Halliday’s Top-Rated Collection
Halliday Rated Wines – 6 Bottle Value 🍷⭐
A carefully selected collection of Halliday-rated wines, bringing together quality, character and excellent value across six bottles. Featuring a variety of well-regarded styles, this collection is perfect for wine lovers looking to enjoy highly rated wines without the premium price tag.
Ideal for everyday drinking, entertaining or discovering new favourites, each bottle offers a combination of quality, flavour and great value.
Six Halliday-rated wines, one great-value collection. 🍷
1 x Jasper Hill Emily's Paddock Shiraz Cabernet Franc 2022 ~ Heathcote, Victoria, Australia
96/100 Aaron Brasher, The Real Review
95/100 Jeni Port, Halliday Wine Companion
94/100 Christina Pickard, Wine Enthusiast
95/100 James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion (2018 vintage)
Aaron Brasher, The Real Review "Dark, inky and opaque in the glass. Deep, brooding aromas of graphite, ferrous earth, florals, smoked meats, spice and pepper. Full bodied, rich, mouth-filling and multi-faceted. Very pure and dark fruit driven with real depth, presence and purity. The tannins are firm, textured and deliver shape and savouriness and the acidity has brightness and lift. A compelling shiraz, with power and precision"
Jeni Port, Halliday Wine Companion "Dark and intense, Emily's Paddock seems to walk a bolder road than it once did. Cabernet franc florals are fully pliant to be slowly revealed with air and time. Bramble, black fruits, jalapeño, licorice, sage, bitter chocolate and vanilla aromas introduce a wine that moves like a medium-bodied shiraz but elicits power and intensity. Enmeshed in fine grain tannins, there are many layers yet to be discovered here."
Christina Pickard, Wine Enthusiast "This inky-hued Shiraz, from the distinctive Heathcote region of Victoria, is still a baby, with upfront primary dark fruit aromas like cassis and blackberry, licorice, warming spice and a stony nuance. There's power to the palate but poise, too. A harmonious bottling that will reward decades of cellaring."
Ned Goodwin MW "Often my favorite wine among this stable, yet arguably the most Australian, too. Mint, tea tree, clove, blackcurrant, baking spice, darker fruits, Darjeeling, anise and sassafras. Yet it is the minty edges that service levity, lift and takeoff. Some evergreen freshness, amidst the morass of extract and firmly clenched tannins, so to speak. Tannins that may be foreboding in their youth, but have chew and refined noblesse about them. Wonderful tannins! This is a powerful armchair wine, of a sophisticated allure as much as a nostalgic one."
Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate "The 2022 Emily's Paddock Shiraz Cabernet Franc is inky, midnight in color and looks and smells to be a significantly proportioned wine from the very get-go. On the nose are aromas of bramble, chinotto, salted licorice, blackberry jam, Satsuma plum skins and violets. The wine is wholly convincing; it is massive in every respect, but it achieves a balance and equilibrium that is frankly quite impressive. At 15% alcohol, it is evident that the fruit is very ripe, yet the wine manages to convey a sense of place and soil. The finish dries out a little, but there is such abundant fruit on the front and middle palate that it puts one in a forgiving kind of mood. It's confident and sure."
James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion "There is only 5% cabernet franc, but it is open to Jasper Hill to disclose it on the front label. It is a finely balanced wine with polished tannins and clearly expressed shiraz varietal character." (2018 vintage)
Jasper Hill is a winery of iconic status and considered of benchmark status in the Heathcote region of Victoria, Australia. The first vineyards were planted in 1975 and the first vintage was in 1982. Jasper Hill is best known for producing concentrated Shiraz from ungrafted vines planted deep into ancient basaltic rock soils. The estate has a total of 24 hectares (60 acres) of vineyard land split between three properties – Emily's Paddock, Georgia's Paddock and Cornella Vineyard. These are planted to a range of varieties, including Shiraz, Cabernet Franc, Riesling, Nebbiolo, Semillon, Viognier, and Grenache. The vineyards are farmed organically, biodynamically, and with no irrigation.
Heathcote is a prestigious wine region in Central Victoria, an hour and a half's drive from the state capital, Melbourne. Shiraz is the unchallenged king of Heathcote wines, making world-class, award-winning wines characterized by their rich and deep aroma profile, a dark, almost inky color, ripe, velvety tannins and an amazingly long finish. The region is sandwiched between Bendigo to the west and Goulburn Valley to the east, with the state border with New South Wales a little way to the north. Vineyards lie in a narrow strip on the sides of the Mount Camel hills, where elevation plays a big part in the climate, as do cool winds from the south. Heathcote summers are comparatively mild, resulting in an extended growing season. The ripening of the grapes is slow and steady, allowing an almost optimum phenolic development – one of the reasons why Heathcote produces such high-quality wines.
Shiraz is the name given to the dark-skinned Syrah grape when grown in Australia and selected pockets of the New World. Though genetically identical, the stylistic differences between Shiraz and Syrah are usually pronounced. Shiraz is so important to Australian viticulture that it is the most planted grape variety in the majority of Australian vineyards and has become virtually synonymous with the country's wine regions, and in particular the Barossa Valley.
1 x Giant Steps "Applejack Vineyard" Pinot Noir 2023 ~ Yarra Valley, Australia
98/100 Philip Rich
96/100 James Suckling
95/100 Campbell Mattinson
95/100 Huon Hooke
16.5/20 Jancis Robinson
98/100 James Halliday (2020 vintage)
96/100 Jane Faulkner (Halliday) (2020 vintage)
93/100 Steven Creber (Halliday)
93/100 Decanter (2019 vintage)
Philip Rich "..I've long considered the Applejack vineyard to be one of the greatest sites for pinot in Australia and I'm not sure I've seen a better version than the 2021. A deep, bright, crimson purple. Maraschino cherry into plum, there's an exotic and riotous amalgam of Asian five-spice and a gentle savoury, umami character. What elevates this vintage is the concentration, along with Applejack's trademark perfume and spice. Just so vibrant and fresh on the palate, the tannins are both silky and plentiful. You will have no problems opening and enjoying this now, but the wine's track record suggests you'll thank me if you still have some to drink 7–10 years from now, if not longer...amed after the Applejack eucalypts that surround the vineyard, which was planted at Gladysdale in 1997. Seven clones including 114, 115, MV6, D2V5, D5V15, Pommard and Abel!"
James Suckling "Brashly spicy and complex, this has aromas of espresso, blueberries, toasted spices and grilled bread, as well as forest wood and violets. The palate delivers alluring depth and a round, fleshy build. Acidity explodes on the finish, releasing fresh red-cherry and blueberry fruit flavors. Wonderfully layered and complete. Drink over the next eight years."
Campbell Mattinson "Pure red cherry flavours push straight into undergrowth, mushroom, fragrant herb and spices. Cedarwood oak is present but so happily married to the fruit. There are briar notes here, particularly through the finish, and throughout it feels structured without necessarily feeling grippy. There’s a (positive) smoky aftertaste and a (very) good level of richness, in a varietal context. All up, hands down, this is a gorgeous wine to drink."
Huon Hooke "Mid-light purple-red colour, bright and youthful, with aromas of mixed spices, raspberry, smoky oak and charcuterie, gentle palate texture and pleasingly drying tannins at the end. Excellent intensity. A nice touch of fruit sweetness at the heart of it, then a drying flush of fine tannin moves in. Delicious pinot."
Ches Cook, FWC "A richer and more generous wine than Wombat Creek but a wine that keeps its Pinot elegance all the same with a nice, lightly rounded shape and savoury edges. It’s these savoury, earth-derived tones that I particularly like: dried twig, crushed leaf, some damp soil - all characteristics I love to see in Pinot Noir. With time in bottle, these may come to the fore with more vigour. Lots of potential here but already showing very well."
James Halliday "The clarity, the purity, the elegance and the perfume that the Upper Yarra Valley Applejack Vineyard brings to the party is immediately recognisable. Equally insistent is the sheer power of the red fruits and spices hidden by the light colour of the cloak. 66 barrels/barriques." (2020 vintage)
Jane Faulkner (Halliday) "Pinot purity right here, folks. There’s a certain precision and definition too. A delightful combo of joy and complexity: rhubarb and freshly grated beetroot, sweet red cherries, florals and warm spices, with the oak neatly tucked in. Superfine tannins, laser-like acidity and terrific length seal the deal." (2020 vintage)
Steven Creber (Halliday) "Parcels of whole-bunch and destemmed fruit; both small oak and open ferments; 8 months in French barriques, 25% new. Cherries and floral notes the main theme on the bouquet, some whole-bunch character and oak in the mix as well. The warmth of the vintage presents itself in the sweet-tinged feel, but the generous flavours of red fruit and spice are attractive and balanced by the lightly grippy finish." (2019 vintage)
Decanter "The 12.5ha Applejack Vineyard, planted in 1997 (and bought by Giant Steps in 2013), is the apple of winemaker Steve Flamsteed's eye when it comes to Pinot Noir, rating it as one of Australia's best cool-climate sites. A mix of whole-bunch and destemmed fruit (depending on clone) were wild-yeast fermented, then the parcels matured for eight months in barrique, 25% new. As with the rest of the range, there's no fining or filtering, and racking and bottling is done by gravity. Quite a structured Pinot, with fine tannins and brisk acidity to ensure long ageing. Tart red cherry, berries and the vineyard's characteristic bitter-orange tang infuses both nose and palate, plus peppery spices and hints of tilled earth and undergrowth. 2,111 cases made." (2019 vintage)
Toni Paterson "An open and fleshy wine with pure red fruits and gentle savouriness. The fruit is intense, though not over-fruity and the tannin frame is elegant and appropriate. Impressive flavour depth." (2018 vintage)
Giant Steps is a privately owned, estate based, Yarra Valley grower and winemaker. Giant Steps has forged a reputation for delivering some of Australia’s most consistent, over-performing, varietal wines. These wines have received global acclaim and established a strong reputation in restaurants and fine wine stores around the world. Since 2003 Giant Steps wines have collectively been awarded 19 trophies and over 50 gold medals at major international and domestic wine shows and have been named one of the Top 100 Wineries in the World by Wine & Spirits Magazine, US for each of the last three years.
Owner Phil Sexton came to wine via beer. He started Little Creatures, a favourite of Aussie hopheads, in Perth (Western Australia). Yarra Valley is a region with a cool climate, best known for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Yarra Valley is an hour’s drive east of Melbourne. Applejack Vineyard was planted in 1997 by highly respected viticulturist Ray Guerin Today it is meticulously managed by his son Mark.
Applejack Vineyard is situated in the Upper Yarra Valley, to the south-east of the traditional valley floor. The higher altitudes result in cooler growing conditions - ideal for Pinot Noir. Applejack Vineyard is located on a dramatic, north-east-facing slope with close-planted vines. This vineyard was purchased by Phil Sexton in 2013.
Pinot Noir is the dominant red wine grape of Burgundy, now produced in wine regions all over the world, including western Germany, northern Italy, Chile, South Africa, Australia and, perhaps most notably, California, Oregon and New Zealand.
The essence of Pinot Noir wine is its aroma of strawberry and cherry (fresh red cherries in lighter wines and stewed black cherries in weightier examples), underpinned in the most complex examples by hints of forest floor. Well-built Pinot Noirs, particularly from warmer harvests, also exhibit notes of leather and violets, sometimes approaching the flavor spectrum of Syrah."
1 x McHenry Hohnen Calgardup Brook Vineyard Chardonnay (Organic) 2022 ~ Margaret River, Western Australia
96/100 Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion
95/100 The Wine Front
95/100 Decanter
96/100 Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion (2021 vintage)
97/100 Erin Larkin, Halliday Wine Companion (2020 vintage)
5 Stars Winery - Halliday Wine Companion
Top Chardonnay Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023
Halliday's Wine Companion Awards 2023 - Top Wineries of 2022 & 2023
Organic
Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion "For whatever reason, this just has the edge compared with its two other chardonnay siblings, which are both excellent. This just seems more high-toned, flinty, racy and linear. Yet it has texture, depth and super length. All the flavours come together seamlessly, the oak a mere seasoning, and moreish acidity ensures this is delicious now and will age well."
Decanter "One of the first Chardonnays I tasted when I moved to Margaret River, and I distinctly remember being wowed by the freshness, salinity and crunchy tension. This has all of that, plus grapefruit pith, lemon curd, mandarin zest, saltbush and a lick of flint. Pure, concentrated fruit offers a lacy acid pop among textural layers that give the wine a delightful pace."
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate "...is tight and fine; it curls in tendrils through the long finish and litters the palate with dehydrated lemon peel, clove buds, white pepper, freshly grated nutmeg, brine and saltbush. It is coastal and fresh, mineral and fine. The vineyard is north-facing and planted on coastal limestone loam, established in 1997. I love the precision and delicacy of this wine. While others may overtake it for my preference in the future, within this release, this is one of the top wines for 2022."
Huon Hooke, The Real Review "Light yellow colour with a reserved, restrained bouquet of beeswax, grapefruit pith, malt, honey, restrained nuttiness and a hint of snuffed candle. In the mouth, it's reserved for this region, with good intensity, tightly focused, linear and long. A more European style chardonnay with restraint, structure, savouriness and subtle complexities of a more worked (as opposed to simple fruit) style of chardonnay. Long follow-through with energising acidity. This could reward cellaring."
Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion "Precision, definition and length. Chardonnay from McHenry Hohnen has been a bit of rock ’n’ roll of late, and Calgardup Brook just pips the others with a chartbuster. There’s the usual citrus theme going on here, the pink grapefruit and pith, zest and juicy acidity. There’s also the flintiness, the seamless integration of oak, the attention to detail throughout and mostly, the energy and drive. Complex and complete." (2021 vintage)
Erin Larkin, Halliday Wine Companion "Fruit from the Calgardup Brook vineyard (planted 1997) on coastal limestone loam. All single-vineyard chardonnays are made in the same way here, highlighting the differences in terroir: Hand picked, whole-bunch pressed, full solids, wild ferment in barrel (25% new) and 4 months' maturation, partial mlf, fortnightly bâtonnage. Where the Burnside is granitic, mineral and fine, this is pithy, saline and expansive, with layers of cheesecloth and lanolin amongst the ripe stone fruit. More volume and density of flavour than the Burnside (neither here nor there qualitatively, simply an observation), this is sensational. Utterly." (2020 vintage)
Founded by one of the pioneers of the Margaret River winemaking region, David Hohnen and his brother in law, Murray McHenry, an accomplished fine wine retailer. Both have been making wine in Margaret River since the early 1970’s. McHenry Hohnen vineyards are 100% biodynamic. Their three unique vineyards (Burnside, Calgardup and Hazel’s) produce wines that are a reflection of the land. McHenry Hohnen focusses on crafting site-expressive wines and are known for producing some of the region's best wines.
Margaret River is one of the best-known wine regions in Australia, recognized internationally for the quality of its wines and the natural beauty of the region. Although originally renowned for its unusually refined Cabernet Sauvignon and intensely citrusy Chardonnay varieties, the region now produces Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blends and Shiraz.
Located in the south-western corner of Western Australia, it is famous for having a more 'European' wine style than its counterparts across Australia, owing to the regions temperate, coastal location which is very similar to that of Bordeaux.
1 x McHenry Hohnen Hazel's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 ~ Margaret River, Western Australia
94/100 Steven Creber, Halliday's Wine Companion
92/100 Decanter World Wine Awards
91/100 Wine Enthusiast
93/100 James Halliday, Halliday's Wine Companion (2015 vintage)
97/100 - Top Cabernet Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023 (2019 vintage)
5 Stars Winery - James Halliday
"Halliday Wine Companion - Australian Winery of the Year 2022 & 2023"
Steven Creber, Halliday's Wine Companion "Shows good regional and varietal expression... Blackcurrant, cedar and dried herb are present in the bouquet and on the palate, with a sense of depth of fruit still to emerge from underneath the emphatic grip of the tannin as it is."
James Halliday, Halliday's Wine Companion "The tannins need to soften a little more, or a large chunk of flame-grilled beef should accompany the wine. Has potential." (2015 vintage)
Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023, Erin Larkin "We are coming to the end of the premium 2018 releases from Margaret River, so it is a thrill to be able to taste a few more before the tranche is exhausted. This is closed, restrained and cooling, with layers of graphite tannins and salty mineral acidity ... the fruit is supple and elegant, defined wholly by blackberries, mulberries and raspberry coulis. This has eons left in the tank. It would be impatient of you to drink it earlier than 2025 (we would forgive you if you did though, because it is already delicious)." (2015 vintage)
Founded by one of the pioneers of the Margaret River winemaking region, David Hohnen and his brother in law, Murray McHenry, an accomplished fine wine retailer. Both have been making wine in Margaret River since the early 1970’s. McHenry Hohnen vineyards are 100% biodynamic. Their three unique vineyards (Burnside, Calgardup and Hazel’s) produce wines that are a reflection of the land. McHenry Hohnen focusses on crafting site-expressive wines and are known for producing some of the regions best wines.
Margaret River is one of the best-known wine regions in Australia, recognized internationally for the quality of its wines and the natural beauty of the region. Although originally renowned for its unusually refined Cabernet Sauvignon and intensely citrusy Chardonnay varieties, the region now produces Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blends and Shiraz.
Located in the south-western corner of Western Australia, it is famous for having a more 'European' wine style than its counterparts across Australia, owing to the regions temperate, coastal location which is very similar to that of Bordeaux.
1 x Brokenwood ILR Reserve Semillon 2017 ~ Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia
96/100 James Suckling
96/100 The Wine Front
95/100 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
Gold - Decanter World Wine Awards
Gold - 2023 Royal Adelaide Wine Show, Finlaysons Trophy for Best Semillon in show
Gold - 2023 NSW Wine Awards
Gold - 2023 Royal Melbourne Wine Awards
Gold - 2023 Royal Sydney Wine Show
James Halliday "From one of the masters of developed semillon, helped in this instance by the great semillon vintage. Its bouquet half suggests the use of oak – not true. It's a hypnotic wine, with Meyer lemon driving the citrus circus and the wheels of acidity."
Decanter World Wine Awards "Anyone trying this extraordinary wine, marked by classic Hunter cleanliness and freshness...The vines had had adequate rainfall prior to midsummer, though, and the secret to Hunter Valley Semillon is early picking. It is this that makes it an inarticulate wine in its early years – but with time comes character. After six years, you can see growing aromatic richness, as innate toasty, smoky notes begin to join the subtle lime fruits, while on the palate the structure of acidity – intense to the point of inscrutability in the early years – is beginning to deepen, to soften and to modulate towards something more aromatically resonant. During all this time, of course, the wine maintains its overall lightness and delicacy, the legacy of just 11% abv."
James Suckling "An iridescent mid-yellow flecked with green, the color of semillon from these parts nudging adolescence, little more. Loads in store, attested by a faint whiff of buttered white toast and lemon drop. The acidity, febrile and gloriously juicy, carries the flavors extremely long. The wine is typical featherweight, belied by the intensity of flavor at its core. This is exceptional. Inimitable. Benchmark wine."
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate "The 2017 ILR Reserve Semillon is already toasty and voluminous in the mouth. It leads with cold buttered toast, the distant whiff of fresh coffee, lemon myrtle, honeysuckle, grapefruit pith and brine. It undulates and courses through the long finish."
The ILR Reserve Semillon is named after Chief Winemaker and Managing Director Iain Leslie Riggs, who joined the winery in 1982. Iain has taken Brokenwood from a small ‘hobby’ winery into the national and international arena, and was the driving force in Brokenwood extending the range to white wines.The ILR Reserve Semillon is an aged white wine that receives no oak.
After tasting the wine over the first three years the decision was made to release at 5 years bottle age, in other words to have some bottle development but capable of aging further. In terms of winemaking it was a case of low (and now, zero) skin contact and neutral yeast.
Established in 1970 Brokenwood Wines is one of Australia's most reputable premium wine labels and a must-visit in the Hunter Valley. It was established by Australia's leading wine critic, James Halliday. Consistently listed as a 5 star winery, Brokenwood is home to the famous Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz, the highly acclaimed ILR Reserve Semillon, and the popular Cricket Pitch Range.
The Hunter Valley is the best-known and most highly prized wine region in New South Wales. It is known as the region where the Australian wine industry started. The valley's winemakers have pioneered two distinctive styles of wine (oaked Chardonnay and dry Semillon) and has retained a strong connection with both of them. The Hunter Valley's most famous wine style is its distinctive dry Semillon, made there since the 1870s. Hunter Valley Semillons are renowned for their ability to improve with age.
Sémillon is one of the wine world's unsung heroes. The gold-skinned grape produces France's most famous and revered sweet wines, notably Sauternes, and some of the greatest dry white wines of Australia - particulary those in the Hunter Valley.
1 x Grosset Polish Hill Riesling (Organic) 2025 ~ Clare Valley, Australia
98/100 James Halliday - Weekend Australian Magazine
97/100 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
97/100 Rob Geddes MW
96/100 Mike Bennie - Halliday Wine Companion
97/100 Erin Larkin (Halliday) (2021 vintage)
96/100 Jane Faulkner (Halliday) (2020 vintage)
96/100 James Halliday (2019 vintage)
Wines of Australia 2023 Top 100
Top 50 Australia's Most Collected Wines 2023 - Wine Ark
Top 50 of Australia’s Most Collected wines for 2019 – #11
Top 5 Rieslings – #1 - Gourmet Traveller Wine
Langton Classification VI: Rated ‘Exceptional’
Wine Ark: ‘Australia’s Most Collected Riesling’
Halliday's Top 100 - Weekend Australian Magazine "One of five Australian Rieslings listed (and one of just two from the Clare Valley), James Halliday has described this wine as ‘irresistible One of five Australian Rieslings listed (and one of just two from the Clare Valley), James Halliday has described this wine as ‘irresistible’!"
James Halliday - Weekend Australian Magazine "The cool, late vintage and reduced yield come together in a glorious riesling that is so delicious now it will be hard to give it the 10 or so years that will see it develop even more ravishing flavours and a lingering caress of silvery acidity."
Wine Advocate "The 2023 Polish Hill Riesling is utterly superb. It has the flesh and body that only the Clare can deliver; it is shaped by coiled acidity, and it ripples through the finish with unfettered fruit power. It's a glorious thing, this wine. It's looking precise, focused and floral through the lens of the 2023 season."
Rob Geddes MW "Polish Hill is the counterpoint to Spring Vale, where Watervale's lavish jonquil floral rose florals are countered with tense varietal purity of lime and lime blossom aromas and depth. Springvale has a remarkable ginger spice, a feature of the 23 vintage and is also recommended. The Polish Hill v23 wine has minerality and line typical of the region with excellent texture, flavour length, fruit weight and generosity with lavish fruit yet still focused and long with delicious flavour intensity and a slight firmness that augurs well for a long life."
Mike Bennie - Halliday Wine Companion "An outstanding release of this vaunted wine. It's intense, it's racy, it's complex and nuanced in its fruit, spice, mineral and subtle savoury elements, all of it woven into an extremely persistent and poised textural experience. There's stacks of flavour in all this, yet held within a tensile thrust of raciness and faint chalky pucker. And long, very long. One for the ages here."
Wine Enthusiast "2023 was a cool, late-ripening vintage in the Clare and the resulting wines are elegant and filigreed—approachable now, but with the structure and complexity to age for decades. Delicate aromas of lemon-lime, peach blossom, beeswax and lavender soap open. Like a soft hold of the hand, they lead gently to a pristine palate that's dry with high-toned fruit and prickly acidity. Texturally it feels both lightly creamy and chalky all at once."
Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front "Grosset’s Polish Hill is renowned for its reserve, particularly on release, but this rendition has both its quality and its fruit intensity sitting front and centre. This really does announce itself. Flavours of lemon, lime, grapefruit, chalk and citrus blossom explode onto the palate in the most commanding and authoritative of ways, and then extend (mighty) lengthily through the finish. It’s a lay down misére. It’s scented, intense and sustained. It’s a wine of great beauty."
James Sucklng "Subdued aromas of talc, chalk, orchard fruits, tatami straw, finger lime and fresh lemonade. Dry and tightly furled to a point that verges on severity. There is bountiful extract that pummels the cheeks and stains the palate, suggestive of a bright future despite the unyielding youthfulness now. From biodynamically grown grapes."
Jane Faulkner (Halliday) "This wine retains the energy and drive of Polish Hill, yet its fruit concentration and ripeness has softened out any hard edges. It's beautifully fragrant, subtle even, and the palate is long and pure with pith-like texture and excellent length. Lovely drink and ready now." (2020 Vintage)
James Halliday "The sails of the ship are still tightly furled, but the length and balance will stand the wine well as it ages (for decades) elaborating on the flavours of the Polish Hill River district as it always does." (2019 Vintage)
Decanter Magazine ~ The World’s Top 10 White Winemakers #6 Jeffrey Grosset
"When the young Jeffrey Grosset launched his own winery in the Clare Valley in the early 1980’s, he was swimming against the tide. Back then, Chardonnay was the rising star of Australian Wine. But Grosset wanted to make Riesling, and to focus on letting the grapes speak for themselves. The rest of the Australian wine industry has, of course, caught up with Grosset since, thanks in part to the example set by this focused, restlessly intelligent winemaker. By consistently producing arguably Australia’s two best Rieslings – the flowery, lime-rich Watervale and the steely, firm Polish Hill – Grosset has not only helped steer the reversal in this variety’s fortunes, but has provided one of the country’s most powerful arguments in favour of the reality of terroir"
Grosset Wines are an independently owned winery producing highly regarded premium wines. Established in 1981, the winery is situated in the historic township of Auburn at the southern tip of the Clare Valley, 100 kilometres north of Adelaide.
Jeffrey Grosset, owner and founder, has always been an innovator, challenging tradition and questioning accepted practices. He campaigned to institute the legal integrity of the Riesling grape in Australia, was a leading proponent for the introduction of screwcap closures and privately funded research into the subject.
Grosset Wines’ philosophy has remained steadfast over thirty years. The emphasis is on purity of fruit. The estate vineyards, which are ACO certified organic, are hand tended and each bunch of grapes is harvested at optimum ripeness.
The winemaking process is gentle and uncomplicated. With dedication, discipline and the application of knowledge garnered through decades of experience, the result is the finest expression of variety and place.
Clare Valley is the northernmost wine region within the Mount Lofty Ranges zone of South Australia, located 81 miles (130km) north of the state capital, Adelaide. It is one of the most picturesque wine regions of Australia, with a tradition in winemaking going back to the early 19th century when the first vines were planted. Riesling reigns supreme in Clare Valley. The drier styles are recognized as some of the best in the world.
Riesling is a light-skinned, aromatic grape of German origin which is – if the majority of top wine critics are to be believed – the world's finest white wine grape variety. The Riesling vine holds a very different place in the wine world to such great grapes as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Chardonnay. While these immensely popular varieties have conquered every corner of the winegrowing world, Riesling is conspicuously absent from the core wine regions of France, Spain and Italy. Riesling's home is the regions that trace the middle Rhine and the lower Mosel, two of Europe's great wine rivers.
Halliday Rated Wines – 6 Bottle Value 🍷⭐
A carefully selected collection of Halliday-rated wines, bringing together quality, character and excellent value across six bottles. Featuring a variety of well-regarded styles, this collection is perfect for wine lovers looking to enjoy highly rated wines without the premium price tag.
Ideal for everyday drinking, entertaining or discovering new favourites, each bottle offers a combination of quality, flavour and great value.
Six Halliday-rated wines, one great-value collection. 🍷
1 x Jasper Hill Emily's Paddock Shiraz Cabernet Franc 2022 ~ Heathcote, Victoria, Australia
96/100 Aaron Brasher, The Real Review
95/100 Jeni Port, Halliday Wine Companion
94/100 Christina Pickard, Wine Enthusiast
95/100 James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion (2018 vintage)
Aaron Brasher, The Real Review "Dark, inky and opaque in the glass. Deep, brooding aromas of graphite, ferrous earth, florals, smoked meats, spice and pepper. Full bodied, rich, mouth-filling and multi-faceted. Very pure and dark fruit driven with real depth, presence and purity. The tannins are firm, textured and deliver shape and savouriness and the acidity has brightness and lift. A compelling shiraz, with power and precision"
Jeni Port, Halliday Wine Companion "Dark and intense, Emily's Paddock seems to walk a bolder road than it once did. Cabernet franc florals are fully pliant to be slowly revealed with air and time. Bramble, black fruits, jalapeño, licorice, sage, bitter chocolate and vanilla aromas introduce a wine that moves like a medium-bodied shiraz but elicits power and intensity. Enmeshed in fine grain tannins, there are many layers yet to be discovered here."
Christina Pickard, Wine Enthusiast "This inky-hued Shiraz, from the distinctive Heathcote region of Victoria, is still a baby, with upfront primary dark fruit aromas like cassis and blackberry, licorice, warming spice and a stony nuance. There's power to the palate but poise, too. A harmonious bottling that will reward decades of cellaring."
Ned Goodwin MW "Often my favorite wine among this stable, yet arguably the most Australian, too. Mint, tea tree, clove, blackcurrant, baking spice, darker fruits, Darjeeling, anise and sassafras. Yet it is the minty edges that service levity, lift and takeoff. Some evergreen freshness, amidst the morass of extract and firmly clenched tannins, so to speak. Tannins that may be foreboding in their youth, but have chew and refined noblesse about them. Wonderful tannins! This is a powerful armchair wine, of a sophisticated allure as much as a nostalgic one."
Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate "The 2022 Emily's Paddock Shiraz Cabernet Franc is inky, midnight in color and looks and smells to be a significantly proportioned wine from the very get-go. On the nose are aromas of bramble, chinotto, salted licorice, blackberry jam, Satsuma plum skins and violets. The wine is wholly convincing; it is massive in every respect, but it achieves a balance and equilibrium that is frankly quite impressive. At 15% alcohol, it is evident that the fruit is very ripe, yet the wine manages to convey a sense of place and soil. The finish dries out a little, but there is such abundant fruit on the front and middle palate that it puts one in a forgiving kind of mood. It's confident and sure."
James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion "There is only 5% cabernet franc, but it is open to Jasper Hill to disclose it on the front label. It is a finely balanced wine with polished tannins and clearly expressed shiraz varietal character." (2018 vintage)
Jasper Hill is a winery of iconic status and considered of benchmark status in the Heathcote region of Victoria, Australia. The first vineyards were planted in 1975 and the first vintage was in 1982. Jasper Hill is best known for producing concentrated Shiraz from ungrafted vines planted deep into ancient basaltic rock soils. The estate has a total of 24 hectares (60 acres) of vineyard land split between three properties – Emily's Paddock, Georgia's Paddock and Cornella Vineyard. These are planted to a range of varieties, including Shiraz, Cabernet Franc, Riesling, Nebbiolo, Semillon, Viognier, and Grenache. The vineyards are farmed organically, biodynamically, and with no irrigation.
Heathcote is a prestigious wine region in Central Victoria, an hour and a half's drive from the state capital, Melbourne. Shiraz is the unchallenged king of Heathcote wines, making world-class, award-winning wines characterized by their rich and deep aroma profile, a dark, almost inky color, ripe, velvety tannins and an amazingly long finish. The region is sandwiched between Bendigo to the west and Goulburn Valley to the east, with the state border with New South Wales a little way to the north. Vineyards lie in a narrow strip on the sides of the Mount Camel hills, where elevation plays a big part in the climate, as do cool winds from the south. Heathcote summers are comparatively mild, resulting in an extended growing season. The ripening of the grapes is slow and steady, allowing an almost optimum phenolic development – one of the reasons why Heathcote produces such high-quality wines.
Shiraz is the name given to the dark-skinned Syrah grape when grown in Australia and selected pockets of the New World. Though genetically identical, the stylistic differences between Shiraz and Syrah are usually pronounced. Shiraz is so important to Australian viticulture that it is the most planted grape variety in the majority of Australian vineyards and has become virtually synonymous with the country's wine regions, and in particular the Barossa Valley.
1 x Giant Steps "Applejack Vineyard" Pinot Noir 2023 ~ Yarra Valley, Australia
98/100 Philip Rich
96/100 James Suckling
95/100 Campbell Mattinson
95/100 Huon Hooke
16.5/20 Jancis Robinson
98/100 James Halliday (2020 vintage)
96/100 Jane Faulkner (Halliday) (2020 vintage)
93/100 Steven Creber (Halliday)
93/100 Decanter (2019 vintage)
Philip Rich "..I've long considered the Applejack vineyard to be one of the greatest sites for pinot in Australia and I'm not sure I've seen a better version than the 2021. A deep, bright, crimson purple. Maraschino cherry into plum, there's an exotic and riotous amalgam of Asian five-spice and a gentle savoury, umami character. What elevates this vintage is the concentration, along with Applejack's trademark perfume and spice. Just so vibrant and fresh on the palate, the tannins are both silky and plentiful. You will have no problems opening and enjoying this now, but the wine's track record suggests you'll thank me if you still have some to drink 7–10 years from now, if not longer...amed after the Applejack eucalypts that surround the vineyard, which was planted at Gladysdale in 1997. Seven clones including 114, 115, MV6, D2V5, D5V15, Pommard and Abel!"
James Suckling "Brashly spicy and complex, this has aromas of espresso, blueberries, toasted spices and grilled bread, as well as forest wood and violets. The palate delivers alluring depth and a round, fleshy build. Acidity explodes on the finish, releasing fresh red-cherry and blueberry fruit flavors. Wonderfully layered and complete. Drink over the next eight years."
Campbell Mattinson "Pure red cherry flavours push straight into undergrowth, mushroom, fragrant herb and spices. Cedarwood oak is present but so happily married to the fruit. There are briar notes here, particularly through the finish, and throughout it feels structured without necessarily feeling grippy. There’s a (positive) smoky aftertaste and a (very) good level of richness, in a varietal context. All up, hands down, this is a gorgeous wine to drink."
Huon Hooke "Mid-light purple-red colour, bright and youthful, with aromas of mixed spices, raspberry, smoky oak and charcuterie, gentle palate texture and pleasingly drying tannins at the end. Excellent intensity. A nice touch of fruit sweetness at the heart of it, then a drying flush of fine tannin moves in. Delicious pinot."
Ches Cook, FWC "A richer and more generous wine than Wombat Creek but a wine that keeps its Pinot elegance all the same with a nice, lightly rounded shape and savoury edges. It’s these savoury, earth-derived tones that I particularly like: dried twig, crushed leaf, some damp soil - all characteristics I love to see in Pinot Noir. With time in bottle, these may come to the fore with more vigour. Lots of potential here but already showing very well."
James Halliday "The clarity, the purity, the elegance and the perfume that the Upper Yarra Valley Applejack Vineyard brings to the party is immediately recognisable. Equally insistent is the sheer power of the red fruits and spices hidden by the light colour of the cloak. 66 barrels/barriques." (2020 vintage)
Jane Faulkner (Halliday) "Pinot purity right here, folks. There’s a certain precision and definition too. A delightful combo of joy and complexity: rhubarb and freshly grated beetroot, sweet red cherries, florals and warm spices, with the oak neatly tucked in. Superfine tannins, laser-like acidity and terrific length seal the deal." (2020 vintage)
Steven Creber (Halliday) "Parcels of whole-bunch and destemmed fruit; both small oak and open ferments; 8 months in French barriques, 25% new. Cherries and floral notes the main theme on the bouquet, some whole-bunch character and oak in the mix as well. The warmth of the vintage presents itself in the sweet-tinged feel, but the generous flavours of red fruit and spice are attractive and balanced by the lightly grippy finish." (2019 vintage)
Decanter "The 12.5ha Applejack Vineyard, planted in 1997 (and bought by Giant Steps in 2013), is the apple of winemaker Steve Flamsteed's eye when it comes to Pinot Noir, rating it as one of Australia's best cool-climate sites. A mix of whole-bunch and destemmed fruit (depending on clone) were wild-yeast fermented, then the parcels matured for eight months in barrique, 25% new. As with the rest of the range, there's no fining or filtering, and racking and bottling is done by gravity. Quite a structured Pinot, with fine tannins and brisk acidity to ensure long ageing. Tart red cherry, berries and the vineyard's characteristic bitter-orange tang infuses both nose and palate, plus peppery spices and hints of tilled earth and undergrowth. 2,111 cases made." (2019 vintage)
Toni Paterson "An open and fleshy wine with pure red fruits and gentle savouriness. The fruit is intense, though not over-fruity and the tannin frame is elegant and appropriate. Impressive flavour depth." (2018 vintage)
Giant Steps is a privately owned, estate based, Yarra Valley grower and winemaker. Giant Steps has forged a reputation for delivering some of Australia’s most consistent, over-performing, varietal wines. These wines have received global acclaim and established a strong reputation in restaurants and fine wine stores around the world. Since 2003 Giant Steps wines have collectively been awarded 19 trophies and over 50 gold medals at major international and domestic wine shows and have been named one of the Top 100 Wineries in the World by Wine & Spirits Magazine, US for each of the last three years.
Owner Phil Sexton came to wine via beer. He started Little Creatures, a favourite of Aussie hopheads, in Perth (Western Australia). Yarra Valley is a region with a cool climate, best known for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Yarra Valley is an hour’s drive east of Melbourne. Applejack Vineyard was planted in 1997 by highly respected viticulturist Ray Guerin Today it is meticulously managed by his son Mark.
Applejack Vineyard is situated in the Upper Yarra Valley, to the south-east of the traditional valley floor. The higher altitudes result in cooler growing conditions - ideal for Pinot Noir. Applejack Vineyard is located on a dramatic, north-east-facing slope with close-planted vines. This vineyard was purchased by Phil Sexton in 2013.
Pinot Noir is the dominant red wine grape of Burgundy, now produced in wine regions all over the world, including western Germany, northern Italy, Chile, South Africa, Australia and, perhaps most notably, California, Oregon and New Zealand.
The essence of Pinot Noir wine is its aroma of strawberry and cherry (fresh red cherries in lighter wines and stewed black cherries in weightier examples), underpinned in the most complex examples by hints of forest floor. Well-built Pinot Noirs, particularly from warmer harvests, also exhibit notes of leather and violets, sometimes approaching the flavor spectrum of Syrah."
1 x McHenry Hohnen Calgardup Brook Vineyard Chardonnay (Organic) 2022 ~ Margaret River, Western Australia
96/100 Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion
95/100 The Wine Front
95/100 Decanter
96/100 Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion (2021 vintage)
97/100 Erin Larkin, Halliday Wine Companion (2020 vintage)
5 Stars Winery - Halliday Wine Companion
Top Chardonnay Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023
Halliday's Wine Companion Awards 2023 - Top Wineries of 2022 & 2023
Organic
Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion "For whatever reason, this just has the edge compared with its two other chardonnay siblings, which are both excellent. This just seems more high-toned, flinty, racy and linear. Yet it has texture, depth and super length. All the flavours come together seamlessly, the oak a mere seasoning, and moreish acidity ensures this is delicious now and will age well."
Decanter "One of the first Chardonnays I tasted when I moved to Margaret River, and I distinctly remember being wowed by the freshness, salinity and crunchy tension. This has all of that, plus grapefruit pith, lemon curd, mandarin zest, saltbush and a lick of flint. Pure, concentrated fruit offers a lacy acid pop among textural layers that give the wine a delightful pace."
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate "...is tight and fine; it curls in tendrils through the long finish and litters the palate with dehydrated lemon peel, clove buds, white pepper, freshly grated nutmeg, brine and saltbush. It is coastal and fresh, mineral and fine. The vineyard is north-facing and planted on coastal limestone loam, established in 1997. I love the precision and delicacy of this wine. While others may overtake it for my preference in the future, within this release, this is one of the top wines for 2022."
Huon Hooke, The Real Review "Light yellow colour with a reserved, restrained bouquet of beeswax, grapefruit pith, malt, honey, restrained nuttiness and a hint of snuffed candle. In the mouth, it's reserved for this region, with good intensity, tightly focused, linear and long. A more European style chardonnay with restraint, structure, savouriness and subtle complexities of a more worked (as opposed to simple fruit) style of chardonnay. Long follow-through with energising acidity. This could reward cellaring."
Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion "Precision, definition and length. Chardonnay from McHenry Hohnen has been a bit of rock ’n’ roll of late, and Calgardup Brook just pips the others with a chartbuster. There’s the usual citrus theme going on here, the pink grapefruit and pith, zest and juicy acidity. There’s also the flintiness, the seamless integration of oak, the attention to detail throughout and mostly, the energy and drive. Complex and complete." (2021 vintage)
Erin Larkin, Halliday Wine Companion "Fruit from the Calgardup Brook vineyard (planted 1997) on coastal limestone loam. All single-vineyard chardonnays are made in the same way here, highlighting the differences in terroir: Hand picked, whole-bunch pressed, full solids, wild ferment in barrel (25% new) and 4 months' maturation, partial mlf, fortnightly bâtonnage. Where the Burnside is granitic, mineral and fine, this is pithy, saline and expansive, with layers of cheesecloth and lanolin amongst the ripe stone fruit. More volume and density of flavour than the Burnside (neither here nor there qualitatively, simply an observation), this is sensational. Utterly." (2020 vintage)
Founded by one of the pioneers of the Margaret River winemaking region, David Hohnen and his brother in law, Murray McHenry, an accomplished fine wine retailer. Both have been making wine in Margaret River since the early 1970’s. McHenry Hohnen vineyards are 100% biodynamic. Their three unique vineyards (Burnside, Calgardup and Hazel’s) produce wines that are a reflection of the land. McHenry Hohnen focusses on crafting site-expressive wines and are known for producing some of the region's best wines.
Margaret River is one of the best-known wine regions in Australia, recognized internationally for the quality of its wines and the natural beauty of the region. Although originally renowned for its unusually refined Cabernet Sauvignon and intensely citrusy Chardonnay varieties, the region now produces Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blends and Shiraz.
Located in the south-western corner of Western Australia, it is famous for having a more 'European' wine style than its counterparts across Australia, owing to the regions temperate, coastal location which is very similar to that of Bordeaux.
1 x McHenry Hohnen Hazel's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 ~ Margaret River, Western Australia
94/100 Steven Creber, Halliday's Wine Companion
92/100 Decanter World Wine Awards
91/100 Wine Enthusiast
93/100 James Halliday, Halliday's Wine Companion (2015 vintage)
97/100 - Top Cabernet Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023 (2019 vintage)
5 Stars Winery - James Halliday
"Halliday Wine Companion - Australian Winery of the Year 2022 & 2023"
Steven Creber, Halliday's Wine Companion "Shows good regional and varietal expression... Blackcurrant, cedar and dried herb are present in the bouquet and on the palate, with a sense of depth of fruit still to emerge from underneath the emphatic grip of the tannin as it is."
James Halliday, Halliday's Wine Companion "The tannins need to soften a little more, or a large chunk of flame-grilled beef should accompany the wine. Has potential." (2015 vintage)
Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023, Erin Larkin "We are coming to the end of the premium 2018 releases from Margaret River, so it is a thrill to be able to taste a few more before the tranche is exhausted. This is closed, restrained and cooling, with layers of graphite tannins and salty mineral acidity ... the fruit is supple and elegant, defined wholly by blackberries, mulberries and raspberry coulis. This has eons left in the tank. It would be impatient of you to drink it earlier than 2025 (we would forgive you if you did though, because it is already delicious)." (2015 vintage)
Founded by one of the pioneers of the Margaret River winemaking region, David Hohnen and his brother in law, Murray McHenry, an accomplished fine wine retailer. Both have been making wine in Margaret River since the early 1970’s. McHenry Hohnen vineyards are 100% biodynamic. Their three unique vineyards (Burnside, Calgardup and Hazel’s) produce wines that are a reflection of the land. McHenry Hohnen focusses on crafting site-expressive wines and are known for producing some of the regions best wines.
Margaret River is one of the best-known wine regions in Australia, recognized internationally for the quality of its wines and the natural beauty of the region. Although originally renowned for its unusually refined Cabernet Sauvignon and intensely citrusy Chardonnay varieties, the region now produces Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blends and Shiraz.
Located in the south-western corner of Western Australia, it is famous for having a more 'European' wine style than its counterparts across Australia, owing to the regions temperate, coastal location which is very similar to that of Bordeaux.
1 x Brokenwood ILR Reserve Semillon 2017 ~ Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia
96/100 James Suckling
96/100 The Wine Front
95/100 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
Gold - Decanter World Wine Awards
Gold - 2023 Royal Adelaide Wine Show, Finlaysons Trophy for Best Semillon in show
Gold - 2023 NSW Wine Awards
Gold - 2023 Royal Melbourne Wine Awards
Gold - 2023 Royal Sydney Wine Show
James Halliday "From one of the masters of developed semillon, helped in this instance by the great semillon vintage. Its bouquet half suggests the use of oak – not true. It's a hypnotic wine, with Meyer lemon driving the citrus circus and the wheels of acidity."
Decanter World Wine Awards "Anyone trying this extraordinary wine, marked by classic Hunter cleanliness and freshness...The vines had had adequate rainfall prior to midsummer, though, and the secret to Hunter Valley Semillon is early picking. It is this that makes it an inarticulate wine in its early years – but with time comes character. After six years, you can see growing aromatic richness, as innate toasty, smoky notes begin to join the subtle lime fruits, while on the palate the structure of acidity – intense to the point of inscrutability in the early years – is beginning to deepen, to soften and to modulate towards something more aromatically resonant. During all this time, of course, the wine maintains its overall lightness and delicacy, the legacy of just 11% abv."
James Suckling "An iridescent mid-yellow flecked with green, the color of semillon from these parts nudging adolescence, little more. Loads in store, attested by a faint whiff of buttered white toast and lemon drop. The acidity, febrile and gloriously juicy, carries the flavors extremely long. The wine is typical featherweight, belied by the intensity of flavor at its core. This is exceptional. Inimitable. Benchmark wine."
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate "The 2017 ILR Reserve Semillon is already toasty and voluminous in the mouth. It leads with cold buttered toast, the distant whiff of fresh coffee, lemon myrtle, honeysuckle, grapefruit pith and brine. It undulates and courses through the long finish."
The ILR Reserve Semillon is named after Chief Winemaker and Managing Director Iain Leslie Riggs, who joined the winery in 1982. Iain has taken Brokenwood from a small ‘hobby’ winery into the national and international arena, and was the driving force in Brokenwood extending the range to white wines.The ILR Reserve Semillon is an aged white wine that receives no oak.
After tasting the wine over the first three years the decision was made to release at 5 years bottle age, in other words to have some bottle development but capable of aging further. In terms of winemaking it was a case of low (and now, zero) skin contact and neutral yeast.
Established in 1970 Brokenwood Wines is one of Australia's most reputable premium wine labels and a must-visit in the Hunter Valley. It was established by Australia's leading wine critic, James Halliday. Consistently listed as a 5 star winery, Brokenwood is home to the famous Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz, the highly acclaimed ILR Reserve Semillon, and the popular Cricket Pitch Range.
The Hunter Valley is the best-known and most highly prized wine region in New South Wales. It is known as the region where the Australian wine industry started. The valley's winemakers have pioneered two distinctive styles of wine (oaked Chardonnay and dry Semillon) and has retained a strong connection with both of them. The Hunter Valley's most famous wine style is its distinctive dry Semillon, made there since the 1870s. Hunter Valley Semillons are renowned for their ability to improve with age.
Sémillon is one of the wine world's unsung heroes. The gold-skinned grape produces France's most famous and revered sweet wines, notably Sauternes, and some of the greatest dry white wines of Australia - particulary those in the Hunter Valley.
1 x Grosset Polish Hill Riesling (Organic) 2025 ~ Clare Valley, Australia
98/100 James Halliday - Weekend Australian Magazine
97/100 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
97/100 Rob Geddes MW
96/100 Mike Bennie - Halliday Wine Companion
97/100 Erin Larkin (Halliday) (2021 vintage)
96/100 Jane Faulkner (Halliday) (2020 vintage)
96/100 James Halliday (2019 vintage)
Wines of Australia 2023 Top 100
Top 50 Australia's Most Collected Wines 2023 - Wine Ark
Top 50 of Australia’s Most Collected wines for 2019 – #11
Top 5 Rieslings – #1 - Gourmet Traveller Wine
Langton Classification VI: Rated ‘Exceptional’
Wine Ark: ‘Australia’s Most Collected Riesling’
Halliday's Top 100 - Weekend Australian Magazine "One of five Australian Rieslings listed (and one of just two from the Clare Valley), James Halliday has described this wine as ‘irresistible One of five Australian Rieslings listed (and one of just two from the Clare Valley), James Halliday has described this wine as ‘irresistible’!"
James Halliday - Weekend Australian Magazine "The cool, late vintage and reduced yield come together in a glorious riesling that is so delicious now it will be hard to give it the 10 or so years that will see it develop even more ravishing flavours and a lingering caress of silvery acidity."
Wine Advocate "The 2023 Polish Hill Riesling is utterly superb. It has the flesh and body that only the Clare can deliver; it is shaped by coiled acidity, and it ripples through the finish with unfettered fruit power. It's a glorious thing, this wine. It's looking precise, focused and floral through the lens of the 2023 season."
Rob Geddes MW "Polish Hill is the counterpoint to Spring Vale, where Watervale's lavish jonquil floral rose florals are countered with tense varietal purity of lime and lime blossom aromas and depth. Springvale has a remarkable ginger spice, a feature of the 23 vintage and is also recommended. The Polish Hill v23 wine has minerality and line typical of the region with excellent texture, flavour length, fruit weight and generosity with lavish fruit yet still focused and long with delicious flavour intensity and a slight firmness that augurs well for a long life."
Mike Bennie - Halliday Wine Companion "An outstanding release of this vaunted wine. It's intense, it's racy, it's complex and nuanced in its fruit, spice, mineral and subtle savoury elements, all of it woven into an extremely persistent and poised textural experience. There's stacks of flavour in all this, yet held within a tensile thrust of raciness and faint chalky pucker. And long, very long. One for the ages here."
Wine Enthusiast "2023 was a cool, late-ripening vintage in the Clare and the resulting wines are elegant and filigreed—approachable now, but with the structure and complexity to age for decades. Delicate aromas of lemon-lime, peach blossom, beeswax and lavender soap open. Like a soft hold of the hand, they lead gently to a pristine palate that's dry with high-toned fruit and prickly acidity. Texturally it feels both lightly creamy and chalky all at once."
Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front "Grosset’s Polish Hill is renowned for its reserve, particularly on release, but this rendition has both its quality and its fruit intensity sitting front and centre. This really does announce itself. Flavours of lemon, lime, grapefruit, chalk and citrus blossom explode onto the palate in the most commanding and authoritative of ways, and then extend (mighty) lengthily through the finish. It’s a lay down misére. It’s scented, intense and sustained. It’s a wine of great beauty."
James Sucklng "Subdued aromas of talc, chalk, orchard fruits, tatami straw, finger lime and fresh lemonade. Dry and tightly furled to a point that verges on severity. There is bountiful extract that pummels the cheeks and stains the palate, suggestive of a bright future despite the unyielding youthfulness now. From biodynamically grown grapes."
Jane Faulkner (Halliday) "This wine retains the energy and drive of Polish Hill, yet its fruit concentration and ripeness has softened out any hard edges. It's beautifully fragrant, subtle even, and the palate is long and pure with pith-like texture and excellent length. Lovely drink and ready now." (2020 Vintage)
James Halliday "The sails of the ship are still tightly furled, but the length and balance will stand the wine well as it ages (for decades) elaborating on the flavours of the Polish Hill River district as it always does." (2019 Vintage)
Decanter Magazine ~ The World’s Top 10 White Winemakers #6 Jeffrey Grosset
"When the young Jeffrey Grosset launched his own winery in the Clare Valley in the early 1980’s, he was swimming against the tide. Back then, Chardonnay was the rising star of Australian Wine. But Grosset wanted to make Riesling, and to focus on letting the grapes speak for themselves. The rest of the Australian wine industry has, of course, caught up with Grosset since, thanks in part to the example set by this focused, restlessly intelligent winemaker. By consistently producing arguably Australia’s two best Rieslings – the flowery, lime-rich Watervale and the steely, firm Polish Hill – Grosset has not only helped steer the reversal in this variety’s fortunes, but has provided one of the country’s most powerful arguments in favour of the reality of terroir"
Grosset Wines are an independently owned winery producing highly regarded premium wines. Established in 1981, the winery is situated in the historic township of Auburn at the southern tip of the Clare Valley, 100 kilometres north of Adelaide.
Jeffrey Grosset, owner and founder, has always been an innovator, challenging tradition and questioning accepted practices. He campaigned to institute the legal integrity of the Riesling grape in Australia, was a leading proponent for the introduction of screwcap closures and privately funded research into the subject.
Grosset Wines’ philosophy has remained steadfast over thirty years. The emphasis is on purity of fruit. The estate vineyards, which are ACO certified organic, are hand tended and each bunch of grapes is harvested at optimum ripeness.
The winemaking process is gentle and uncomplicated. With dedication, discipline and the application of knowledge garnered through decades of experience, the result is the finest expression of variety and place.
Clare Valley is the northernmost wine region within the Mount Lofty Ranges zone of South Australia, located 81 miles (130km) north of the state capital, Adelaide. It is one of the most picturesque wine regions of Australia, with a tradition in winemaking going back to the early 19th century when the first vines were planted. Riesling reigns supreme in Clare Valley. The drier styles are recognized as some of the best in the world.
Riesling is a light-skinned, aromatic grape of German origin which is – if the majority of top wine critics are to be believed – the world's finest white wine grape variety. The Riesling vine holds a very different place in the wine world to such great grapes as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Chardonnay. While these immensely popular varieties have conquered every corner of the winegrowing world, Riesling is conspicuously absent from the core wine regions of France, Spain and Italy. Riesling's home is the regions that trace the middle Rhine and the lower Mosel, two of Europe's great wine rivers.