Recognition

Whalebone Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc 2012

66/34%, matured for 21 months in French oak (70% new). Spent close on 3 years making its way into bottle, an especially long time for a blend such as this, but it clearly needed it; there is a complex interplay between rich blackcurrant, cedar, cigar box and dried herbs, and a persistent tattoo of fine-grained tannins on the very long paplte. Cork.

Rating 96
To 2037

Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 2013

85/15%. The first thing you notice is the liveliness of it; the second is the easygoing complexity; the third is the long chains of tannin. Tobacco and earth run through boysenberry and blackcurrant; smoky oak plays a subtle role. Cork.

Rating 96
To 2030

Whalebone Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc 2012

56/44% blend matured in 90% new French oak. Balance of fruit, acid and tannin is arguably its key trait, though you can see its charismatic personality getting in a humph over such a call. Choc-spearmint helps bring leather, game, twiggy herbs and sheer cassis flavours together. Cork.

Rating 95
To 2030

Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay 2014

Allow this time to breathe and a world of flavour opens up to you. It stares you straight in the eye, as unflinching as it is intense. It shows malty, smoky oak, especially at first, but as it rests in the glass the seams smooth, and then disappear. Stone fruit rises. Pears. Grapefruit. Apples. It enriches as it refreshes. Screwcap.

Rating 95
To 2030