James Halliday – “Ex 1946 Blewitt Springs bush vines planted in a deep sandy dune that Yangarra call The Beach; dry-grown, bunch-sorted, wild yeast, open fermented and basket pressed. Bright clear though deep crimson hue; scented/perfumed, and I’m gone for all money without even tasting it. And I haven’t fooled myself. Its red fruit sundae glistens with dew drops on a spider’s web, yet also has a savoury echo towards the finish.” 99 Points & Wine of the Year Wine (Halliday Companion Awards Panel 2024)

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 –

Antonio Galloni/Vinous – ‘Brilliant ruby-red. Spice-accented dark berry, cherry pit and succulent flowers on the perfumed nose. Fleshy and broad in the mouth but lively as well, offering sappy black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that become sweeter with air. Closes gently tannic, with very good energy and persistence, leaving a spicecake note behind. Drink 2018- 2022.’

Huon Hooke – "Medium-deep red with a good tint of purple and a discreet bouquet of subtle spices and berry fruits, a patina of fresh-turned earth and black fruits, licorice and various spices, full-bodied in the mouth with ample tannins adding terrific structure and length. An impressively deep, concentrated and harmonious grenache with the structure to age long-term."

James Halliday – "The second release of the MMAD Vineyard label, and off its 1939 planted Blewitt Springs vineyard. About 15% whole bunches, fermented in wood and steel, maturation in concrete and large old French oak. Unlike the 2022 shiraz, this takes time to emerge from the glass. It’s all there, though. There’s a brooding quality at present, with nori, iodine and ferrous notes filtering up through dark red cherry, plum, raspberry and sultry florals. Some spicy, musky characters emerge with air. Tannin is a meaningful factor, a pleasingly natural grape-derived affair, rugged but never rustic. A seriously compelling wine, and further proof of how thrilling McLaren Vale grenache is right now, for both its quality and the unparalleled diversity in top-flight expressions." - Marcus Ellis (Halliday Wine Companion)

Huon Hooke – Deep, bright red-purple colour with dominant nutmeg-spice aromas, and a full-bodied, firm palate that seems tight and a little unresolved at this stage. It's firm and deep, and looks to have more to reveal if given time. Certainly the concentration and palate length are very promising. A serious grenache!

World Wine – Sam Kim (Wine Orbit)

James Halliday – Mainly whole berry, 10% whole bunch in open fermenters, indigenous yeasts; half in barrel, half in stainless. Grenache in a bright, modern mode, this is redolent of redcurrant, ripe cherry, pomegranate and raspberry tea, a little white pepper and twiggy spice accenting. There’s an agreeable stricture of natural acidity and fine tannin stitching in the fruit, gifting drive and savoury trim.

The Wine Front – Grown mostly on the Rayner vineyard in McLaren Vale. 43 year old grenache vines; 65 year old shiraz vines; mataro from nearby. Some whole bunches, mostly with the mataro. All old oak. Bottled unfined/unfiltered. Another fantastic release from Bondar. Just the right mix of structure, flavour and interest. This is a savoury, sinewy wine first and foremost though flavours of graphite, woodsmoke, black cherry and fennel mean that there’s plenty else going on. Those strains of spicy tannin though; those fistfuls of smoked twigs and spices; they really set the scene. It twirls and twists through the mouth like it’s mapping out genes. A light-but-exquisite red wine. 93 points, Campbell Mattinson, winefront.com.au

James Suckling – A very cool wine. Made from almost all garnacha, it has a depth and intensity with a minerality and saltiness. Plenty of strawberries and flowers. Medium body. Vivid and focused. Lovely finish already. Made from organic grapes.

Wine Enthusiast – This wine is dark and earthy at first, but opens with airing to reveal bold notes of blueberry, mocha and peppery spice. This 50-50 blend of Grenache and Syrah is full bodied, richly textured and finishes long.

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate – It offers fabulous black cherry, licorice, wet gravel and ample crushed rock like minerality. Medium to full-bodied, nicely textured, elegant and polished.

World Wine – "Leading off the three Châteauneuf Du Papes, the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Trois Sources comes from more sandy soils just across the road from the estate. It always shares more stylistic similarities with the Réserve and is more opulent, sexy, and fruit loaded compared to the Hauts-Lieux cuvée. This 2017 is spectacular, offering loads of black fruits, black licorice, ground herbs, violets, and some obvious loamy soil and mineral-like aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, expansive, and multi-dimensional, this is another singular wine from Jean-Paul Daumen that tastes like the essence of this stunning terroir." 95 points Jeb Dunnuck

James Halliday –

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 – Vinous Brilliant ruby. Intense, spice-accented, ripe black and blue fruits, violets and smoky, mineral aromas build in the glass. The sweet, expansive palate reveals concentrated blueberry and boysenberry flavors that tighten up slowly on the back half. The finish clings with excellent tenacity, providing a framework for the wine's exuberant dark fruit.

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 – "Sourced from the old bush vine block on the Wait Vineyard, in Blewitt Springs. Arguably the most filigreed and complex of these single-vineyard iterations by virtue of its brood and carnal complexities: blood orange seeped with kirsch, woodsmoke and clove. Like the finest Sicilian-accented negroni. Straddles pinosity and nebbiolo-inspired boniness all at once, while laying the structural lattice to define a long, thrilling ride to the finish. Yet there is the mescal and dill-pickle note suggesting a bit more ripeness may be not such a bad idea." - Ned Goodwin MW (Halliday)

Huon Hooke – "Medium-deep and bright red-purple hue; the bouquet is sweetly spiced raspberry to dark cherry with hints of cola and Campari, utterly charming, while the palate is medium bodied at best and succulently smooth and supple in texture. Fruit sweet and delicious. An outstanding grenache of the modern style. Previous comments apply, but it deserves a higher rating." - Huon Hooke

Wine Spectator – Ripe but understated style, with a mix of Damson plum, black cherry and blackberry fruit flavors mixed with wood spice and black tea notes. Stylish, pure finish. Drink now through 2033.

Wine Spectator – A beautifully crafted version, with both a bright, high-toned profile and a dense core of flavor and power. Offers melted red licorice, raspberry puree and warm baking spice upheld by chalky mineral, smoked sandalwood and salty, fresh acidity. Seamlessly integrated and elegant, this is just beginning to see its potential. Grenache and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2030. 888 cases made, 100 cases imported.

James Suckling – Black fruit coulis, intense spice aromas and some smoke on the nose. Powerful and robust in the best possible way, the tannins are remarkably polished for a Rhone red with stacks of mourvedre in it. Very compact core, but also excellent energy on the full-bodied palate. Bold and very structured, but there's a wonderfully delicate sweetness, too. A cuvee of 50% mourvedre and 50% grenache from old vines on the high plain of Gigondas. 75% whole bunch. Matured in a combination of Stockinger oak foudre and clay amphora. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold.

Decanter – Strong Mourvèdre profile here, with heavy aromas like a dense fug. Soft, gently unctuous fruit including blackberry and black cherry. Fresh with bold, muscular tannins and a long finish. This wine is well balanced this year, definitely one to buy. Planted at the foot of the Cône around their house.