The Halliday Wine Companion Ultra VIP List Dozen: Icons Edition Valued at $1610

99 POINTS

Sam Kim - Wine Orbit

Hewitson Cask 66 Barossa Shiraz 2022 "A compelling rendition, exhibiting blackberry, charcuterie, olive, star anise, cedar and dark cocoa characters on the nose. The powerfully expressed palate is both graceful and sturdy, combined with refined texture and beautifully woven tannins, leading to an impressively long, seamless finish. Totally captivating and seductive. At its best: 2028 to 2047" 99 Points - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

98 POINTS

Sam Kim - Wine Orbit

Chalk Hill Alpha Crucis Sirius Shiraz 2021 "A stunning rendition of the variety, offering awesome fruit purity with seductive complexity, showing Black Doris plum, blackberry, rich floral, star anise and roasted nut aromas on the nose. The palate exhibits impressive concentration and depth, while remaining refined and harmonious, with finely flowing mouthfeel backed by beautifully infused tannins, finishing superbly long and engaging. At its best: 2027 to 2046" 98 Points - Sam Kim

97 POINTS

Ray Jordan

Tapanappa Foggy Definitus Pinot Noir 2018 "This is a re-release of this wine from the excellent 2018 vintage. This was the second release of this wine which comes from a special and defined part of the vineyard. It’s an immensely powerful no-holds-barred Pinot loaded with blue and black fruits and coated with a fine dusting of spices. The palate has the faintest hint of leathery development but it’s offset by the still primary fruit characters. Everything points to a great wine in the offing." 97 Points - Ray Jordan

97 POINTS

Philip Rich - Halliday's Wine Companion

Thousand Candles Single Vineyard Syrah 2021 "Whole bunches (80%), natural yeast ferment, no plunging or pump overs. Three weeks on skins before six months' maturation in older French oak. A saturated crimson purple. With its aromas of black raspberries, cherries, whole-bunch derived potpourri and violets, this reminds me of good St Joseph from the northern Rhône. There's excellent intensity and concentration on the palate, too, without any heaviness before finishing long, grippy tannins ensuring a prosperous life ahead." Phillip Rich - Halliday's Wine Companion

97 POINTS

James Halliday - The Australian

Dalwhinnie The Eagle Shiraz 2015 “The Eagle Shiraz is the holy grail. It’s only released in exceptional vintage years, with just 12 wines produced in 33 years. The wine tells the story of the old Shiraz clone PT23 and the vineyard from which it hails. To drink this wine with 10 years of bottle age is one of life’s great pleasures. Dalwhinnie only knows how to make great wines. Maturing surely and slowly, the first signs of reaching what will be a long window of opportunity. Spice, truffle, forest floor, briar, cedar, plum and soft tannins all contribute to the palate and aftertaste.” – James Halliday, The Australian

96 POINTS

Jane Faulkner - Halliday's Wine Companion

2020 Thompson Estate The Specialist Cabernet Sauvignon "Drink now or cellar? Either way, both are worthy choices. Today it has an abundance of varietal flavour, tantalisingly so, and a structured framework of firm but lovely tannins, lots of cedary oak adding flavour and wood tannins. A lot to consider, so pour another glass and do just that." 96 Points - Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion

96 POINTS

James Halliday - Halliday's Wine Companion

De Iuliis Steven Shiraz 2021 "Excellent bright crimson-purple colour heralds a most attractive wine from the estate-owned Steven vineyard. Red cherry is the cornerstone of the bouquet and palate alike. Typical Hunter shiraz, only medium bodied, but with decades to run for those able to keep their hands off it." 96 Points - James Halliday

95 POINTS

Huon Hooke - The Real Review

Mr Riggs the Chap Shiraz Cabernet 2018 "Deep dark colour with appropriate hue for its age and a bouquet that reveals generous use of oak applied to concentrated fruit. A fumy, slight volatile lift doesn't concern me. Deep, full-bodied palate with loads of supple tannins and a long, long carry. There's lavish oak but it's not overplayed. A big, solid red" 95 Points - Huon Hooke, The Real Review