James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2012 – Just Released

Published: 03/08/2011

We are thrilled to share some great reviews, ratings and news from the ‘just released’ James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2012. Firstly we would like to congratulate Warner Glen Estate (Margaret River) for making it into the ‘Ten of the best new wineries’ section of the Wine Companion. Father John and son Travis French purchased the southern property (100 hectares) in 1992 and have subsequently planted 37 hectares of vines. Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon are the main varieties in volume, followed by Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. Until 2006 all the fruit was sold to Cape Mentelle, and following on from this a greater portion of fruit was retained for the Warner Glen Estate, Frog Belly, and Smokin’ Gun labels.

To achieve this acknowledgement, Warner Glen Estate have produced no less than four ‘special interest’ wines rating 94 and 95 and a further four wines at 90 or above. Not a bad effort at all - may their quality and following success continue!

Listed below you will see where our other wineries are situated, with three wineries increasing their ratings, and another new winery (Soumah) entering for the first time with a strong four star rating. Over the past few years Thomas Vineyard Estate has been rated four and four and a half stars so whilst the new rating relates to the only wine they have had reviewed in this release, it certainly does not reflect the success and awards over the past few years (see below) for wine we are currently selling in our portfolio.

5 star

Warner Glen Estate - first listing

4.5 star

Amietta Vineyard

 

Knots Wines (including The Bridge)

4 star

Hastwell & Lightfoot

 

Soumah - first listing

3 star

Thomas Vineyard Estate

Specific mention should go to the following wines, flagged in this edition as either ‘special interest wine’ (marked with * below) or rating 90 and above. These include:

* Amietta Chardonnay 2009 (Geelong) – 94/100

* The Bridge Shiraz 2007 (Heathcote) – 94/100

Hastwell & Lightfoot Cabernet Sauvignon (McLaren Vale) - 93/100

Soumah (Savagnin) Savarro 2010 (Yarra Valley) - 90/100

* Warner Glen Estate Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2009 (Margaret River) - 95/100

* Warner Glen Estate Chardonnay 2009 - 94/100

* Warner Glen Estate ‘The Pick’ Reserve Chardonnay 2009 (Margaret River) - 95/100

Warner Glen Estate Chardonnay 2008 (Margaret River) - 92/100

Frog Belly Sauvignon Blanc 2010 (Margaret River) - 92/100

Frog Belly Semillon 2010 (Margaret River) - 92/100

Smokin’ Gun Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2010 (Margaret River) - 90/100

A few current vintages in our portfolio deserve a mention based on previous James Halliday results, including:

Amietta Shiraz Lagrein 2006 (Moorabool Valley, Geelong) - 90/100

Knots Starboard Liqueur Shiraz 2008 (Bendigo) - 92/100

The Bridge Shiraz 2006 (Heathcote) - 90/100

Thomas Vineyard Estate Shiraz 2007 (McLaren Vale) – 93/100

Thomas Vineyard Estate Reserve Shiraz 2004 (McLaren Vale) – 93/100

Thomas Vineyard Estate Reserve Shiraz 2005 (McLaren Vale) – 94/100

Congratulations to all the wineries in our portfolio, for such wonderful results.

Sarah