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SHOW AWARDS, RATINGS AND REVIEWS. 9 September, 2014. George Wyndham Shiraz 2005. Trophy – 2008 Noffla Gold Star Awards (Irish Wine Show)
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SHOW AWARDS, RATINGS AND REVIEWS 9 September, 2014
George Wyndham Shiraz 2005 • Trophy – 2008 Noffla Gold Star Awards (Irish Wine Show) • Three Trophies – 2008 Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland Wine Show and Mediterranean Challenge (Best in Class, Best Mediterranean Wine Style – Red, Grand Champion Wine) • Gold Medal – 2009 Monde Selection International Wine Competition - Belgium • Gold Medal – 2008 National Wine Show of Australia • Gold Medal - 2008 Riverina Wine Show • Gold Medal – 2008Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland Wine Show & Med. Challenge • GoldMedal - 2007 Royal Hobart Wine Show Rick Allen, Manly Daily May 2009 Wyndham’s flagship red is their mass selling BIN 555 Shiraz which is invariably super value. This is a step up – more expensive and selected from only their finest parcels of fruit, so there’s no excuses if it doesn’t deliver. This does though, with dense, ripe dark berry flabours, full and rich, playing the starring role. John Szabo, Wine Access, Canada, February 2009 Spirited, high-toned, minty/eucalyptus, shoe polish, dark fruit, wet wood, bay leaf and black currant jam flavours dominate this ready to drink Shiraz. Integrated tannins leave a slightly dusty texture, and generous alcohol warms the palate. Average, though quite oaky and astringent finish.
George Wyndham Shiraz 2005 (cont). Peter Forestall, Sunday Times, July 2008 Fragrant, ripe and full-bodied, intense dark-berry and vanilla-bean flavours and well-integrated tannins. Excellent value.
George Wyndham Shiraz Grenache 2006 • Gold Medal – 2009 Monde Selection International Wine Competition - Belgium • Gold Medal – 2008 Riverina Wine Show • Gold Medal – 2008 Royal Adelaide Wine Show John Szabo, Wine Access, Canada, February 2009 The 2006 Shiraz-Grenache offers super ripe, port-like aromas on the nose, lifted by 15% alcohol; lots of baked red fruit, kirsch, melted butter, coconut, vanilla and liquorice add interest. The palate is full, lush, mouth filling, with suave tannins, warming alcohol and above average length. This is a satisfying, spirit-warming red that is ready to drink. Edward Finstein (a.k.a The Wine Doctor), Beach Metro, Canada, February, 2009 …. The peppery spicy austere 2006 Shiraz/Grenache offers plummy, riper berry, currant and leather in a more French-styled wine.
George Wyndham Shiraz Grenache 2005 • Trophy - National Wine Show of Australia 2008 Trophy for Best Dry Red - other varieties & blends • Two Trophies - Sydney Royal Wine Show 2008 The Arthur Kelman Perpetual Trophy for the medium bodied Red wine & Trophy for Best Dry Red - other varieties & blends • Blue Gold Medal – Sydney International Wine Competition 2008 • Gold Medal – National Wine Show of Australia 2008 • Gold Medal – Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2008 • Gold Medal – Cowra Wine Show 2008 • Gold Medal – Sydney Royal Wine Show 2008 • Gold Medal – National Wine Show of Australia 2007 Huon Hooke, Gourmet Traveller WINE’s 100 Top New Release Wines, April/May 2009 There’s a touch more oak here than in most Aussie Rhone blends. Deep chocolate, vanilla and dark plum aromas; rich, sweetly fruity palate with good ripeness but moderate alcohol. Jeff Collerson, Daily Telegraph, April 2009 Good value for a four-year-old red and ranked outstanding among the Wyndham range by The Australian newspaper’s James Halliday in his 2009 Australian Wine Companion. It has deep, earthy red fruity aromas leading to a smooth yet plush mouthful that is soft in ripe tannins. The flavour is surprisingly persistent. Widely available.
George Wyndham Shiraz Grenache 2005 (cont.) Peter Forrestal, Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine, March 2009 My favourite of the three George Wyndham wines released from the 2005 vintage, with an amazing sho record for such a modestly priced red: three trophies from the Sydney and National shows and five gold medals. Happily for consumers, there’s six months supply in retail land. It’s a Shiraz-dominant blend (60 percent), with that variety coming mainly from the Barossa and McLaren Vale plus smaller portions from Padthaway and Langhorne Creek. The Grenache is from smaller, older vineyards in the Barossa and McLaren Vale. It was matured in old oak, with chief winemaker Nigel Dolan, stating: “Never let Grenache get anywhere near new oak.” Dolan also believes that 2005 reds are better than 2006s. The 2005 George Wyndham Shiraz Grenache is fragrant and supple with ripe, deep, blackberry and mulberry flavours, fleshy texture, heaps of power combined with softness and finesse.
George Wyndham Shiraz Grenache 2005 George Wyndham Shiraz Grenache 2005 (cont.) Adelaide Advertiser, TOP 100 WINES, November 2008 It's all about bright berry fruits to begin, a bit of blackberry and cream as well, with stony, herb garden elements, some solid spice, and fresh raspberry juice and liquorice flavours. It's fairly single minded but persists through the mouth - a focused study in red fruits. 91 points. Robin Powell, Who Weekly, September 2008 Spicy foods, even mildly spiced dishes. appreciate a touch of sweetness in a wine. So the cherry and raspberry flavours the Grenache adds to this intense and rich blend make it a good choice. The wine won a trophy for best red under $20 at the Sydney Royal Wine Show this year, against what is always tough competition. Tony Love, Adelaide Advertiser, Indulge, August 2008 - 20 gold medal wines under $20 Bright red fruits and herb garden aromatics with a stick of liquorice soaking in raspberry juice, fresh, friendly and moreish.
George Wyndham Shiraz Grenache 2005 George Wyndham Shiraz Grenache 2005 (cont.) Tony Love, Adelaide Advertiser, July 2008 Bright red fruits tell most of the foreword here plus some stony, herb garden elements for interest, with a fun, fresh, raspberry juice and liquorice set of flavours. A well-plotted line of texture through the mouth makes it a friendly, light hearted companion with pizza. 91 points Mortgage Business, June, 2008 A ripe, flavoursome wine offering the generous denseness of Shiraz with the softness of Grenache. This wine's palate features plum, berry and dark cherry with a peppery finish. Ready to enjoy now but also suitable for medium-term cellaring. Crack it open with a char-grilled fillet of beef. Max Allen, MASTERCLASS, Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine, May 2008 Deep crimson with youthful purple hues, this wine has a generous mid palate with dark cherry, plum and ripe berry flavours, and a distinctive black pepper finish supported by spicy complexity from careful oak maturation. Paddy Kendler, Quaffing, Herald Sun, April 2008 A trophy win at this year's Sydney Show - best red under $20 - gave the owners of the brand something to crow about. I don't blame them. The competition was strong and the Sydney judging is as stringent as anywhere. I really enjoyed the wine for its red berry and cherry flavours, well captured within a tidy structure. Soft and somewhat fleshy, it's clearly a drink now proposition at a fair ask.
George Wyndham Shiraz Grenache 2005 George Wyndham Shiraz Grenache 2005 (cont.) Huon Hooke, Sydney Morning Herald, March 2008 Its two trophies at the Sydney Royal Wine Show, including best red wine not exceeding $20, were well deserved. …The wine is deliciously soft and fruit-sweet to taste, with raspberry and cherry-like aromas, fruit driven and not obviously marked by oak. At nearly three years old, it's good drinking now and will continue to be for eight to 10 years. It's widely distributed and easy to find. 93/100 Huon Hooke, Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine, January 2008 Shiraz adds depth of colour and flavour as well as backbone to the Grenache here. It's a nicely layered and concentrated red, with a savoury style and drying tannins at the finish.
George Wyndham Shiraz Grenache 2005 George Wyndham Shiraz Grenache 2006 Daenna Van Mulligen, Wine Diva Canada, May 2009 Gorgeous mixed berries, licorice and allspice, lifted eucalyptus and blueberry tones. The palate is supple, the texture creamy, its loaded with berries and spiced chocolate with fine dusty tannins on the finish.
George Wyndham Shiraz Tempranillo 2007 • Blue Gold Medal – 2009 Sydney International Wine Competition John Szabo, Wine Access, Canada, February 2009 This unusual but intriguing blend of Shiraz and Tempranillo offers a fresh, perfumed-floral, spicy red plum, medicinal-herbal cherry expression on the nose. Lively acidity and balanced alcohol give this a juicy, drinkable appeal, while fine dusty tannins lend a little grip. It's a food friendly style, ready to enjoy with magret of duck in a cherry reduction.
George Wyndham Shiraz Cabernet 2006 Daenna Van Mulligen, Wine Diva Canada, May 2009 Bright cassis, menthol, chocolate and forest berry aromas. The minty/eucalypt returns on the palate layered with pepper and chocolate.
George Wyndham Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Daenna Van Mulligen, Wine Diva Canada, May 2009 52% Semillon and had lovely candle was and sweet honey aromas, tropical fruits, exotic citrus and vanilla, tart kiwi and snap peas. The palate is concentrated with grassy, figgy flavours, snappy acidity and lingering flavours of lemon peel. Ian MacTavish – Better Homes and Gardens, June 2009 Here’s a beauty with seafood. A bright bunch of tropical-fruit flavours kept balanced with a crisp, refreshing and zesty lemony finish. Kerry Skinner - Illawarra Mercury, Australia, March, 2009 Expect some big developments at Wyndham Estate after its coup in enticing the former Saltram chief winemaker Nigel Dolan to join its team. This is a fruit-driven blend with loads of bright tropical and citrus flavours on the nose and palate, zippy acidity and a crisp finish. Drink it with fish and chips.
BIN 111 Verdelho 2008 Aurelie Toulemonde, Modern Home, May 2009 …Wyndham Estate BIN 111 Is a vibrant pale green with attractive aromas of tropical fruit. The palate reveals intense citrus flavours, which are balanced by an appealing, soft and zesty acidity on the finish. A perfect match with Asian foods. Debbie Southern, Toowoomba Chronicle, February 2009 Recently released, ….. the 2008 Wyndham Estate BIN 111 Verdelho, … is a medium-bodied white with youthful flavours of limes and melon ensuring good length on the palate and a crisp, dry finish. This unwooded wine means the full and intense fruit flavours are at the forefront.
BIN 222 Chardonnay 2007 • Gold Medal - 2009 Concours Mondial de Bruxelles – Belgium • Gold Medal - 2008 Sélections Mondiales des Vins – Canada Daenna Van Mulligen, Wine Diva Canada, May 2009 This wine has tropical fruit and rich spiced buttery tones - pineapple and melon. The palate is creamy and ripe but with a snappy citric finish. Billy Munnelly, The London Free Press, March 2009 Wyndham Estate is best known for its BIN 555 Shiraz, but check out the Chardonnay. T’s semi- rich, refreshing and unusually stylish for an Aussie. It’s very confident, together and a joy to drink. Could get us all rehooked on Chardonnay. Billy’s Best Bottles, Weekly wine picks, February 2009 A new style of Aussie Chard that’s not all about sweetness and richness. Quite dry and modest at first, followed by a teasing unfolding of charm and delicious flavours. Would feel good almost anytime with anything. Sort of upscale house wine. Toronto Life, February 2009 Seems to be returning to some opulence mindful of the pre-2005 vintages. Deep yellow colour signals the ripe banana and pineapple styling, with butterscotch, dried tobacco and clove. Medium-full, with a gentle, creamy feel, then a lemony, spicy and warm finish. Very good length. Try with lemon or orange chicken.
BIN 222 Chardonnay 2007 Max Allen – Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine, May 2008 Intense, ripe stone fruits and preserved lemon flood the palate, while a creamy soft texture with balanced acidity ensures length and persistence. This wine is ideal for current enjoyment or short- to medium-term cellaring.
BIN 333 Pinot Noir 2007 Daenna Van Mulligen, Wine Diva Canada, May 2009 Cherry cola aromas with hints of earth and leather and crushed floral notes. Fine tannins on the palate, the flavours here are leaner than expected after the overt aromas but it has bright acidity. Jeff Collerson - Daily Telegraph, June 2008 BIN 333 has always been among the few decent pinots under $20. The'07 is a blend of fruit from warm and cool areas of southeastern Australia, so gives the lie to the theory that to capture the true characters of this variety (gamey; earthy) the fruit has to be grown in cold regions. Widely available.
BIN 444 Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 • Trophy - 2008 Les Citadelles du Vin - France • Gold Medal – 2008 International Eastern Wine Comp - USA • Gold Medal – 2008 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition – USA Daenna Van Mulligen, Wine Diva Canada, May 2009 Aromas of currants and green peppers with smoke, bacon fat and earthy undertones. The palate is bright, quite juicy with red fruit, spice and cocoa, finishing with fine tannins. Rod Philips – Ottowa Citizen (Canada) February 2009 This is a flavour-packed Cabernet Sauvignon, but no simple fruit-bomb. The fruit has complexity and nuance, there's great balance, and the tannins are soft. Drink it with grilled red meats.
BIN 515 Shiraz Viognier 2006 Daenna Van Mulligen, Wine Diva Canada, May 2009 Sweet cherry ‘lolly’ aromas and allspice with just a hint of lavendar. Bright berry fruit and lifted spice on the palate. Rod Philips – Ottowa Citizen (Canada) February 2009 This blend (there's eight per centre viognier) originates from the northern Rhône. Here it delivers a well-structured, well-balanced and refreshing red with layered and complex fruit. Try it with wild mushroom risotto. Beppi Crosariol, The Globe and Mail (Canada), February 2009 Widely available across the country and decidedly different in style, is Wyndham Estate BIN 515 Shiraz Viognier 2006, a new blend launched in Canada from a popular Australian label. Adopting the Côte-Rôtie region’s formula – fermenting a small amount of white viognier with the red syrah – this wine still tastes very Australian. But it’s far from the fat, Barossa-style shirazes you may be accustomed to at this price. As in many Côte-Rôtie wines of the northern Rhône, it has a big savoury edge on dense, dark-berry fruit. To me it conjures up blackberries, a nuance of tar, espresso coffee and violet. An excellent buy.
BIN 515 Shiraz Viognier 2006 (cont.) John Szabo, Wine Access, Canada, February 2009 This Shiraz-Viognier (92%-8%) has a distinctive medicinal, eucalyptus nose allied to confected, wood-derived baking spice. Viognier adds some high-toned floral nuances. On the palate the wine comes across as very soft and slightly sweet, almost like a full bodied white wine with no tannins, modest flavour intensity and short finish. Drink now, slightly chilled for best results. Rod Phillips, Ottawa Citizen, February 2009 This blend (there’s 8% viognier) originates from the northern Rhône. Here it delivers a well- structured, well-balanced and refreshing red with layered and complex fruit. Try it with wild mushroom risotto.
BIN 515 Shiraz Viognier 2006 (cont.-2) canadianwineguy.com, February 2009 BIN 515 is a blend of Shiraz and Viognier at a 92 to 8% ratio. Viognier, as I think of it the grape of Languedoc, is mostly an ignored white variety to North Americans, but this very finicky grape is being used a great deal of late to work with Shiraz/Syrahs. Generally when blended with Shiraz it will soften the wine and add some lighter aromas to the nose. In the wine it is obvious. The first nose gives you sweet cherry and a hint of floral. The colour is a distant crimson and while this is only a 3 year old wine (remember Aussies harvest 6 months earlier then the northern hemisphere) it already is seeing a bit of rust in its colour palate. In first taste the cherry disappears and a strawberry jam with plum comes out. One thing right away is noticed, even on first tasted, the wine is very evenly balance, quite a treat for a sub $20 wine. As you get into the tasting the jam-plum disappears a bit and the wild berries with a hint of vanilla start to exhibit themselves. A nice side nose to this wine is, unlike many mass produced Shiraz’s this wine is not killing your taste buds with oak, always appreciated here. Overall the wine surprised me; I was really not expecting it to be so balanced from star to finish. While you could cellar this, I am not sure anything more than a year or two in bottle will help this wine, it is ready to drink now through 2011. Rating this is of course subjective but I think it is solid enough to earn a mid 80s and will not disappoint you or your guests if you were to bring a bottle (or three). 86 out of 100.
BIN 515 Shiraz Viognier 2006 (cont.-3) Malcolm Jolley, gremolata.com, February 2009 Blueberries, violets swirl around with floral aromatics in this big Aussie take on the Rhone. Powerful at 14.5%ABV, but also refined – surprisingly sophisticated for a wine that generally retails under $20. Compliments stew and pizza. 4 out of 5 stars.
BIN 515 Shiraz Viognier 2006 (cont.) The Wine Ladies, thewineladies.com, January 2009 Move over Grenache and let the perfume in…for Wyndham Estate’s more feminine option, BIN 515, Shiraz Viognier offering a nose with a hint of floral and spice, ripe plum and those dark cherries again. Waters&Wine, Watersandwine.com, February 2009 The intense menthol aroma of this Australian red will make it attractive to most, but unpleasantly medicinal to some. The newly launched BIN 515 is a blend of Shiraz with 8% Viognier, a white grape with distinctive floral and apricot notes. Most Australian Shiraz Viognier employs less than five percent of the white grape because of its dominating personality. You can see why in this case. The finished wine has such a soft, sweet profile that it tastes like a white wine disguised as a red. Sally Gudgeon and Ralph Kyte-Powell, Sun Herald, November 2008 Shiraz Viognier has overtaken Australian cabernet Shiraz blends in volume, probably because they're a soft, supple easy-drinking style like this appealing wine. BIN 515 has lifted aromas of spice and blackberry, with generous fruit and ripe tannins on the palate. Food: Chinese pork noodles. Ageing: Drink now to 2010.
BIN 525 Shiraz Grenache 2008 Rod Philips – Ottowa Citizen (Canada) February 2009 It's 51 per centre Shiraz and the rest Grenache, and that makes for a lot of rich, sweet flavour. Look for good complexity , a smooth, clean texture, and attractive tannic dryness, and pair it with duck confit and seared scallop. John Szabo, Wine Access, Canada, February 2009 Medium crimson red appearance. The nose is exuberantly fruity, with straightforward but inviting baked strawberry, red liquorice and candied cherry aromas. The palate is soft and round, with generous mouth warming alcohol, low tannins and acid combining to give an implicitly sweet profile. Average length. This is designed forimmediate fun, with a crowd pleasing attitude. canadianwineguy.com, February 2009 This wine is young in colour and nose. Deep purple colour and heavy berry fruit on the nose. Once some of the wine was on the palate you get a bit more of dark cherry and red licorice, a nice mix for such a young wines. BIN 525, actually spends some time in American and French oak before it is bottled and rushed off to the unwashed masses, yet I got little oak at all from this. What I did get was a wine that actually excited my mouth and did not leave heavy tannins and a youthful bite. The more I drank this the more I was pleased with it and the underlying spice I got. I think this is one of the better sub $20 wines I have had this year. 87/100
BIN 525 Shiraz Grenache 2008 (cont.) Strictly Tastings,Grapes2u.blogspot.com, March 2009 The nose is a spicy floral representing both grapes well. Kind of a plush ruby and the first sip has the soft texture of ripe berries brightened by a polite white pepper seam, silky smooth. The finish is long, fruity with balanced tannin and acid making this a sociable sipper – nothing complex or remotely controversial. A drink now, a commercial red appropriate for a mixed crowd. Rick Vansickle, The Calgary Sun, March 2009 This is a new wine for Canada, expanding on the popular BIN 555 Shiraz from Australia’s Wyndham Estate. The blend shows currants, plum, pepper and savoury spices on the nose. The palate reveals a soft and juice wine with raspberry, wildberry flavours that are rich and extracted and work well with the pepper spice. The Wine Ladies, thewineladies.com, January 2009 Shiraz meet Grenache in a 51%-49% split; a chemistry ensues, a good partnership with richness, softness, fresh berry fruit, dark cherries and spice. Rod Phillips, Ottawa Citizen, February 2009 It’s 51% Shiraz and the rest Grenache, and that makes for a lot of rich, sweet flavour. Look for good complexity a smooth, clean texture, and attractive tannic dryness, and pair it with duck confit and seared scallop.
BIN 525 Shiraz Grenache 2008 (cont.) Waters&Wine, watersandwine.com, February 2009 Wyndham Estate made its name with its popular BIN 555 Shiraz, an intensely fruity red wine with a crowd-pleasing smooth texture. The new BIN 525 Shiraz Grenache blend follows that winning formula. Look for candied cherry/berry aromas and flavours that are heighten by the wine’s low acidity and soft texture.
BIN 555 Sparkling NV • Blue Gold - Sydney International Wine Comp 2008 • Gold Medal – Pacific Rim Int Wine Comp 2008 • Gold Medal – Syrah du Monde 2008 • Gold Medal – Effervescents du Monde 2008 • Gold Medal – Selections Mondiales des Vin 2007 • Gold Medal – Tasters Guild Int.Wine Judging 2007 • Gold Medal – Syrah du Monde 2007 • Gold Medal – Sydney Royal Wine Show 2006 Australian Good Food, November, 2008 Lyndey Milan's Best buys DARK, BUBBLY & DELICIOUS What's the story? This sparkling wine is just like the white fizz but made with red Shiraz grapes. Tastes Smooth and fleshy with ripe berry flavours and Shiraz spice. Drink with: Asian dishes, paté, duck, dark chocolate. Sun Herald & Sunday Age, November, 2008 This fruity, mellow style smells of blackberries, mulberries and spice. The lively fruit continues to the palate, which is soft and rounded. Serve well chilled with chocolate torte.
BIN 555 Shiraz 2006 • Gold Medal – Monde Selection, Belgium 2009 • Gold Medal – Concours Mondiale de Bruxelles 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen, Wine Diva Canada, May 2009 The most popular wine in the Wyndham Estate portfolio. Aromas of blackberries and leather, spice, chocolate and meaty-savoury undertones. The palate is fleshy, the texture is soft and spice lingers. John Fordham, Sunday Telegraph, Australia, March 2009 …It's easy to see why the current release, 2006 BIN 555 enjoys such a massive following. Full-bodied, rich and peppery, its early drink ability is the key to its success. Mike Frost, Courier Mail, Australia, March 2009 Plum and dark berry fruit dominate the nose and palate of this full bodied red, with spice, pepper and a touch of oak adding complexity with a fine tannin finish. Enjoy over the next year or two with red meats, game or hard cheese. $10-$15. Rating: 89.
BIN 777 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Debbie Southern, Toowoomba Chronicle, February 2009 Recently released, the 2008 Wyndham Estate BIN 777 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc is a blend of 58% Semillon and 42% Sauvignon Blanc. To taste, it's soft and ripe with citrus and grapefruit and delicious tropical fruits. This fruit-driven style is best accompanied by seafood, poultry and summer salads. This wine vintage release from Wyndham Estate is one of the first to be made by Wyndham Estate's new chief winemaker, Nigel Dolan.
BIN 999 Merlot 2008 • Gold Medal – 2009 Monde Selection International Wine Competition - Belgium
Show Reserve Chardonnay 2005 • Trophy – 2008 Royal Adelaide Wine Show The Seguin Moreau Trophy for Best Chardonnay in Show • Trophy – 2007 American Tower Club Wine Awards (Singapore) Best of the Best Chardonnay in show • Trophy - 2007 Cairns Wine Show Best Chardonnay in show • Gold Top Gold Medal - 2006 Riverina Wine Show • Gold Top 10 Medal – 2007 Chardonnay du Monde • Gold Medal - 2008 Royal Adelaide Wine Show • Gold Medal – 2008 10th Lianhe Zaobao Wine Review Challenge - Singapore • Gold Medal – 2008 China Wine & Spirit Competition • Gold Medal – 2007 American Tower Club Wine Awards (Singapore) • Gold Medal – 2008 Chardonnay du Monde • Gold Medal – 2007 Cairns Wine Show Awards • Gold Medal – 2007 Decanter World Wine Awards Decanter, October 2007 Complex oak and fruit. Young, needs time for complete oak and fruit integration. Already showing cool-climate flavours. Long. Very good.
Show Reserve Cabernet Merlot 2003 • Gold Medal – 2009 Korean Wine Challenge
Black Cluster Shiraz 2005 • Gold Medal – 2009 Critics Challenge International Wine Competition - USA • Gold Medal – 2009 Monde Selection International Wine Competition – Belgium Daenna Van Mulligen, Wine Diva Canada, May 2009 This wine has terroir written all over it – plush dark berries, hints of red cherry and plum, espresso, chocolate, savoury hints of bcon fat and mint. The palate is supple and dense, the minerality pops here – slightly saline – it is focused and elegant with dusty tannins on the finish. The Wine Ladies, thewineladies.com, January 2009 Black Cluster Hunter Valley Shiraz 2005, or as one of the writers in attendance eloquently put it…the “Blockbuster Black Cluster”, the icon wine in the Wyndham Estate portfolio, a single vineyard wine grown exclusively in Wyndham own Black Cluster vineyard comprising 40 year old vines. Sublime, elegant, complex and long lasting.. this one’s a keeper!