James Halliday

Australian Wine Companion 2012 gives Grampians Estate a “Five Red Star” rating for the third year – the very highest rating and one given to just 3.8% of wineries.

2008 Streeton Reserve Shiraz

Deep colour; a big boned and dark fruited offering showing roasted meat, black fruit and chewy tannins, all in abundance; a dense, long and full blooded style for those in need of wine with large proportions. 94. Drink to 2020.

2008 Garden Gully Vineyard St Ethels Shiraz

Bright colour; blueberry, clove and struck quartz are all evident on the bouquet; medium bodied, with crunchy blue fruits and refreshing acidity; attractive graphite tannins, yet soft and supple to conclude. 94. Drink by 2018. $39.

Australian Wine Companion 2011

2006 Black Sunday Friends Sparkling Shiraz

95 points and equal top in Australia, “An echo of the great Seppelt sparkling shirazs of the 40s and 50s (with a leap of imagination perhaps); this wine has absolutely wonderful sweet  shiraz fruit – not sugar sweetness – on the finish, and will develop and change for up to 20 years if well cellared. Crown seal. 14.6% alc. Rating 95 To 2025  $35.

2006 Rutherford Sparkling Shiraz

Well-balanced, neither oak nor sweetness obvious, just gently spicy shiraz, perhaps with a touch of licorice; good length and balance. Crown seal. 14% alc. Rating 94. To 2015. $35.

Australian Wine Companion 2010

2006 Black Sunday Friends Reserve Shiraz

In the genre of the 1998 Bannockburn Shiraz; grapes from six Victorian cool-climate regions, most from the Grampians and Pyrenees; a wonderful tapestry of vibrant spices and black fruits; marvellous thrust to almost explosive finish. Rating 96 To 2021.

2007 Streeton Reserve Shiraz

Good colour; the first tiny estate production (385 kg) since the ’06 bushfires, augmented with grapes from local growers; has all the elegance and length for which Grampians Estate is rightly famous. Screwcap. 14.5% alc. Rating 94. To 2022. $65.

Campbell Mattinson

The Wine Front, regarding Grampians Estate 2006 Rutherford Sparkling Shiraz:

January 12, 2010 / Rated 92+ Points: “I’ve been wanting to try this Grampians Estate wine for some time – so when I saw it come in, I jumped at it. It’s made from donated grapes (from various Victorian regions) after the Grampians Estate was devastated by bushfire in 2006. Ninety percent of the Estate’s 17 year old vineyard was burnt or cooked. It’s a quality wine. It tastes of tar, blackberry, game and leather, though its best features are its tannin (which works as fine, supporting chains to the fruit) and its length (which pushes assertively through the finish). I’d like more brightness to the flavours, but given the circumstances I feel mean mentioning it.”

August 17, 2011 / Rated 91+ Points: “Fantastic to see a sparkling red sealed with a crown seal. I suspect that crown seals and sparkling wine are my favourite wine-seal combination. Not to get too nerdy on you. It’s an elegant sparkling red. It doesn’t overplay sweetness. It tastes of blackcurrant and leather, cranberries and sweet black earth. I’m really enjoying sparkling red at the moment and this wine is one of the reasons. I like how even-handed it is.”

James Halliday

Australian Wine Companion 2006 gives Grampians Estate a 5 star rating and describes the 2001 Streeton Reserve Shiraz:

“Holding hue well, medium to full-bodied; excellent focus and intensity, with a mix of predominantly black fruits and some spices; notably long finish. Rating 94 Drink 2016 $45.”

Paddy Kendler

Herald Sun, 3^rd December 2002, gave the 2001 Mafeking Shiraz five stars and wrote:

“This wine was judged best in its varietal class at this year’s Rutherglen Wine Show, then carried off two trophies at the Victorian Wine Show, including Best Red Wine. In both cases, the competition was hot and strong so the awards are significant and, after sampling the wine over a couple of days, I’d say well earned. Instantly engaging bouquet featuring various red and black berries and stone fruit with hints of pepper and spice and the promise is fulfilled on the palate, which is smooth and seemless and capped off by a long, lingering finish. At $22 a bottle at cellar door, this is at least $10 under a fair price.”

Other media articles for download

• ‘Friends Shiraz a new beginning’ – The Ararat Advertiser, April 22, 2008
• ‘Black Sunday Shiraz named wine of the year’ – The Ararat Advertiser, August 12, 2008
• ‘Winter Wines special report’ – The Sydney Morning Herald, May 25, 2010
• ‘No new is good news’ – Max Crus, Grape Expectations, Clarence Life, July 23, 2011