2022 Forest Hill Vineyard Block 9 Shiraz

96 POINTS

Ray Jordan

This is a single site grown in 1985. It is a difficult site to pick. This is a powerful wine but retains its vibrant medium body. It’s about 10% while bunch and wild fermented, which has contributed to a more complex palate. Matured in 600l demi muid barrel with no new oak. Such a beautiful texture and fruit flavour, with cherry and plum and liberal spices. The colour is bright and almost radiates. It gets a lot of time on gross lees, so you get a bit of reduction which holds the wine in good stead for the future. Chewy and chalky and lots of Rhone characters here.

96 POINTS

James Halliday - Halliday Wine Companion

A wine that never disappoints. Based on old, dry-grown vines that are able to rise above any threats in the growing season. The complexity of the wine runs through the bouquet and palate from start to finish. The bouquet has spice and black licorice at its heart, wrapped in blackberry and plum fruit. It will outlive those who cellar it for decades.

96 POINTS

Decanter

Cassandra Charlick: "Oh, the nose! Crushed fresh violets, blueberries, juicy plum flesh, fresh aniseed and fine, considered oak to hold it all. Fruit concentration is vibrant and plush, speaking of the earth and ironstone gravel. Chalky tannins are finely crushed – they don’t grip, rather manoeuvring the fruit over the palate, guiding the way. Acidity is not too fresh, yet keeps things supple and nimble. Savoury undertones of sundried tomato, crushed aniseed, tarragon, sage and crisp country air. A wine of finesse, without having been finessed. This has so much to give. From dry-grown, 39-year-old vines." 96 Points

96 POINTS

Cassandra Charlick - Decanter

Oh, the nose! Crushed fresh violets, blueberries, juicy plum flesh, fresh aniseed and fine, considered oak to hold it all. Fruit concentration is vibrant and plush, speaking of the earth and ironstone gravel. Chalky tannins are finely crushed – they don’t grip, rather manoeuvring the fruit over the palate, guiding the way. Acidity is not too fresh, yet keeps things supple and nimble. Savoury undertones of sundried tomato, crushed aniseed, tarragon, sage and crisp country air. A wine of finesse, without having been finessed. This has so much to give. From dry-grown, 39-year-old vines.

95 POINTS

Erin Larkin - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2022 Block 9 Shiraz is elegant and fragrant both in the glass and in the mouth, with pressed rose, pomegranate, raspberry pip, blood orange curls and licorice, alongside jasmine, raspberry leaf tea and raw cocoa. This is a beautiful wine, and I love the tannins—pliable, fresh, grippy and really good.

94 POINTS

James Suckling

This has aromas of blackberries, blackcurrants, olives and cracked pepper. Blood orange, too. It’s silky, fresh and peppery, with a medium body, very fine tannins and a long, lively finish.

94 POINTS

Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front

Seriously savoury and seriously good. Nut shells and black cherries and blueberries and peppercorns. A world of fruit, spice, twigs and smokes. An impression of polish, long chains of dry tannin, plenty of juice through the finish. This is from a dry-grown vineyard that was planted in 1985. It’s dense, complex and svelte. I’m short, it’s excellent.