Here are three of the highlights from the last few weeks of tasting.

The 2023 Leeuwin Art Series Chardonnay is another stunning rendition of this wine, and the 2023 Moss Wood cabernet is the best young Moss Wood that I have tasted in several years.

And a wine that I know nothing about, but charmed the panel was the Thunderstone Pinot Noir 2024. Great stuff!

Reviewed

Leeuwin Estate – Art Series – Chardonnay – 2023. A totally sublime wine. The perfect intersection between fruit weight, ripeness, acidity and oak. Plenty of ripe peach, but this is complemented by more savoury almond-like nuttiness and distinct minerality on the palate. I can even imagine a hint of sea-spray on the finish. Great length and persistence of flavours, with the textural components continuing to excite long after the fruit has dissipated. Lime notes too close. A superstar! 13.5% alc | 97 points

Moss Wood – Cabernet Sauvignon – 2023. Wow. Whilst this was served a little warm (it has been a warm March), the underlying quality is hard to ignore. Depth, power and precision are the hallmarks of this wine. Silky, supple, with a degree of plushness that is most attractive. It is the density and complexity of fruit that stands this apart. The best Moss Wood that I have tried in several years. 14.0% alc | 96 points

Houghton – Gladstones – Cabernet Sauvignon – 2022. This is a superstar. Intense, powerful, sublime. The fruit quality is stunning, and the winemaking does not get any better. Spectacular. Silky and powerful, at the same time. A bargain! 96 points

Thunderstone – Porongurup – Pinot Noir – 2024. Looks, smells and tastes like pinot, which is a great start. But there is much more to this wine. There is a degree of intensity and gravitas to the high-quality fruit. On the nose, the fruit presents as strawberry, whilst on the palate, this takes on a cherry tone, with savoury notes really adding to the palate. The mouthfeel is excellent and, whilst not exactly plush, is near seamless and very commendable. The refreshing acidity is an important, and positive contributor. An excellent drink now, but will be even better with a couple of years in bottle. A very appealing wine. 13.5% alc | 95 points | $67

Barry Weinman: April 2026

Reviewing these wines (as part of a range of blind tastings) was a highlight of the wine week for me.
The wines really are very good, and the contrast between the chardonnays is fascinating. Over a couple of days, my favourite fluctuated back and forth. Ultimately, I prefer the Piccadilly now, and would like to see the Lenswood in a few years — and I absolutely loved the Pinot Noir.

With both the chardonnays and pinot, I was surprised to see that the vintage was 2025, given that the 2024s — and, in the case of the Leeuwin Art Series, the 2023s — from Margaret River are only just coming to market.

Regardless, when the wines are this good, the question is largely academic.

Reviewed

Grosset – Lenswood – Chardonnay – 2025. Wow. This is seriously impressive. Precise, laser-focused fruit is the star, but there is so much more to this wine. Intensity? Sure, but there is also balance and there is a degree of harmony. The acidity is the unsung hero in this wine, adding excitement and verve. The palate is basically seamless, but at this early stage, is full of nervous energy, giving insights into the ultimate quality. 13.2% alc | 96 points | $97

Grosset – Piccadilly – Chardonnay – 2025. Another cracking wine, and more approachable than the Lenswood at this stage. This is such a good drink, with the ripe fruit taking on a fleshy, juicy component. The oak adds impact but is not overdone. Despite the charming approachability, this is a serious, powerful wine. That power and depth gradually evolves over time in the glass, highlighting the quality of both the fruit and the winemaking. Exciting! 13.2% alc | 96 points | $97

Grosset – Pinot Noir – 2025. Wow. Wow. WOW. For what is only a very medium bodied red, it is hard to comprehend how they have packed so much complexity and quality into this wine. Pristine fruit has cherry overtones, but also savoury complexity. The mouthfeel is a highlight, the textural notes complementing the fruit. Seamless, this is incredibly moreish. Lovely, pretty, very youthful, this is a stunning effort that can be drunk with confidence any time over the next decade. 13.5% alc | 95.5 points | $97

Barry Weinman: 25th March 2026

Hot on the heels of the brilliant Cullen Kevin John and Pierro chardonnays from the 2024 vintage comes the trio of premium wines from Vasse Felix.

If you needed any further proof of the potential of the 2024 vintage for premium chardonnay in Margaret River, these three wines deliver that in spades.

Whilst the quality is the reason for this review, it is the contrasting styles between the three wines that are the most interesting part of the story. Same winery, same winemakers, same region, but each is a unique expression of high-quality chardonnay.

True to form, the Heytesbury is intense and powerful, with plenty of winemaking inputs on show, combined with an elegance and beauty to the wine that elevates this to the highest echelon of wines.
In contrast, the DHH1 retains the intensity of fruit, but here, the winemaking inputs have been stripped back, allowing the pristine, ripe fruit to stand in the spotlight. The biggest surprise for me was that this was 100% Gingin clone, as is the Heytesbury.

And sitting comfortably between these styles is the Premier chardonnay. Whilst this does not have the ultimate quality of the other two, it makes up for this by being absolutely delicious drinking

Reviewed

100% Gingin clone fruit, wild ferment, 10 months in French oak (53% new), with a smattering of puncheons (15%) and the remainder smaller barriques. 80% of the wine went through malolactic fermentation, attenuating the natural acidity. 13.5% alc | 97 points | $140

Vasse Felix- DHH1 – Chardonnay – 2024. This has a lot more in common with the Premier than it does with the Heytesbury, but like the latter wine, the intensity has been turned up to 11. This intensity comes primarily from the spectacular fruit, with the winemaking components more subdued compared to the first wine. Interestingly, the fruit profile is more grapefruit than peach, and there are no tropical characters to be seen anywhere. What is most remarkable is how the acidity is a defining feature of the wine, yet does not impart any aggressiveness whatsoever. As good as it is now, it will be even better in 3–5 years. 100% Gingin clone, 100% malolactic fermentation, 11 months in one- to four-year-old oak. 13.5% alc | 96 points | $80

Vasse Felix – Premier – Chardonnay – 2024. A lovely wine that stylistically, straddles the middle ground perfectly. Not as intense or intrinsically powerful as the Heytesbury, powerful as the Heytesbury, but this is more than compensated for by an approachability and drinkability that is most attractive. The stone fruit characters are the primary feature, the winemaking taking a back seat on the palate. That said, the oak is clearly of high quality and very well handled, adding palate richness rather than overt flavours. Perfect for a sunny afternoon, catching up with friends and enjoying the simple things in life.
90% Gingin clone fruit, with a trio of Bernard clones making up the clonal mix. Wild ferment, 10 months on lees, 10 months in oak barriques (30% new). 13.5% alc | 95 points | $46

Leo Buring Riesling: When less is more

March 2026

We put the current release Leo Buring rieslings against some of WA’s best, and they stood out for both quality, and for the slightly different fruit profile associated with South Australia as compared to Frankland River

The other remarkable feature was that the alcohol content of both wines is 10.5%. I find this particularly exciting. To put this in perspective, drinking half a bottle of this has approximately the same alcohol as drinking two full-strength cans of beer.

Ultimately, however it was the quality and, with the Eden Valley in particular, the value that was most impressive.

Reviewed

Leo Buring – Eden Valley – Riesling – 2025. This is fine, elegant, delicate and subtle. It is also supple and incredibly good drinking. The persistence and length of flavours are outstanding. Those flavours are primarily at the front of the palate, with the fruit characters giving way to ever-so-fine structural components along the length of the tongue. Think minerals, talc and texturing acidity. The acidity is more of a sensation than overt character. The nose is very pretty, with hints of musk, lime, and an almost nectarine character. There is an immediacy to this wine that is captivating. A tremendous bargain. 10.5% – 95pts.

Leo Buring – DWC 17 Leonay – Riesling – 2025. Another cracking wine, but this is more intense, with the juicy, lime-laden fruit the defining feature. Excellent length and persistence, but has remarkable restraint to the high quality fruit. And the superb balance is a highlight. A sleeper of a wine, where experience tells me that this will be a superstar. Built for the long haul. 10.5% – 96pts.

February 2026

Here are my picks of the best wines that the panel has reviewed in the last week or so.

Reviewed

Sittella – Avant-Garde – Albarino – 2025. Very attractive with a nutty, almond meal/apricot kernel complexity. The palate is textured and moreish, with the nutty notes complemented by a saline minerality that adds texture and depth, with gentle viscosity further enhancing the palate. Great length is driven by fine acidity. Yum, as it warms this gets so much more expressive — and even better. Delicious with food or alone. 13.5% alc – 95pts – $33.

Victory Point – Chardonnay – 2022. Very interesting wine, and very good indeed. This is tight. But it is not austere or mean. Rather, it is shy and restrained, and full of potential. Stone fruit is the key character, but here this is more in the apricot kernel spectrum, rather than ripe peach. And there is a nutty character that complements this well. The viscosity is a highlight and the wine is textural, but seamless for all intents and purposes. 95pts – $55.

Victory Point – The Mallee Root – Cabernet/Malbec – 2023. Oh wow. This is most impressive. So fine, so elegant, so good. There is density and power, but this is in a restrained, elegant style. The fruit is perfectly ripe and oh so long. Blackberry, brambly fruit, texturing oak and fine, structuring tannins and incredible length of flavours. Remarkably, for a wine of this price, it could take 5 – 10 years in the cellar for the fruit to fully express itself, but it is fabulous now, all the same. A lovely, middle weight wine that is unbelievable value. 95pts – $29.

Xanadu – Malbec – 2023. Fragrant and oh so succulent, this is a mouthful of happiness. Unlike the last, this is more structured, with fine (though notable) tannins and supple oak influence. These do not interfere with the fruit, but they do make this a bigger, more robust style at this early age. Whilst this will be fabulous now with grilled lamb chops, I feel that 5 years in the cellar will see this progress further. Superb length. Excellent fruit. 95pts – $45.

Nocturne – Sheoak Vineyard – Cabernet Sauvignon – 2023. This is a slightly different expression of Margaret River cabernet, and all the better for it. Here, there is none of the cooler, menthol and eucalypt notes. Rather, there is ripe, precise and somewhat restrained red currant fruit. Lovely fruit on the palate, with texturing fruit/oak tannins adding supple texture and mouthfeel. Seamless, for all intents and purposes, but also restrained on the close, as the tannins gently blanket the fruit. Yet this remains very good now, but will be even better in 10+ years. 95pts.

Xanadu – Cabernet Sauvignon – 2023. This has much more overt power, the fruit combining with the tannins and oak to make an immediate impact. Whilst not quite seamless, the flow of fruit on the palate is excellent, with the structural components kicking in on the finish to make for an excellent wine. As this sits in the glass, the fruit builds and gets even more impressive. Sumptuous and delicious! Drink now – 10+ years. A serious wine that is excellent value. 95pts.

Victory Point – Cabernet/Franc – 2024. Oh wow. This is a gob full of delicious berry fruit. This is lighter bodied, with vibrant, flamboyant fruit that is just delightful. The fruit is complemented by the finest of tannins, and oak is nowhere to be seen. I find it hard to imagine a better current-drinking Margaret River red. Extra points for the happiness it brings me. 94pts.

Xanadu – Stevens Road – Chardonnay – 2023. Oh wow. It has been a little while since I saw this wine last, and the palate has really filled out. It is not so much about fruit power, rather, it is about the gorgeous texture and creamy mouthfeel. The brilliant oak use is an important contributor to this wine, imparting texture and complexity, without adding any specific flavours. The winemaking has also been pared back, with the lees and barrel work imperceptible in the final product. Superb 96pts.

Cullen 2023 Prestige Reds

Cullen – Diana Madeline – Cabernet Sauvignon – 2023. This is somehow both profound and lithe at the same time. The nose leads with beautiful blueberry notes, along with floral highlights. I can almost imagine violets. The palate is silky and very elegant, with the fruit supported by a lattice of very fine oak and tannins that add texture, but in no way impede the flow of the fruit. The length is outstanding. A very fine wine indeed. The tannins and oak are exquisite. 13.5% alc – 96pts.

Cullen – Vanya – Cabernet Sauvignon – 2023. This is breathtakingly good. It has so much of everything, yet is fine, elegant and restrained at the same time. It is impossible to do this wine justice in a review, as it continually evolves on the palate for what seems like minutes. The fruit is exquisite, and the texture sublime. The incredible length and persistence are a highlight, as is the seamless palate transition. Never-ending cascade of fruit. Opulent. Interestingly, this is made from 100% Cabernet. 13.5% alc – 98pts +.

Lamonts Cottesloe: 26th January 2026

One of the most popular tastings that the team at Lamonts put on is Australasia’s best pinot noirs that are currently or soon to be available.

As expected, wines such as Mount Mary and Bass Philip starred, but it was some of the more affordable wines that really grabbed my attention. None more so than the 3 Drops 2023 pinot. A brilliant wine for around $35.

Castle Rock was another value pick, with the Dilletti showing very well indeed. And from Tasmania, the Bream Creek is a superb wine and another bargain at $50.

Here are my highlights. All wines were tasted blind and I was not aware of the composition of the tasting.

Reviewed

3 Drops – Pinot Noir – 2023. The pristine fruit is taken to another level here by the addition of some lovely earthy, savoury notes. The fruit quality is outstanding, and the winemaking is spot on. There is just enough grip and structure to make this serious, but not enough to overwhelm the vibrant fruit. The persistence of flavours is truly outstanding and the length a highlight. The finish is lithe, fresh, supple, the oak a textural component, rather than an overt character. Food optional, such is the prettiness. Now – 5 years. Insane value. 95pts – $36.

Castlerock- Dilletti – Pinot Noir – 2024. Pretty, pretty fruit that is floral and beautifully perfumed. This really is a highlight. It is not the most densely structured wine in the tasting. Rather it is lithe, elegant and polished. But do not underestimate this wine. Lurking beneath the pretty façade is a serious side with structure building with air and in the mouth. Great now, but even better in 5 years. 95.5pts – $55.

Picardy – Tete de Cuvee – Pinot Noir – 2021. Cherry and supple, subtle spice to the fore on the nose which also leads on to the palate. There is a bit of wow here, as the balance is spot on. I love the way the acidity plays across the palate, giving the fruit energy and drive. This is a subtle wine, and easy to overlook, but it is seriously good and worthy of your attention. Excellent value in this line up. 95.5pts.

Tolpuddle – Pinot Noir – 2023. Oh, this is good. I mean very good. There is density to the fruit and a supple, silky texture that is very attractive. This reminds me of Central Otago, given the succulent, fleshy fruit and silky structure. And it is oh so delicious and gluggable. Great oak and fruit. 95pts.

Marchand & Burch – Mount Barrow – Pinot Noir – 2023. Another fine, elegant wine. The fruit is subtle and almost delicate, though there is innate power sitting behind the façade. Cherry, berry and spice fruit notes lead on to super fine, texturing tannins and oak. The latter adding no overt flavours, instead adding lovely texture and mouthfeel. Wonderful fruit. 95.5pts.

Yarra Yering – Pinot Noir – 2023. Whilst there is more overt power here, this still remains balanced and almost silky in the way it caresses the palate. The fruit is quite exquisite, with berry notes the defining feature. The fruit is supported by a supple savoury lift that adds interest and depth. Ethereal, this is a beautiful wine. 96pts.

Bream Creek – Pinot Noir – 2023. Minerality leaps out of the glass, but this quickly gives way to pristine, cherry-like fruit. Supple, silky and refined, there are no rough edges at all. This is not plush, rather it is refined and elegant, but it is very silky and dare I say it… sexy. A beautiful wine and very new world in style given the pristine fruit. 95.5pts – $50.

Bass Philip – Premium – Pinot Noir – 2023. Wow. The blueberry fruit is quite spectacular, supported by fine tannins and silky oak. This is the Goldilocks wine of the tasting… Just right. The structural components are merely a whisper in the background, providing the canvas on which the fruit is painted. So so long and persistent this is a sublime wine. Such is its beauty, I can’t imagine this getting any better with aging, given just how good this is right now, but 5 years in the cellar certainly won’t hurt it, Beautifully crafted wine. 96-97pts.

Felton Road – Block 3 – Pinot Noir – 2023. Wowsers. Another superb wine, but here, the minerality and structure are turned up a notch. But this is not to the detriment of the fruit. Rather, they serve as a counterpoint adding texture without dulling the fruit’s vitality. 5 years will see this relax and unwind a little, and will allow the fruit to shine even brighter. 96pts.

Mount Mary – Pinot Noir – 2023. A complete wine and one that is very long and with excellent persistence. But this is a sleeper as there are no overt/defining features at this point. But with air or time, I am confident this will blossom. Very impressive. As this sits in the glass, the fruit continues to build and is so very fine and polished. Lovely. 96pts.

Rippon – Tinker’s Field – Pinot Noir – 2021. Oh wow, this is mind-blowingly good. Sublime, spine-tingling, stunning! There is depth and weight to the fruit, but the structure never gets in the way of the party. Desert Island wine. Yep, it is that good. 97pts.

Lowestoft – La Maison – Pinot Noir – 2023. A fine, ethereal wine that left me swooning and slightly weak at the knees, such is its beauty. The textural components are a highlight, adding great depth and structure in a way that cossets the fruit, rather than overwhelming it.96pts.

Bass Philip- Depuis – Pinot Noir – 2023. And…. BOOM. What a wine to finish the tasting. This is plush, succulent, seamless and oh so good. Beneath the soft, warm exterior, there is real depth and power that ensures that this remains balanced, focused and tremendous drinking. Brilliant fruit. Brilliant winemaking. Brilliant wine. A great wine on the world stage. 97.5pts – $550.

March 2026

There has been a lot of talk in the industry about the 2024 vintage in Margaret River, with some expressing concerns about the warmer, compressed vintage.
This tasting completely dispels the concerns. 

This is one of the highest pointed brackets of wines that the panel have reviewed.

Reviewed

Piero – Chardonnay – 2024. Oh wow. This is a different style to some here, but no less worthy. More refined, more elegant, yet just as impactful and so so impressive. The palate transition is totally seamless, with different flavours ebbing and flowing over time, caressing and cossetting the taste buds with the highest quality fruit. The winemaking is a mere whisper in the background, framing the fruit and adding a textural backbone, but not impacting in any way. Stunning. 14.0% alc – 97pts – $110

Cullen – Kevin John – Chardonnay – 2024. To quote John Jens: Yes, Yes. YES!!! This is a totally stunning wine. Fine, elegant and restrained, yet somehow, at the same time intense and powerful, with great purity of fruit. Finesse. Mouthfeel. Stunning length and persistence. 13.5% alc – 97pts – $180.

Deep Woods – Reserve – Chardonnay – 2024. OMG, the cracking lineup just keeps on going. The fruit here is a touch riper and with more overt power, and is perfectly matched to the fine oak and supple winemaking inputs. This is a case where the whole is much greater than the sum of the parts. The way the flavours linger on the finish is truly outstanding. One of the greats. Peach, nectarine, grapefruit-like acidity and sublime oak. 13.5% alc – 97. $80.

Peccavi – Cape Falls – Chardonnay – 2024. This is quite superb. Very intense and subtly powerful, this is an amazing amalgam of great fruit, fine oak and sympathetic winemaking. The length and persistence of flavours is quite stunning, as is the mouthfeel/texture. There are stonefruit characters to start, but there is so much more. A sublime, spine tingling wine made in tiny quantities . 13.0% alc – 96.5pts.

Cullen – Flower Day – Kevin John – Chardonnay – 2024. This was the first wine in the line-up and was a superb start to the bracket. This is a much more restrained rendition of chardonnay, with higher acidity and the fruit a little muted at the moment. The palate is crisp and taut, with nectarine and guava fruit notes. This really needs some time to open up, but will be a great wine in time. The winemaking inputs have been superbly managed and there is latent tension and energy sitting behind this. 13.5% alc – 96pts.

10th February 2026

The Great Southern, whilst geographically large, is relatively small from the perspective of wines produced. In 2024, the total crush for the region was 4,322 tonnes. This is only 17% of the size of Margaret River’s crush (25,593 tonnes).

And Frankland River is only one of the region’s viticultural areas, so the harvest there is smaller again.
Let’s look at the numbers:

2024 Australian Harvest = 1.43 Million tonnes
2024 Western Australian Harvest = 41,113 tonnes (2.9% of National)
2024 Margaret River Harvest = 25,593 tonnes (1.8% of National)
2024 Great Southern Harvest = 4,322 tonnes (0.3% of National)
Source: MI_VintageReport2024_F.pdf

Whilst Frankland River is very small on a national scale, the quality of the wines produced more than makes up for this. And at the very top of the pyramid sit wines like Swinney’s Farvies.

2024 was a warmer, earlier year in the Great Southern and, to me, this is reflected in the wines. There is a touch more fruit weight and the wines are a tad more muscular than the extraordinarily pretty 2023s.

Just as good? Definitely. And age-worthy to boot.

A spectacular effort in the vineyards and in the winery (overseen by Rob Mann).

Reviewed

Swinney – Farvie – Grenache – 2024. This is a profound wine. Intense and powerful. That power is more palpable than in the previous vintage. But behind that, there is also the trademark pristine, fragrant grenache fruit that takes on an almost raspberry note. The purity of fruit is the leading feature, followed by the firm, yet silky structure. The latter is an amalgam of tannins and oak, and is in no way an impediment to the fruit. This has tremendous palate length and persistence of flavours. Ultimately, I would like to see this with a decade in bottle, as I am sure this is destined for greatness. 13.9% alc – 96.5+pts.

Swinney – Farvie – Mourvèdre – 2024. Oh my, the perfume here is quite extraordinary. Cranberries and black currant make up the fruit component to the nose. This carries through to the palate. The palate is fascinating as this is, at first, delicate and reticent, with restrained fruit and the supplest of structural components. But then the fruit ebbs and flows across the palate in waves, each time given a different glimpse of the story being told. And a minute or more later, I found myself absorbed by the mouthfeel, with different textural components interplaying across the palate. Totally seamless and very beguiling. A wine to sip and ponder. A crouching tiger, ready to pounce 13.6% alc – 96pts.

Swinney – Farvie – Shiraz – 2024. Oh wow, I think I must have died and gone to heaven, such is the beauty of this wine. Intense fruit, firm structure and supple oak. Yet the palate is seamless and spellbinding. Red fruits to the fore, with the minerality a defining feature of the palate. Intensity? Yes! But somehow, this remains medium bodied in many respects on the long, refined finish. Seamless, yet more structured than the other two wines in the range and my pick for both sheer quality as well as drinking pleasure at this early stage. When to drink? any time you get the chance… this is a superstar. 13.8% alc- 98pts.

February 2026

With the current release reds from Welland Wines in the Barossa, Quality/Price ratio is off the scale.
The Valley & Valley Cabernet is a great every-day drink that, at around $30, is a value standout if you like a rich Barossa red.

If anything, the Old Hands Shiraz is even better value. A classic Barossa red!

Reviewed

Welland – Valley & Valley – Cabernet Sauvignon – 2024. Such lovely, aromatic, perfumed fruit on the nose. On the palate, the sweet berry fruit is balanced by fine, texturing acidity and supple minerality. Ok, so this is not the most serious wine ever made, but gee, it has to be one of the most delicious. It is the ripe, vibrant fruit that is the star, but the winemaking has contributed significantly, by taking a hands-off approach.

The winery states: We aim for a style that typifies the Barossa – plush fruit, subtle use of oak and soft, round tannins. And with this wine, they have nailed it. 14.5% alc – 94.5pts – $30.00.

Welland – Old Hands – Shiraz – 2022. This is a hedonistic wine, in the best sense of the word. Not because it is overly big or ripe. Rather, it is because they have packed so much fruit into what is, for all intents and purposes, a refined and elegant wine. Silky, supple, delicious, but at the same time, it is also dense, powerful and structured. Yet the palate transition is totally seamless. The oak (40% new American) has been completely absorbed into the wine. This is a magical drink now but will be even better in a decade or two. Svelte. Matured in locally coopered AP John American oak barrels. 15.0% alc – 97pts – $70.00.

Barry Weinman | August 2025

Flowstone was founded by the winemaking duo (and couple) Stuart Pym and Janice McDonald, both of whom had extensive experience in the Margaret River region. Day-to-day winemaking is overseen by Janice, with Stuart overseeing other aspects of the operation.

The home vineyard was planted in 2004, and they also source fruit from Karridale.

Like many in the region, the use of ceramic eggs alongside oak barrels has become part of the winemaking lexicon, along with extended lees work and careful barrel selection from cooperages like Louis Latour.

For me, the highlight is the “Queen of the Earth” range, which is sourced from specific vineyard blocks and represents the pinnacle of what Flowstone is trying to achieve.

REVIEWS

Flowstone Moonmilk Blend 2024
Perfumed, textured and pretty, with lovely mouthfeel to support. The gently viscous texture is a real highlight. Surprising length and persistence. The blend of Pinot Gris, Viognier, Gewürztraminer and Sauvignon Blanc works well together, with each variety contributing a key part of the palate. Fermented in a combination of older oak and ceramic eggs. Excellent drinking on its own, or with Thai food. 13.5% alc.
Drink: Now | 92 points | $28

Flowstone Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Aromatic and bordering on pungent (in a good way). The lantana, gooseberry and tropical fruit notes positively leap from the glass. On the palate, this is much more restrained and textured, with the tropical fruit and refreshing acidity providing a taut palate expression. The mouthfeel is excellent, with no rough edges to speak of, and here is a refreshing coastal saline tang to close. A touch of barrel work has added depth and impact. A serious wine that would be best with food (herbed roast chicken comes to mind). From Karridale, fermented in 600-litre older oak barrels with 12 months on lees.
93 points | $36

Flowstone Queen of the Earth Sauvignon Blanc 2022
This is quite superb. The fruit is somewhat muted compared to the previous wine, presenting a more harmonious package. The palate is where the quality really shines. Seamless, textured, long, the palate transitions to a nutty, almond-like flavour that lingers for some time. The barrel work and supple phenolics are what set this wine apart in my view, adding texture and subtle viscosity. Comes from a specific plot in the Karridale vineyard, fermented in one 600-litre barrel with 18 months on lees and regular bâtonnage.
94-95 points | $63

Flowstone Pinot Gris 2025
Textbook aromas and flavours. Delicious ripe pear is a key feature, as is the supple, creamy texture. For all intents and purposes, this is seamless, with remarkable length of flavours. Spice notes add complexity to the bone-dry finish, with the depth of fruit driving the palate. I would drink this over the Sauvignon Blanc at this stage.
93 points | $36

Flowstone Chardonnay 2022
Taut, restrained, shy. Everything is here in terms of ripe fruit and winemaking inputs, but it is all quite tightly held together right now. Peach-like fruit is a feature. This is quite a serious wine where texture and mouthfeel take precedence over overt fruit. The oak is texturing and well-integrated. From the Karridale vineyard using Dijon clones 95 and 96. Barrel fermented with 30% new oak, the light toast oak adds texture and impact without overwhelming the fruit. Will depend on your palate preference.
94 points | $45

Flowstone Queen of the Earth Chardonnay 2022
The complex winemaking inputs are a feature here. Minerality, texture and density, but in a fine, restrained style that is suited to ageing. As with the standard Chardonnay, the medium toast oak plays a role on the finish, but this is in no way obtrusive. The length of flavours is notable, with subtle stone fruit characters building on the finish. Very smart winemaking. From the home block using Dijon clones, barrel fermented with 50% new oak and 18 months of malolactic fermentation. Four barrels came from Louis Latour cooperage.
95 points | $63

Flowstone Touriga Nacional 2022
This is very different and very good. Tar, earthy notes, coffee, chocolate. Dark fruit abounds. Savoury and incredibly slick, the tannins that are both significant and extremely well-polished. This would be a great pasta wine. From the home vineyard, this represents brilliant drinking. 14.0% alc.
94 points

Flowstone Queen of the Earth Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
This has everything that a standard Cabernet has, but just more of it. More fruit, more structure, more depth, more enjoyment. But this comes with a caveat. While supple, the tannins are firm and texturing and do ultimately shut down the fruit on the finish. From the home vineyard planted in 2004, the density of flavour is remarkable. This wine demands patience but will reward cellaring. 14.5% alc.
95 points