Our Latest Awards and Reviews
This inventory of awards and reviews is from July 2005 onwards. Details of awards and reviews prior to July 2005 can be found in our archived newsletters.
This listing is by wine then vintage.
2007 Polish Hill River Riesling
Silver Medal Class 9. 2008 Royal Queensland Wine Show
2006 DJW Riesling
Another of Clare's Polish Hill River favourites, this is a solidly made number, full of intensity and citrus fruit characters that even stretch into the more exotic mandarin spectrum. Don't get fooled though; its still lean and tight and ready for summer. 90 points. The Advertiser Top 100 Wines, November 2006
2005 DJW Riesling
This Clare Valley riesling comes from a small cool block in the Wilson vineyard, and is wonderfully pure, austere and lean – classically restrained and mouth-watering. A good candidate for ten years or more in the cellar. Max Allen, The Weekend Australian Magazine, 10 September 2005
2005 DJW Riesling
Silver Medal (53 points) in class 11. Melbourne Wine Show 11 August 2005
2005 DJW Riesling
Runner-up in the Riesling class (in both the judges and consumer judging categories). Advertiser-Hyatt Wine of the Year Awards, 26 August 2005
2004 DJW Riesling
Bronze medal. Boutique Winemaker Awards
2004 DJW Riesling
94 points. Glowing yellow-green; abundant lime juice and tropical aromas and flavours, a long linear palate and finish. James Halliday’s Wine Companion 2006 July 2005
2004 DJW Riesling
Four and a half stars. A delicate, fragrant wine with subtle lifted citrus nose. Wonderfully fresh, crisp and limey in the mouth, with some nice figgy characters. Great length. A superb drink. Winestate Magazine, July 2005
2002 DJW Riesling
Recommended. An attractive, limey riesling that is just beginning to show some toasty development. Lively acidity keeps the palate fresh and attractive. Winewise Small Vigneron Awards, August 2005
2001 DJW Riesling
Three and a half stars. A very nice aged and developed wine. Sweet toasty lift to the nose and toasty complexity emerging on the palate. Travelling well. Winestate Magazine, July 2005
2005 Hand Plunge Shiraz
Highly Recommended with *** for value. The bouquet is reminiscent of coffee mixture with iodine, spice, sweet vanilla and coconut oak, which wields a large influence over the bouquet. Silky tannins combine with deep, strong, pure fruit to form a full-bodied wine with a supple consistency, a solid seamless structure, and a harmonious complexity. A rich wine with enough fruit to eventually sop up the oak; the flavour profile is predominantly savoury and black, showing blackberry, dark chocolate, sour cherry, lots of tar, and mint flavours that finish with excellent persistence. It's approachable now with a big decant, but needs years to show its true charms.
Copyright Ric Einstein 2007 Ric Eistein's www.torbwine.com
2004 Handplunge Shiraz
Silver medal and top scoring Clare Valley entry.. The Great Shiraz Challenge 2006
2004 HandPlunge Shiraz
Silver medal and listed in the Top 50. Great Australian Shiraz Challenge 2007
2009 James Halliday's Wine Companion
5 star rating for The Wilson Vineyard. 2003 Museum Release Riesling 96 points and the second highest rated riesling in the edition. Great colour, gloriously intense lime jiuce and toast aromas and flavours surround a a spine of tingling aciity. Perfection. Has blossomed since Sept "03.
2005 Merlot-Malbec 93 points. An interesting, lively blend, with good velocity in the mouth: blackcurranr, redcurrant, raspberry, mocha, cedar and spice all make their mark.
2007 Polish Hill River Riesling 90 points. Shows some of the restrained minerally, spicy characters of the Grosset Polish Hill: well balanced, good length, but needs time.
2005 Hand Plunge Shiraz 88 points. A massive wine: potent prune aromas flow through into the imposing palate, deriving much of its impact from alcohol. (published August 2008)
2008 James Halliday's Wine Companion
Five Red-Star rating for The Wilson Vineyard. The following wine scores were awarded. 2006 Polish Hill River Riesling - finely braced and structured wine built for the long haul - 95. 2004 HandPlunge Shiraz - Focused black fruits provide a lovely fruit line - 94. 2004 "Stonecraft" Cabernet Sauvignon - Ripe, almost juicy, blackcurrant/cassis fruit drives the wine: an excellent mid-palate, likewise fine, gently savoury tannins on the finish. Exceptional achievement for the Clare Valley - 94. 2006 DJW Riesling - Voluminous aromas and flavours of tropical fruits, sweet citrus and passionfruit - 94. 2004 Peppperstone Shiraz - A rich combination of of ripe black fruits, coffee mocha, earth and chocolate - 93. 2004 Merlot - Smoky, savoury aromas: an interesting medium-bodied palate, with a range of cassis, olive, chocolate and blackberry flavours, all with an inherent sweetness - 90. 2004 Rx Cab Sauv/Cab Franc/Shiraz - a strong savory wine as befits the blend - 87. James Halliday's Wine Companion (published August 2007)
NV Leucothea
85 points. James Halliday’s Wine Companion 2006 July 2005
2004 Merlot
Silver Medal Class 66. Australian Small Winemakers Show 2006
2001 Merlot
85 points. James Halliday’s Wine Companion 2006 July 2005
2003 Polish Hill River Rielsing
Gold Medal Museum Class S7. One of Australia's top 10 rieslings Canberra International Riesling Challenge 2007
2007 Polish Hill River Riesling
6 best wines tasted by the panel this quarter. A wine for the Riesling enthusiast and one of Australia's best! A beautiful tinge of green with aromas that are slightly restrained, yet has pristine lemon and lime fruit fragrance. The palate is powerful and has plenty of mouthwatering flavours, hints of talc, moorish acid, excellent texture and plenty of length. Review by Karl Stockhausen Wine Selector Autumn 2008
2006 Polish Hill River Riesling
Silver Medal, Class 3. Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2006
2006 Polish Hill River Riesling
Bridgeman Beefsteak and Burgundy Club Trophy for the best current vintage dry white wine. Brisbane Wine Show August 2006
2006 Polish Hill River Riesling
Gold Medal Class S4. One of Australia's Top 10 Rieslings Canberra International Riesling Challenge 2007
2006 Polish Hill River Riesling
Gold Medal Class 36. Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2007
2006 Polish Hill River Riesling
Silver medal. Royal Melbourne Wine Show August 2006
2006 Polish Hill River Riesling
95 points. Aromas of spice and citrus lead into a finely braced and structured wine built for the long haul. Mineral and citrus flavours run through the long dry finish. James Halliday's Top 100 wines, The Weekend Australian 11/12 November 2006
2005 Polish Hill River Riesling
Bronze Medal (47.5 points) in class 11. Melbourne Wine Show
2004 Polish Hill River Riesling
Three stars. A generous, full, ripe style. Fresh citrus/straw aromas; fruity and tasty in the mouth. Winestate Magazine, July 2005 (Clare Valley tasting)
2004 Wilson Vineyard Riesling
95 points. Bell-clear notes of spice, lime and mineral on the bouquet; the palate is very long, as is the lingering aftertaste. As with all these rieslings, bottle age will in invest the wine with great complexity and texture. James Halliday’s Wine Companion 2006 July 2005
2004 Wilson Vineyard Riesling
Bronze medal. Boutique Winemaker Awards July 2005
2004 Wilson Vineyard Riesling
Silver medal and best class. London International Wine & Spirit Competition, 21 July 2005
NV Zinfandel
Three stars. Spicy nose with fortified-like lift. Long, rich marmalade palate - very sweet and very tasty. Winestate Magazine, July 2005