Recognition

All class. Layers to bouquet and palate, inward concentration, exceptional length and fine tuned oak/lees work implicit. It offers nectarine to marzipan and cinnamon spice. The palate shows richness but freshness of acidity with a core of flint-like minerality. Righteous …

The classic Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz blend is all about combining the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon with the ripeness and upfront appeal of shiraz. This example does it well, aided by the warm 2016 vintage.

It is a bright deep ruby …

This Tapanappa Whalebone Cab Shiraz 2016 sure packs in flavour, but it would be more compelling if it was less ripe.
85% Wrattonbully Cabernet and 15% Adelaide Hills Shiraz (from the Shining Rock Vineyard which Brian Croser founded in the …

2016 Tapanappa Single Vineyard Adelaide Hills Shiraz is the first “distinguished site” shiraz from Tapanappa, from the Shining Rock Vineyard planted in ’96. A very good expression of Adelaide Hills shiraz, replete with black pepper, warm spice and licorice threaded …

Classic right bank (Bordeaux) blend of Cabernet Franc (as opposed to Cabernet Sauvignon being king on the left). Wrattonbully in the far east of the state of South Australia has a cool, maritime influenced, climate – from memory the whalebone …

This has a very rich and ripe feel with prune and plum-cake aromas, as well as raisins. The palate has soft, ripe and rich tannins and a smooth, soft finish. Drink now. 

90 points…

This has a cedary edge to the plum aromas with some spicy-oak influence and an earthy edge. The palate is smooth and supple with spicy, cedary-oak flavors and a core of red plums. Drink now. 

90 points…

Plush with perfumed violet, bramble, liquorice and black pepper aromatics, spiced and savoury on the palate with layers of chocolate, dark berry and harmonious tannins.
95 points…

The maestro has not lost his touch. After five decades in the wine industry, pioneer, winemaker and educator Brian Croser is still producing wines of impeccable balance and widespread appeal. Much of his success has come down to a knack …

Merlot makes up 44% of the wine, while cabernet franc is 56%. Always good to see franc holding sway.
When I first tasted this I thought there was too much bubble-gum oak, and for some people there probably is, but …

A full-bodied red based on the quintessential Bordeaux Right Bank prototype, this is rich yet fresh; forceful yet somehow savoury and while reflective of a warm, dry year manifest as salubrious dark fruit tones, bitter chocolate, mocha oak (20 months; …

A very good example of the union between place and variety, the richness of the fruit flavours bringing blackcurrant and blackberry together. Then cigar box and polished tannins come into play on the perfectly balanced palate.…

Bright and deep ruby-red colour. Loads of toasty oak and green rhubarb, eucalyptus and red licorice. Ripe red strawberries and cranberries wrestle with ambitious tannins and dried herb sinew. Tannins are chalky and ripe. It’s a bit of an assault …

Black olive hue with red edges. So many moving parts to the bouquet: cedar, dark soy, tapenade, mixed red and black berries, oak is definitely firm. An opulent first sip; ripe blackberries and raspberries meld beautifully with licorice and softer …

Only 15% Shiraz here, from the Adelaide Hills.

Blackcurrant, peppermint nougat, new leather, aniseed and biscuit spices. It’s bold and curranty, sweet nougat oak and dark raspberry, a meat and sage flavour in there, plush powdery tannin, and some alcohol …

Black olive hue with red edges. So many moving parts to the bouquet: cedar, dark soy, tapenade, mixed red and black berries, oak is definitely firm. An opulent first sip; ripe blackberries and raspberries meld beautifully with licorice and softer plum notes. Time in …

A very complex array of dried flowers such as roses and violets. Subtly savory dark cherries and earthy fruits, as well as some graphite, coal smoke and savory, dark and stony nuances. The palate is very nicely wrapped in spicy …

Showing a flinty side to the nose with ripe lime and lemons, which are nicely cut into a focused fruit and quartz zone. There is a richer and almost tropical edge to the palate with ripe flavors of lime and …

An amalgam of vineyards. This shows plenty of fruit weight and good complexity in terms of winemaker influence. There is also a wealth of grapefruit, as well as flinty and spicy nuances. The acidity sits well on the palate. There …

There’s an edge of flinty reduction, which gives this instant gratification. White peaches, gently waxy beeswax elements and some bright, ripe and fresh fruits on the palate. A savory and thicker style, but it does not have the weight of …

A very stylish, powerful and composed chardonnay with attractive fresh lemons, white peaches and nectarines, as well as more savory pastry and sweet white flowers. The palate is layered and complex, showing some gently creamy, lees-derived texture that is cut …

It was an impressed judging panel that elevated this Chardonnay to Gold, with its ‘struck match, smoky bacon nose, tahini and rich yellow orchard fruits, sappy acidity and elegance’, as team leader Nigel Lister put it, also noting that it

We are very pleased to announce our 2016 Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay has just been crowned with a Platinum Best in Show award at the Decanter World Wine Awards. This sees it placed in the top 50 wines across the entire …

The 2016 Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay has just taken out gold at The Drinks Business 2017 International Chardonnay Masters.

This continues a fantastic run, having picked up Master Chardonnay in 2015, Gold in 2016 and another Gold for 2017.

About the …