James Halliday Wine Companion - 'Exceptional' 5 Star Reviews

We are pleased to announce that all our 2017 Estate & Single Vineyard wines have received outstanding results from James Halliday in the recently released 2020 Halliday Wine Companion.

All Single Vineyard wines were awarded between 95 and 97 points and the Estate wines received 94 or 95 points.

Some of what Halliday said about our wines:

“An exercise in finesse and restraint”

“Flavours intersecting every corner of the mouth”

“Vibrant”, “Energetic palate” “Very fine, active mouthfeel”, “Lingering finish”

“I really enjoy the '17 Mornington Peninsula pinots, and this is one of the best.”

Due to lower yields and the demand for the 2017 wines, quantities are limited, so we wanted to encourage our friends to purchase them now while they are still available.

2017 Wallis Pinot Noir :: 97 points  

Hand-picked, wild-fermented, 7 days on skins, matured for 11 months in new and old French barriques. Light, bright crimson; An exercise in finesse and restraint, partly due to the cool vintage, but duly recognised for its special qualities of pomegranate and cherry. Drink by 2030.

2017 Wallis Tasmania Pinot Noir :: 97 points 

It's a mark of the knowledge, intelligence and bravery of Martin Spedding to include this wine in a vintage that produced this lovely, but light-bodied, pinot. There are those who might fall to the temptation of including 10% of the dark-fruited and strongly structured Tasmanian wine, as they are legally able to do, and say nothing about it if they so wish. Drink by 2031.

2017 Coolart Road Pinot Noir :: 96 points 

MV6 clone, hand-picked, wild-fermented, matured for 11 months in new and old French barriques. Balanced, savoury elements with joyous flavours of black cherry; tannins ex fruit and oak are finely judged. I really enjoy the '17 Mornington Peninsula pinots, and this is one of the best. Drink by 2029.

2017 Judd Chardonnay :: 96 points 

Clone P58, yield 2t/a, hand-picked, whole-bunch pressed, wild-fermented, 53% mlf, matured for 10 months in French oak (15% new), 233 dozen made. Vibrant singular shaft of flavour first up; minimal oak influence. White peach and grapefruit lead the way along the energetic palate, flavours intersecting every corner of the mouth. Drink by 2030.

2017 McCutcheon Chardonnay :: 96 points 

Clone P58, hand-picked, whole-bunch pressed, cloudy juice direct to oak (15% new) for wild ferment and 74% mlf, 10 months maturation, no batonnage, 134 dozen made. Very fine, active mouthfeel, melon, grapefruit, Granny Smith apple; lingering finish. Drink by 2030.

2017 Wallis Chardonnay :: 96 points 

Hand-picked, whole-bunch pressed, cloudy juice direct to 600l French and Austrian barrels (15% new), 88% mlf, 10 months maturation, 206 dozen made. Gently smoky oak on the bouquet, then white peach and nectarine flavours dominate the palate, but don't block the freshness all the wines have. Drink by 2032.

2017 McCutcheon Pinot Noir :: 95 points [Wine Club Only]

Has obvious similarities to the Judd tasted alongside, although this is a more gamey, peppery offering, and also slightly more sweetly-fruited. Strawberry, cranberry, and smoky oak contribute to the flavour spectrum with the texture and mouthfeel providing another dimension. The finish is more tartly astringent than tannic and lingers attractively in the aftertaste. Drink by 2027.

2017 Judd Pinot Noir :: 95 points 
The cool vintage has played its part in shaping this wine no doubt, and it's certainly a fine-boned, elegant release. Aromas range from stems and undergrowth to crushed sour cherries (pips and all) and exotic woody spice. The flavours are both ripe and sappy, building gradually along the palate but essentially quite delicate, as is the light but gently persistent tannin. Drink by 2027.

2017 Estate Pinot Noir 'Up the Hill' :: 95 points 

Lighter colour than most of its siblings. The converse of the Down the Hill Pinot, not necessarily what I expected. Very pretty strawberry red fruits, the fragrance of the bouquet and mouthfeel and length impeccable. Drink by 2027.

2017 Estate Pinot Noir 'Down the Hill' :: 94 points 

A best barrels selection from vineyards at lower altitudes. Supple and spicy, with juicy red fruits criss-crossing the well balanced palate. Made for drinking, not sipping. Drink by 2025.

2017 Estate Chardonnay :: 94 points 

Hand-picked from five vineyards with clones I10V1 and P58 over a month, matured for 10 months in French and Austrian oak, no batonnage, 43% mlf. Vibrant and juicy, with grapefruit leading the pack of flavours; elegant finish. Drink by 2027.