This wine, grown from dry-grown bush vines on the Swinney Wilson's Pool Vineyard, illustrates the inherent qualities of mourvèdre in this region, along with distinctive vineyard character. It's medium-bodied with lovely fragrances and the regional influence of a slightly ironstone, ferrous note. The inclusion of 18% whole bunches with wild fermentation has added structure and texture, fleshing out the middle palate well. Further time on lees has built additional complexity. A stylish expression of mourvèdre.
95 POINTS
Mike Bennie - Halliday Wine Companion
This comes from dry-grown bush vines, was wild fermented, and spent eleven days on skins; matured in used, large-format oak barrels. Violet floral lift, scents of game meat, a good dose of cinnamon, garam masala, dried cranberry, dark cherry and cola. The palate is similarly set up – chewy and dusty with slender tannins, a core of dark fruit and woody spice, game meat finishes and is accompanied by herbs (fresh, dried and cool). It's a finely tuned expression, pure and fine boned, detailed with fruit, spice and savoury elements. Fantastic drinking.
94 POINTS
Ken Gargett - Winepilot
Dry grown vines from the Estate’s Wilson’s Pool Vineyard provide the fruit for what has become one of the country’s best Mourvèdre. Made with wild yeasts, 18% whole bunches and eleven months in large format, older French oak. Vibrant purple in colour, there are notes of warm earth, mulberries, cocoa powder, dry herbs and delicatessen meats. A slightly fleshy style, the wine offers concentration and power, with juicy acidity. It has serious length, finishing with fine powdery tannins. There is so much promise here, a wine which will provide pleasure for at least the next ten years.
94 POINTS
Gary Walsh - The Wine Front
Mataro is a grape variety that says ‘bring it’ when it’s too hot in the kitchen. We should be doing more with this grape variety.
Dark chocolate, hazelnut, black olive, tamarind, dried mint, quite some exotic spice. It’s inky and dark, a little orange and juniper tang through wholesome dark fruit, a grainy toasted hazelnut grip to tannin, savoury and sappy, quite sooty in texture, with a blood plum and orange tang to close on a finish of excellent length. You want it darker? I’m ready my Lord.
93 POINTS
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker Wine Advocate
The 2024 Mourvèdre is reductive upon opening, with notes of hung deli meat, pomegranate molasses, graphite, sweet pouch tobacco and hot tarmac. In the mouth, the wine is supple and yet laden with tannin, showing a minty leafiness that overlays the dark fruit notes. The 2024 season in Western Australia was very hot and dry, breaking records across the state. The wine here comes in at a modest 13.7% alcohol, as per last year's wine, and yet this year's iteration feels a little firmer, a little greener, a little drier than last year's magnificent release. Having said all of this, the length of flavor is impressive, owing to the quality winemaking, the vineyard site and the viticulture. This is very good. Sealed under screw cap.
93 POINTS
Angus Hughson - Vinous
The 2024 Mourvèdre Frankland River represents a significant step up from 2023, offering dense aromas of mulberry, blackberry and old leather, with gamey tones adding interest. The palate delivers good volume of flavor, where more gamey notes mingle with dusty earth and prominent spicy flavors. Meaty textured tannins are well integrated, and exceptional length promises significant longevity.
