Halliday Wine Companion (97)

From the Primavera vineyard at Woori Yallock, planted in 2001 on the same red soil as Wombat Creek. Both destemmed (55%) and whole-bunch components. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. A very bright crimson purple. So pure and perfumed with briary cherries, ripe redcurrants and freshly cut roses. Poised, juicy and energetic, the wine has so much tang and crunch, you barely notice that this is also structured finishing with long, gently puckering tannins. A wine with immediate appeal, but also one that will reward at least another 7-10 years in the cellar.

James Suckling (97)

Wow. This is complex and structured with dried strawberries and fresh flowers. Full body. Wonderful depth and intensity. The texture is so impressive. Give it time, but hard not to drink it. Screw cap.

Halliday Wine Companion (93)

Deep colour; as befits the very complex blend, powerful and complex, yet retains suppleness through the array of red and blackcurrant fruit. Barossa Valley (48%)/Adelaide Hills (42%)/Coonawarra (10%).

Wine Advocate (98)

Still looking fresh and complete, Glaetzer's 2004 Amon Ra Shiraz is full-bodied, rich and dark-fruited, with black cherry and plum fruit forming the base, while grace notes of baking spices, mocha and cedar play about the edges. Creamy and velvety in texture, with a long finish, it remains at its peak and should continue to drink well for another decade or more.

Wine Advocate (97+)

Very deep purple-black in color, the 2012 Amon Ra reveals intense notes of blackcurrant cordial, blackberry compote and licorice with nuances of cloves, allspice, chocolate box and salami as well as a whiff of espresso. The 100% Shiraz palate offers a beast of a wine that is densely packed with black fruit and baking spice flavors and is supported with firm, grainy tannins and crisp acid through to a finish with excellent persistence. Drink it 2015 to 2025+.

Wine Advocate (96)

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2013 Amon Ra has youthfully toned-down notes of blackcurrants, blackberry preserves, plums and cracked pepper with nuances of licorice, dark chocolate, cedar and black earth. The palate has wonderful balance and elegance for its commendable concentration and fullness, with tons of muscular fruit and spice layers framed by grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with great persistence.

Wine Advocate (96+)

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Amon-Ra Shiraz has a youthfully mute nose, offering glimpses at the blackberry, blackcurrant and licorice core, plus suggestions of dark chocolate, cigar boxes, fertile earth and baking spices. The full-bodied palate delivers concentrated, muscular blackberry and earth flavors with plenty of freshness and a beautiful backbone of finely grained tannins, finishing with commendable persistence and layers. This is a great contender for wine of the vintage!

Wine Advocate (98)

Certainly one of the best vintages of young Amon Ra I've ever tasted, the 2018 Amon Ra Shiraz is a stupendous effort. From old vines in the Ebenezer section of the northern Barossa, it starts off with a whirlwind of mocha, blackberry and dried spices, then actually gets more red-fruited as it sits in the glass. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated without being jammy or overdone, the wine finishes long and savory, framed by dusty tannins and mouthwatering black olives. Winemaker Ben Glaetzer compares 2018 to 2004 (which continues to drink well). Expect the 2018 to drink well young, but easily age through 2035, perhaps longer.

Wine Advocate (96+)

The 2019 Amon Ra Shiraz is 100% Shiraz and 100% from the 2019 vintage, as Ben Glaetzer felt it—unlike many previous vintages—didn't need to be freshened with a small proportion of younger wine. From old vines in the Ebenezer district of the northern Barossa Valley, it offers classic notes of blackberries and spice, framed by hints of cedar and vanilla (it's aged in 100% new oak hogsheads, mostly French). It's full-bodied yet crisp, supple but tight and really long. Offering lovely dark fruit, hints of espresso and black olive, it finishes mouthwatering and firm. Give it some time in the cellar and drink it from 2025 – 2040.

Wine Advocate (97)

I've looked at this wine many times over the years, almost exclusively as an older/cellared wine. The impact it has made is strong, and so it is through this lens that I now view this 2020 Amon Ra Shiraz. This year's Amon-Ra is concentrated, dense and absolutely, utterly saturated with flavor. The fruit that spirals within the bounds of the firm tannins is fleshy and pure, and with the knowledge that the wine sails through the decade with noiseless grace, it is all the more impressive in its infancy now. A brilliant wine—all ductile and proud. Yes.

Vinous (93)

(75% shiraz and 25% cabernet sauvignon) Deep, glass-staining ruby. Spicy blackberry and blueberry aromas are complicated by smoky Indian spices and fresh flowers. Sappy, pure, deeply concentrated dark berry flavors stain the palate, with fine-grained tannins gaining strength with air. The spicy character repeats on the finish of this beautifully balanced blend, which is surprisingly lithe and precise.

Vinous (93)

Deep, shimmering ruby. Aromas of ripe blackberry, blueberry, cherry-cola and espresso, along with building floral, spice and cola notes. Offers concentrated, spice-tinged dark fruit preserve and violet pastille flavors that show impressive energy for their heft. Round, well-judged tannins add shape to a very long, smoky finish that repeats the blue fruit and floral notes.

Wine Advocate (97)

For the 2018 Anaperenna Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon, Glaetzer blended in 18% Cabernet Sauvignon to give the wine increased fragrance and length. The nose is smoky, slightly herbal and marked by sweet cedar- and vanilla-tinged oak, but it also offers great cassis and blackberry fruit. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, the flavors are kept nicely in check by fine-grained tannins. This wine has it all: terrific intensity, complexity, length and texture.

Wine Advocate (91-93)

Readers should think of it as a French Vacqueyras on steroids. From 60-year-old vines in the Ebenezer district of Barossa, the 2005 Shiraz Bishop sees mostly French oak. It reveals a dense ruby/purple hue, beautiful, attractive notes of pepper, spice box, blackberries, and currants, and amazing richness as well as surprising elegance and definition. It can be consumed over the next 10-15 years.

Wine Advocate (89+)

The 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon (100% Cabernet Sauvignon from 28-year-old, dry grown vines) spent 20 months in new French wood. It offers up earthy, spicy, cedary, new saddle leather, black currant, and dried herb characteristics. Tannic and austere, it could easily be confused with a top Medoc from a moderately tannic vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2018.

Exclusive and refined, the Gralyn Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 is a striking example of timeless winemaking magnificence. This Western Australian product, hailing from the acclaimed Margaret River region, is of unparalleled quality. It's the result of the esteemed Gralyn Estate, well-recognised for their viticultural expertise and precision in producing award-winning wines.

The Gralyn Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 is crafted using meticulous handpicking techniques and aged in French oak barrels, resulting in a distinctive full-bodied bottle presenting deep red hues, a nose of blackcurrant, and a defined oak presence. Devoured in the mouth, it unveils a rich plum palette, softened with fine-grained tannins and a prolonged finish.

A single tempting example of Gralyn Estate's persistence in upholding traditional winemaking methods, the Gralyn Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 signifies perfection and allure in every bottle. A portfolio must-have for any true fine wine enthusiast.

The Greenock Creek Roennfeldt Road Shiraz 2011 is an exquisite embodiment of Australian viticulture, handcrafted in the renowned Barossa Valley, South Australia. Produced by Greenock Creek, a family-owned winery noted for its artisanal approach, this Shiraz promises an unparalleled tasting experience. The 2011 vintage is a triumphant demonstration of meticulous grape selection and traditional winemaking techniques.

Aged for 30 months in French and American oak hogsheads, it presents an intoxicating symphony of dark berries and spice, underpinned by firm tannin structure and impressive longevity. Layered and full-bodied, the Greenock Creek Roennfeldt Road Shiraz 2011 delves into harmonious depths of plum, blackberry and mocha, seamlessly merging with notes of black pepper and anise. Its luxurious finish reiterates the hand of an accomplished winemaker in every drop.

Amplify your cellar collection with the Greenock Creek Roennfeldt Road Shiraz 2011 — a sigh of the Barossa Valley's terroir, adorned in a bottle.

Wine Advocate (92)

Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2012 The Brother's' Reserve Pinot Noir has an earthy nose, a little muted, with notes of dried leaves, twigs and stems plus a fungi undercurrent over a core of red berries and plums. The light to medium-bodied palate is very fine with lovely herbal notes complimenting the fruit and finishing long and finely textured.

Wine Advocate (93+)

Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2013 The Brother's Reserve Pinot Noir has a slightly sappy, youthfully closed nose with notes of ripe cherries, red plums and pomegranate over hints of roses, lavender and black soil. Firm and tightly wound on the palate with a great foundation of grainy tannins and balanced acid supporting the complex flavors, it finishes long and earthy.

Halliday Wine Companion (96)

There's a lot happening here, all of it good. 80% is sourced from the Eden Valley, 20% the Barossa Valley, co-fermented on skins for 14 days, matured in French oak (10% new), the barrel size ranging from 225l to 2250l. There's a poultice of red and black fruits and ribbons of fine, ripe tannins. You can't deny a wine like this.

Halliday Wine Companion (92)

Medium-bodied; elegant, finely structured style; a subtle interplay of blackcurrant, earth, olive and fine French oak; long, balanced finish. Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc/Merlot. Cork.

Halliday Wine Companion (95)

Matured in French and American hogsheads (18% new) for 18 months. The bouquet does indeed bellow from the glass like that a euphonium. It has a swag of red, black and purple fruits all in tune, something very different for drinking now.

Matthew Jukes (18)

I am particularly partial to Keyneton Euphonium, and it is a genuinely noble creation in 2017. The 2017 is a tighter, more structured style than the expansive 2016, and yet I like it enormously for very different reasons. There is no need for this blend to load muscle and weight on the palate, even though many wines do just this. Imagine, if you will, a KE sporting a perfectly tailored three-piece suit, broad across the shoulders and nipped in at the waist – this is the silhouette of 2017 Euphonium. Elegant, controlled and suave, this is a perfumed wine with a gorgeous, smoky, red-fruited feel. The acidity is mouth-watering, making this intense red wine feel refreshing and savoury. I am extremely impressed and if you consider the diminutive price tag, this is a work of genius. While I appreciate that it could not be more different in delivery than the mighty 2016, I find its balance and elegance exceptionally alluring. You could indeed open a bottle today and enjoy the flavours from the off, but there is a rigidity and poise here buried in its core that will enable this wine to mellow for a good ten to fifteen years.

James Suckling (95)

Spicy and creamy shiraz-based blend with velvety tannins framing a silky core of dark fruit, licorice, cloves, grilled herbs and spices. Five spice and smoked paprika coming through. Full-bodied yet elegant. 65% shiraz, 23% cabernet sauvignon, 9% cabernet franc and 3% merlot. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

Matthew Jukes (18)

While Australia is moving to the 2020 vintage imminently, the 2019 Euphonium is being released in the UK now, and this neatly lines up with the single vineyard releases. Thank goodness there is slightly more stock of this cuvée in 2019 because this old-fashioned ‘dry red’ blend is a complete and utter charmer in 2019. Harmonious, pretty, and packed with freshness and brightness, this is a smooth wine that is at its peak right now. I am sure it will hold for a good few years, but it is the only one of these 2019s you can confidently drink now without feeling guilty! Stephen Henschke puts this vintage’s success down to Eden Valley’s later ripening and its natural elegance and higher acid. And, of course, this all plays into Keynton’s hands. This is a seamless wine, and as a lifelong fan of the Shiraz/Cab blend, this wine plays straight into my sweet spot! Considering its price, this is an unmissable 2019 Henschke release, and if you have yet to indulge in these delicious wines, this wine is the place to start!

Halliday Wine Companion (95)

“Matured in French hogsheads (28% new) for 18 months. While the wine still has a long way to go, some of the tannins have softened, and hints of violets and gentle spices add to the bouquet. It should really open up as it nears its 10th birthday.”

Halliday Wine Companion (96)

From a single vineyard in Light Pass planted in the late ’70s, matured in French hogsheads (10% new). Very good colour depth/brightness. Takes no prisoners; intense blackcurrant, black olive and cabernet tannins.

The Real Review (98)

Deepish red colour with just a trace of purple in its rim, the bouquet is pungent raspberry, squashed overripe raspberry, classic Mt Edelstone. The wine is succulently fruit-sweet: gorgeously extravagant fruit floods the palate. It's almost jammy, the fine but persistent tannins just pulling it together on the finish so the aftertaste and follow-through are clean and balanced and refreshing. Lush fruit flavour, astonishing texture, very old-viney, a very impressive Edelstone. A stand-out vintage for this wine.

Decanter (97)

Powerful but unobtrusive tannins – like an engine purring – support dark, perfectly ripe blackberry, mulberry and plum fruit, with hints of strawberry, red fruit leather and smoked charcuterie notes from the oak. Spice and dried herb nuances unfurl over three days, beautifully articulating the terroir and its 104-year-old vines through notes of black pepper, sage, tea tree, star anise, mint and cardamom. Ripe and refreshing redcurrant sustains the sweet, spiced fruit through the long, sinuous finish. Terrific purity, poise and panache. Released at £137.

Matthew Jukes (19+)

This is a genuinely outstanding Mount Edelstone, with glorious fruit and multi-layered complexity. The nose sings of the Eden Valley with a sage and black fruit cocktail of flavours, and the texture is pure velvet. This is a cracker of a wine and a classic Mount Edelstone to boot, and it is already bafflingly precocious. But don’t worry because behind the exultant volleys of pristine fruit lurks muscle and crunchy tannin that will propel this wine forward for two decades and more. As time ticks on I become more and more enamoured by Mount Edelstone and this is another release that will handsomely reward those who manage to track down stock.