94 points - "It’s loaded with spice and florals, not overtly viognier-flexed but there’s pretty, sweet elements and a glossiness to texture that gives you an idea about the white grape inclusion. The perfume, cinnamon-clove-cardamom brown spices on red cherry, dark plum, green olive and some bergamot tea and alpine herb notes. Flavours roll similarly, quite rich in a way but a brace of tightening tannins, dusty, powdery, do well. A succulence and depth in tow. It feels premium, fine, good, concentrated, complex. A richer expression from Canberra District would be the other comment. It does the trick and well." - Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)

94+ points - "This is a beautifully restrained and finely wrought wine. Sleek in its composition and texture, a filigree of fine, lacy tannin shaping things with underlying red currant, faintest apricot notes, dried herbs, white pepper, a touch of clove and some meaty, ferrous and cool, white balsamic elements in tow. There’s a youthfulness and succulence right now, tension and structure are words that come to mind, but in terms of the visceral, lots going on, freshness, finesse, interest are here." - Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)

Our take on this beautifully fragrant blend. Just 3% viognier added at the crush pad so co-fermented which all the cool cats do. Always filled with flowers, spice anf red fruit the 2022 was not the easiest year but our fruit charged on and delivered a wine that will emerge, change and blossom with careful cellaring but you know, it's a great drink young as well.

Vintage: 2022
GI: Canberra District
Vineyard source: Estate
Harvest date: 17th April
Processing: Processed to 15% whole bunch, the rest whole berry in 10hl fermenters with indigenous yeast and bacteria biom. 3-6 weeks on skins. Pressed to new and used 228l French coopered barriques for one year then transferred to 27hl foudre for second year
Élevage: 2 years
Vessels: Francois Frere Foudre
Vintage conditions: 2022
Another cool year, very wet early that kept us on our toes in the vineyard. Was a year for patience, faith and gumboots.
Bottling date: May 2024
Production: 700 dozen
Cellaring: 10 years plus
Something interesting: The small percentage of viognier is added to change the palate rather than aromas. Viognier is thick skinned and has a different phenolic make up to Shiraz. The two work together to create the unique silky texture
Drink with: Lamb heavily flavoured with middle-eastern spices and herbs.