Stuart Knox, The Real Review, July 2020
Critic & Customer Reviews
Review of 'Estelle' Shiraz-Viognier, 2017
Purple core moving to brick-red at the rim. Blue fruits, violets and rosewater aromas make it a very fragrant nose. Those heady characters are all present on the palate as well, with lots of layers yet a lightness of being with well-controlled brightening acidity. As the palate flows a hint of white pepper-spice shows itself with fine tannins controlling the drive into the finish. 91 points.
Stuart Knox, The Real Review, July 2020
Review of The Gravel Block Shiraz, 2017
Blueberries and crushed flowers. Line of iodine and cured-meats intertwine along the palate, with hints of bright blue fruits and pepper spices. Good line and length with drive and poise. 92 points.
Stuart Knox, The Real Review, July 2020
Review of Murrumbateman Shiraz-Viognier, 2017
Deep red colour with some brick shades around the edges. Really lifts out of the glass, redolent with overripe raspberries and violets. The palate is more controlled than the nose would suggest. A line of bright red fruit through the core gives drive and flow with some floral high tones and sweet spice underneath. Decent length and persistence into the finish. 90 points.
Huon Hooke reviews Murrumbateman Shiraz Viognier, 2014
Huon Hooke also provides the following (yes) two tasting notes for the 2014 release:
Deep purple/red colour, the bouquet is deep, spicy, peppery, stony and earthy, the palate full-bodied and firmly structured, with elegance and abundant tannin. A stately shiraz, with depth and structure as well as refinement. Superb balance and clean lasting finish. 93 points. 10/2/2016. Drink 2016 to 2025.
Deepish red colour with a purple rim. The bouquet is earthy, non-fruity, with savoury pepper spice aromas, which are very typical of Murrumbateman shiraz. The palate has a core of sweetness which may be coming from the viognier. It’s medium-bodied, soft, elegant and beautifully balanced with excellent drinkability. 92 points. (5% viognier) 30/4/2016. Drink 2016 to 2028.
Huon Hooke
Huon Hooke reviews 2013 Murrumbateman Shiraz Viognier
Medium purple/red colour, a little light for shiraz but of good hue. It’s very white peppery to sniff, fragrant cool-climate shiraz in style and a touch lean and acidic on the palate. Raspberry, too, and very inviting. Pleasant light to medium-bodied shiraz with a leanness and elegance, but very much a peppery cool-grown rendition. A very attractive drink: delicious, in fact. 92 points. 4/9/14
James Halliday reviews 2013, 35th Parallel Chardonnay
Hand-picked, whole bunch-pressed, basket-pressed into French oak, lees-stirred for 9 months, then further time in barrel (bottled Oct ’14). The approach has worked well, investing the wine with complexity, but leaving rock melon, nectarine and fig fruit with a gentle touch of citrus acidity, 90 points.
Shiraz Viognier 2013; review by Australian Wine Showcase magazine
Review of the first Wimbaliri Shiraz Viognier, 2013, by Australian Wine Showcase magazine.
‘Complex bouquet of spice and dark berries. Delicious dry, savoury flavours. Clever use of oak with nice acid and tannins’ 95 points.
Excerpt from Asia Pacific Summer Edition/USA Winter Edition, 2014.
James Halliday reviews 35th Parallel Murrumbateman Chardonnay, 2012
‘Whole bunch-pressed and barrel-fermented; only 3 barrels made, making the task more difficult (red wines are the opposite). Most remarkable is the fruit profile, while very light-bodied it is not emaciated, just fresh and minerally’. 90 points. Highly recommended.
James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2015 Edition.
James Halliday reviews Cabernet Merlot 2009 Special Release
The Special Release ‘First Vines’ Cabernet-Merlot 2009, unlike its (unreleased) vintage counterpart, has been matured in both French and Kentucky oak. James Halliday’s rating; highly recommended, 90 points.
Australian Wine Companion, 2014
Australian Wine Showcase reviews The Gravel Block Shiraz, 2010
Australian Wine Showcase review of The Gravel Block Murrumbateman Shiraz, 2010
‘(High Silver) An outstanding wine. Bouquet of cherry and dark fruits. Superbly rich ripe cassis and blackberry fruit and cedary, spicy, coffee oak palate’. 90 pts.
Excerpt from Asia Pacific Summer Edition / USA Winter Edition 2013
Australian Wine Showcase reviews the Close Planted Pinot Noir, 2010
Review of the Close Planted Pinot Noir, 2010 by Australian Wine Showcase magazine.
(GOLD) An extraordinary wine. ‘Complex and amazingly aromatic fruit aromas. Rich mouthfeel with complex overtones.’ 94 pts
Excerpt from Asia Pacific Summer Edition/USA Winter Edition, 2013: Australian Wine Showcase review of 2010 Pinot Noir
James Halliday review of The Gravel Block Murrumbateman Shiraz, 2010
Healthy red-purple; a well made wine, neatly balancing fruit, oak and tannins; it peaks on the finish and aftertaste, where all of the spicy elements of the wine combine with the red fruits and fine-grained tannins. 93 pts
James Halliday in the Australian Wine Companion 2013 edition
James Halliday review of Close Planted Murrumbateman Pinot Noir, 2010
A single barrel made, the first since the drought; 20% whole bunch inclusion, the result a very complex, foresty pinot with ripe, black cherry and plumb fruit. 91 pts
James Halliday in the Australian Wine Companion 2013 edition
Highly recommended, 93 points for The Gravel Block Shiraz, 2009
Dark purple, foretelling the potent and powerful palate that follows, full of black fruits, but lifted by notes of licorice, spice, pepper and tar; the finish is neither tannic nor extractive. 93 points. Drink to 2030.
James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2012 edition.