Shiraz Frankland River, Mudgee and McLaren Vale
Rhys Pender, April 2012
89 Points. www.wineaccess.com - Good intensity with meaty, peppery and savoury leather with a background of ripe blackberry, cherry, blueberry and some chocolatey oak. The palate is full and rich, with soft tannins, chocolate and more black and red fruit, but also lots of savoury meat, eucalyptus, cedar and leather. A good example of the modern, more savoury style of Aussie Shiraz.
90 points - Gord Stimmell - www.thestar.com, February 2011
David Lawrason, November 2010
88 Points. Toronto Life Eating and Drinking Guide 2011 - Blended from three regions - one in the west, one in the east and one in the south - this new listing is a supple, delicious shiraz loaded with black forest cake, menthol and tobacco. Feels dense and smooth without being too sweet or hot. It has some elegance, so enjoy now or over the next three years.
This tri-State blend offers up an alluring nose of black licorice, spice and luscious dark berry fruit. Fully flavoured, there's a persistent ,delectable, balanced wave of black, juicy cherry, plum and pomegranate. It's medium-full bodied and silky smooth with a long lip-smacking aftertaste. It's rock-solid four stars offering very good value.
Bronze Medal, Intervin, November 2010
Steve Thurlow, www.winealign.com, July 2010, Ontario
88 points. From cooler parts of Australia this wine shows a softer lighter shiraz with red berry fruit more like grenache than the jammy blueberry genre from South Australia. Expect fresh raspberry with warm spice and cranberry jelly. It is midweight on the palate with some modest tannin and good to very good length. Try with roast meats. Best 2010 to 2014.
James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2011
89 Points. Colour; a rich and ripe shiraz, with a display of plum, black cherry, blackberry and dark chocolate reflecting its regional components. Well made. Frankland River/Mudgee/McLaren Vale. Screwcap.14% alc.
Huon Hooke, Sydney Morning Herald Good Living, July 2010
‘Bargain of the Week'. 88 Points…Blended from Frankland River, Mudgee and McLaren Vale grapes, this is a simple, fruit-driven red with a nice touch of spice as well as cherry and plum aromas. Acidity tends to make the palate a touch shrill but you wouldn't notice it with food. Quite stylish.
87 & Good Value Wine Pick - Juicy and tasty with fleshy-ripe plums and berries. Wonderful richness to this round, full-bodied red. Food matches: steak, stew, spicy BBQ dishes.
Shiraz Frankland River, Mudgee and McLaren Vale
Christopher Waters, Vines Magazine Jun/Jul 2012
BEST BUY / 3.5 Stars. Just in time for summer, here's a solid barbecue wine. The nose is big and brash, with layers of plum, mocha and a bit of boozy note. It has great grip for food, with meaty, smoky, red fruit flavours and hints of oak. The finish is medium-long and full. What's not to enjoy about a well-crafted Aussie Shiraz at an affordable price?
Beppi Crosariol, March 2012
88 Points. The Globe and Mail - The cute name is a tribute to winery founder Bob Oatley's great-great-grandfather, a convict pardoned in part for his skills as a clockmaker. Full-bodied, with an initial burst of blueberry, this red finds lively balance in a blast of cracked pepper - it's friendly and feisty. Try it with grilled red meats or hamburgers. ($16.99 in B.C., $19.99 in N.S., various prices in Alberta.)
Shiraz Frankland River, Mudgee and McLaren Vale
Panel, September 2012
Top 10 Shiraz/Syrah avail in Cda (87) www.wineaccess.com - This impressive shiraz combines complex spice and fruit flavours and aromas. The nose has intense aromas of raspberry and mixed brambly berries along with burlap, clove and paprika. The palate is dry and full-bodied, with balancing crisp acidity. Intense flavours of blackberry, coffee and chocolate make this a big and ripe, but very well-made wine.
Vic Harradine, July 2012
3.5 Stars - well worth trying www.winecurrent.com - Dark berry fruit, toasty notes and hints of black pepper on the nose, this nicely balanced, medium-bodied red dishes up a warm and satin-smooth wash of sweet, ripe mulberry, black raspberry and juicy, sour cherry. It finishes with good fruit and lip-smacking acidity making it the perfect partner with prawn and chorizo paella
Shiraz Frankland River, Mudgee and McLaren Vale
Panel, September 2012
Top 10 ShirazéSyrah avail in Cda (87) www.wineaccess.com - This impressive shiraz combines complex spice and fruit flavours and aromas. The nose has intense aromas of raspberry and mixed brambly berries along with burlap, clove and paprika. The palate is dry and full-bodied, with balancing crisp acidity. Intense flavours of blackberry, coffee and chocolate make this a big and ripe, but very well-made wine.
Vic Harradine, July 2012
3.5 Stars - well worth trying www.winecurrent.com - Dark berry fruit, toasty notes and hints of black pepper on the nose, this nicely balanced, medium-bodied red dishes up a warm and satin-smooth wash of sweet, ripe mulberry, black raspberry and juicy, sour cherry. It finishes with good fruit and lip-smacking acidity making it the perfect partner with prawn and chorizo paella