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Brilliant very pale straw colour with greenish tinged edges and a watery hue. Intense lime and lemon aromas burst out of the glass with elements of granny smith apple, talc and chalky mineral also present. Showcasing all that has been great about the near perfect 2017 vintage for Riesling, driving flavours of lime and citrus run across the palate over a back drop of orange rind, green apple, chalky talc and infusions of mineral. Outstanding power and concentration finishing dry with fresh zesty acidity. Long aftertaste of lime, citrus, orange rind, talc and chalky mineral characters.
Drink now or cellar 5-6 years.
Alc. 12.5%

Other Reviews….
From vineyards across the Eden Valley, night-harvested, destemmed, chilled, pressed to tank for fermentation at 15 degrees C. Pale straw-green; the aromatic bouquet picks up citrus blossom on the first whiff, the palate seamlessly running with lime/lemon flavours along silvery lines of acidity. A very good example of a very good vintage. Drink by 2027.
95 points
James Halliday – Australian Wine Companion

The Brave Souls labels take their inspiration the remarkable heroics of three men who risked their lives to help save the survivors of the famous Admella shipwreck of 1859.

This blend of 45% Grenache, 29% Shiraz and 26% Mourvedre has great depth of colour displaying a totally opaque black dark red core with a dark red hue. Nosing dispels aromas of dark plum, liquorice and dark raspberry over hints of scorched cedar, earth and spice. Rich and juicy the palate is awash with ripe black cherry, liquorice and black raspberry flavours which sit over lightly smoked oak, subtle earthy incense characters and spice. There’s good flesh to the mouthfeel with a sense of vibrancy on the finish. Velvety tannins. The length and power outstanding concluding with a long lingering aftertaste of spicy black raspberries, liquorice, ripe black cherries, lightly smoked oak and pepper. A very moreish GSM.
Cellar 5-6 years.
Alc. 14.5%

Other Reviews….
The 45/29/26% blend is assembled from vines across the Barossa Valley aged between 15 and 100yo, matured for 16 months in new and used oak. A lot of winemaking IP is on show with this vibrant wine, a light year away from some of the stodgy dead fruit blends of prior times. This will also develop secondary flavours ex the cherry of the grenache. Drink by 2031.
95 points
James Halliday – Australian Wine Companion

An exciting discovery from new comer Julia Weirich in collaboration with the Sons of Eden boys, these three superb Brave Souls releases have class stamped all over them. Julia is German in heritage but gypsy at heart, having worked all over the world, honing her skills in wineries including Bass Phillip in Australia, Yealands in New Zealand, Le Grappin in Burgundy and Mulderbosch in South Africa. Upon returning to Australia she set about making wine for herself with the help of the well-known dynamic team behind Sons of Eden.

Rich and sumptuous, this classy Barossa Shiraz is a fantastic first up release.

Sourced from two different vineyards, located in Western Ridge and Light Pass of the Barossa Valley, different soils, aspects and microclimates contribute to this fully flavoured, aromatic yet structured wine. Maturation took place in a mixture of old and new oak for a period of 18 months.

Totally opaque midnight black core with a deep dark red black hue. Elevated aromas of ripe dark plum, liquorice and blackberry stream out of the glass with trailing scents of lightly smoked vanillin cedar, fennel and spicy pepper. The ripe, generous, fleshy palate is both full and rich yet also possesses a feeling of refinement. Opulently textured flavours of spicy ripe blackberries, liquorice and dark plums glide effortlessly across the palate overlaying a back drop of subtlety smoked vanillin cedar, elements of fennel and blackpepper. Silken tannins enhance a cashmere like mouthfeel. Excellent power with a long dark plum, liquorice, spicy blackberry, fennel, smoky vanillin cedar and pepper aftertaste.
Cellar 6-8 years.
Alc. 14.5%

Other Reviews….
From two vineyards, one on the Western Ridge, the other at Light Pass; destemmed and chilled before a 10-20-day fermentation with gentle extraction, 18 months in new and used oak. It has a bright, full crimson hue, and the bouquet speaks of fresh, dark berry fruits. The medium-bodied palate is a first-up triumph, with a finely woven texture carrying red and black cherries, pepper, spice and herb that would more often come from cool climates. Drink by 2036.
96 points
James Halliday – Australian Wine Companion

The Izway Bruce is sourced from two vineyards which complement one another beautifully to produce this outstanding Shiraz. The 2015 is the first release to contain fruit from the Slade vineyard, located in the hills behind the township of Greenock. The boney, tough red soils produce tiny bunches and berries resulting in a wine that is highly structured, fine and elegant. The combination of this profile with the dark, rich and concentrated fruit of Koonunga Hill have produced a wine of great power and structure in 2015.

An absolutely stunning Barossa Shiraz that combines power and polish with lavish dynamic fruit and a sturdy backbone.

Magnificently coloured displaying an impenetrable inky black core with a very deep dark red black hue. Soaring from the glass are dazzling aromatics of ripe black cherries, liquorice, blackberries and dark plums which overlay toasty vanillin cedar elements, fennel and spice. Rich, thick, layered and possessing thunderous power, the palate dishes up opulent ripe blackberry, liquorice, black cherry and dark plum flavours that are liqueur like in their concentration. Underscoring the decadent fruit is spicy vanillin cedar, fennel, faint notions of smoky earth and pepper. Cleverly built with structured ripe chewy tannins seemingly taking on a velvet like appearance beneath the tidal wave of plush fruit. Exceptionally long aftertaste of ripe blackberries, liquorice, black cherries, dark plums, lightly smoked vanillin cedar, subtle infusions of fennel and pepper. Just about as impressive as Barossa Shiraz gets.
Cellar 6-8 years.
Alc. 15.4%

Made from Clairette and Rolle grapes. Brilliant very pale straw colour with a faint greenish tinge to the edgings and a watery hue. Lifted floral aromatics of spiced ripe quince, pear and fig married to dried honey characters overlay stony elements and subtle dried straw notes. Rich with a texturally full and rounded mouthfeel, expressive flavours of ripe pears and quince laced with honeysuckle are followed by wet stone characters with a dry spicy finish. Good balanced acidity provides freshness. Lingering aftertaste of spiced ripe pears, figs, quince, honeysuckle and wet stone characters.
Drink now.
Alc. 13.5%

A blend of 58% Semillon and 42% Sauvignon Blanc. Brilliant water like colour with a greenish tinge to the outskirts. Pronounced aromatics of ripe gooseberries tinged with a hint of passionfruit and herbaceous grassy characters fill the nostrils followed by asparagus, notions of capsicum and spicy fresh herbs. The palate reflects the intensity of the nose, filled with concentrated flavours of herbaceous gooseberries and a touch of passionfruit which are overlaid by grassy asparagus characters, capsicum and citrus. Finishes dry with mouth-watering acidity and a long aftertaste of herbaceous gooseberries, passionfruit, grassy asparagus infusions, capsicum and citrus. Margaret Rivers classic blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc doesn’t get much better than this.
Drink now.
Alc. 12%

Other Reviews…
A semillon/sauvignon blanc blend, the colour a bright pale green. Some deft winemaking has made the flavour and structure of the blend greater than its parts. Guava, gooseberry and passionfruit ex the sauvignon blanc are braced by grassy/lemony semillon and its acidity. Drink by 2021.
93 points
James Halliday – Australian Wine Companion

Brilliant very pale straw colour with a slight glimmer of green around the outskirts and a watery hue. Intense pear, rose petal and lychee aromas are followed by hints of Turkish delight and light musk. Rich with a luscious yet texturally fresh feel the palate is generously flavoured with ripe pears, lychees, subtle infusions of musk, tropical fruits and a touch of spice. Clean medium dry finish with refreshing acidity. Long vibrant aftertaste of lychees, tropical fruits, pears, musk and faint spice.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 13%

A blend 78% Shiraz (50–80 year old vines) and 22% Grenache (50–110 year old vines) sourced from the famed Ebenezer sub-district at the northern tip of the Barossa Valley. The Grenache component sees minimal oak contact in order to preserve the purity of fruit whilst the Shiraz was matured for 16 months in 2-3 year old hogshead barrels (80% French / 20% American).

Totally opaque black red core with a bright purple red hue. Lifted aromatics of black raspberries and blackberries tinged with liquorice float from the glass followed by lightly scorched vanillin cedar, a hint of earth and spice. The palate possesses terrific fruit purity and richness within its medium bodied frame delivering succulent flavours of ripe dark raspberries, blackberries and liquorice over a back drop of vanillin cedar and faint earth finishing with a burst of spicy pepper characters. Velvet smooth, perfectly integrated tannins. Long ripe dark raspberry, liquorice, blackberry, spicy vanillin cedar, light earth and pepper aftertaste.
Cellar 5-6 years.
Alc. 14.5%

Lloyd Reserve Shiraz is produced from a single vineyard at Coriole, planted in 1919, with the first wine released in 1989. The soil and roots are extremely deep with generally no irrigation required. The wine is matured in French oak for approximately 18 months and then receives 18 plus months in bottle before release.

A powerful, rich and structured Lloyd.

Dense black colour with a deep dark red black hue. Powerful aromas of liquorice, blackberries and more subtle dark plum waft from the glass underpinned by lightly smoked vanillin cedar and a delicate meatiness finishing with peppery end notes. Rich and exceptionally concentrated with great underlying structure the palate is awash with ripe blackberry, liquorice and black cherry flavours which hold court over a back drop of smoky vanillin cedar, a touch of earth and spicy pepper characters. Firmly built yet fine grained tannins provide the muscle whilst finely balanced acidity gives some definition to the opulent fruit. Outstanding power with a very long liquorice, blackberry, black cherry, smoky vanillin oak, dried meats, light spicy earth and blackpepper aftertaste.
Cellar 8-10 years.
Alc. 14.5%

Other Reviews….
It's easy to be seduced by the beautiful deep purple colour but it's the flavours, the palate that really matter. They star in this complex wine. Savoury toned, full-bodied, ripe and concentrated and yet, there's this line of definition and detail. The oak, sitting at 30% new French hogsheads, is seamlessly integrated. Drink by 2036.
96 points
Jane Faulkner – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion

Introduced due to the relative scarcity of Best’s Thomson Family and Bin 0 Shiraz wines, the Bin 1 Shiraz aims to provide an introduction to Great Western Shiraz style at a price point that gives the wine broader market access. Made predominantly from Best’s own vineyards it combines the varietals generosity with the regions cool climate elegance.

An outstanding Bin No. 1 combining a peppery cool climate elegance with a youthful generosity of fruit.

Outstanding depth of colour displaying an impenetrable black red core with a deep bright dark red black hue. Pronounced aromas of freshly crushed blackberries, red plum and liquorice show great intensity with an undercard of vanillin cedar, inky earth like characters and spicy white pepper. Medium to full bodied and loaded with richness there’s plenty to like about the palate, generous blackberry, spicy red plum and liquorice flavours swamping the mouth. Also evident are underlying vanillin cedar, inky earth and pepper characters. Slightly dryish finish with fine powdery tannins and bright youthful acidity. Fantastic length with a long blackberry, liquorice, red plum, inky earth, spicy vanillin cedar and pepper aftertaste.
Cellar 6-8 years.
Alc. 14.5%