunged. The rich bouquet, hinting at luscious fruits, doesn't deceive. A vibrant, supple cherry/plum/raspberry trifecta. James Halliday Wine Companion 2023, 3 August, 2022

World Wine – Langton’s Classification VI: Excellent. The intensely-perfumed and muscular Aberfeldy Shiraz reflects the character of vineyard site as much as the personality of winemaker Tim Adams. The 1.6 hectare Aberfeldy Vineyard includes a large proportion of dry-grown, colonial vine stock planted by Wendouree’s Alfred Percy Birks in 1904. This ancient genetic material produces large berries and very high seed content. Vinification takes place in closed fermenters and is followed by 24 months maturation in new American oak. The rich, buoyant and spicy Aberfeldy Shiraz is a deeply-concentrated, opulent style with blackberry aromas, malty/cedary oak and a firm tannin kick. The underlying muscularity of structure is reminiscent of the Wendouree style.

Wine Spectator – Light-bodied and elegant, this fresh Pinot Gris enlivens the flavors of kumquat, stone, melon and sliced almond with a zesty streak of acidity. Offers a lightly spiced, tangy finish. Drink now through 2020.

Wine Enthusiast – Ripe, yellow pear, stone and earth are united by a zesty grapefruit perfume. The streak of purity at the center of this is invigorating, with an enlivening backbone of tinkling acidity. This bottling does justice to a difficult vintage-and is all the more alluring for it. Something racy and pure at the core makes you want to delve deeply into this wine.

Huon Hooke – "95 out of 100 we scored it, a gold Ribbon score, and number 1 out of 25 grenache blends from Barossa in 2019 so very high recommendation. $30 wine... ...Lovely full bodied wine, intense but not heavy, enough tannin to carry flavour and to make it stand up with food. Plummy, spicy, good balance, harmony, freshness, beautiful drinkability although will age well as well. We suggest drinking now until 10 years hence, but it would last a lot longer."

James Halliday – "97 points, one of the Best of the Best by Variety + Special Value"

World Wine – Formed from ugni blanc, clairette, viognier, muscat-a-petit grains, riesling. Mostly ugni blanc though. Old vines, low yields here. The wine was matured on lees for its life before bottling. This is delicious. It’s slippery in texture, fragrant and bursting with character. Honey, lemon blossom, pear, green apple in the bouquet, suggestively sweet, but not so to taste. Glides in the palate, shows depth of pear-like flavours, licks of oatmeal and sweet spice. Precise, but with a come hither drinking appeal. Lovely stuff.

James Halliday – "From an east-facing contoured vineyard that catches all the morning sun. Perfectly ripened white stone fruit with a quick squeeze of Meyer lemon. Has been fermented and matured in French oak in such a way as to leave the gorgeous fruit centre stage, the palate of endless length." - James Halliday (Halliday Wine Companion)

The Wine Front – "Pleasing symmetry between price and vine age. This 2017 is made from 125 year old vines. 746 dozen is the total production. I’d have Block 6 in my list of the greatest Australian Shiraz. I’ll offer that 2017 was a curious vintage for McLaren Vale reds, they’re a bit different, but high quality all the same. It’s just above medium bodied, but feels dense and compact in tannin. Blackberry, aniseed, subtle toasty oak, sage and floral perfume. It has what you might call a ‘coolness’ to it, distinct umami flavour also laden with spice. That usual ironstone and crushed rock sort of character you may find in Block 6 is there too. Finish is long, and the tannin brings it home. Wonderful character and vinous integrity. It’s a little different, yet typical." 95+ Points - Gary Walsh, The Wine Front, October 2019, Drink: 2022 - 2038+

World Wine – 97 Points - Erin Larkin (The Wine Advocate)

Decanter – A 70% Syrah-Grenache blend that offers a lot of wine for the price. Peppery bramble fruits, wild herbs and liquorice adorn the supple palate which has grippy fruit tannins and a lifted violet perfume. Vibrant, with balanced alcohol.

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate – The 2017 Minervois la Liviniere La Touge is an approachable, medium-bodied blend. It's more red-fruited and friendly than the other Maris wines in 2017, showcasing silky tannins and mixed cherries and blueberries, without any obvious oak influence.

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate – This producer's first Gigondas is a terrific debut. The 2017 Gigondas Reserve Mont Redon—a blend of 85% Grenache, 9% Syrah and 6% Mourvèdre—comes from the lieux-dits of Pied Gu, Pallière and Notre Dame des Pallières and was aged in a mix of lightly used Burgundian pièces and tank. Perfumes include scents of violets, lavender, cherries and vanilla, while the full-bodied palate is lush and creamy, ending long, with hints of cracked pepper and salted licorice. Drink 2019-2028.

James Suckling – Rather complex, earthy nose with fine blue fruit and some delicate hints of spice. Richly textural palate that’s not at all heavy, the finish long and generous with a delicate hint of sweetness. Drink or hold.

James Halliday – Hand-picked, free-run juice wild-fermented in used demimuids, matured in oak on lees for 8 months. Quite luscious in the relative context of pinot gris, with a pear and tropical fruit mix that extends from the start to the aftertaste.