2018 'The Doctor' Shiraz

The Family Collection

2022 The Kester Shiraz

Variety:     Shiraz (100%) 
Region:     Hunter Valley

Tasting Note

The Kester Shiraz showcases the best of the best from the Hunter Valley’s 2022 Shiraz harvest, capturing the region’s fruit expression in Keith’s signature style. The Hunter Valley reds from 2022 are remarkable for their youthful charm and soft tannins, reminiscent of the great medium-bodied wines from years like 2013, 2009 and 1999. 

Primary fruit aromas of raspberry, blueberry, and cherry, plus hints of juniper and blood orange are enhanced by perfumes of pressed flowers and garden herb, developing into a finer-leaf bouquet of lavender and fresh clove.

The palate has gentle blue and black fruit roundness, with full concentration yet pastille-like elegance, framed by lovely pure fruit focus and attractive lift, delivering a seamless velvety texture. The finish is deliciously long with whole-bunch energy and harmony, providing fine sappy hints of red-briar berry and pomegranate.

The Kester is matured only in large French oak Foudre, which gives a superb gentle spiciness with fine detail, plus sandy and subtle tannins with the polish of fine mocha and soft chocolate.

These fine red wines hold remarkably well and improve greatly with 3 to 7 years in the cellar, with best drinking from 2029 to 2033.

Decanting is always recommended if drinking within 5 years of Vintage.

Drink: Now to 2040+

96points Wine Companion    

Top 100 Wines in Australia Wine Companion

Technical Data

Alcohol: 14%
pH: 3.55

Single Vineyard Range

2022 McKelvey Vineyard Chardonnay

Variety:     100% Chardonnay       

Vineyard:  McKelvey Vineyard

Region:     Pokolbin, Hunter Valley               

Vine age:  Vines planted in 1998                                                 

Tasting Note

Planted on a western-facing hillside on Deasys Road, Pokolbin, the McKelvey Vineyard was established in 1997/1998 by the viticulturalist and winemaker David Lowe; the property is proudly family-owned and operated, farmed by Peter McKelvey and his son James. The soils on this site are profound; rich red-brown clay loam with underlying chalky limestone, one of the most desirable soils for the growth of quality Chardonnay. The rows here wrap around the contours of the hills and valleys of a magnificent property, with Chardonnay running both NE-SW and NW-SE, balancing the exposure and shading of the fruit across the sunny days of the growing season. The quality vinestock here is also important, with Chardonnay clone I10V5 highly recognised for generating fruit with strong varietal distinction and wine quality.

The 2022 Chardonnay is a silky, sophisticated wine. There is fine frame and finesse, yet complexity grows in aromatic power as it breathes from an initial spark of flint and struck match to reveal cinnamon, ripe peach and autolysis. The palate follows through with ripe pineapple, super-smooth creamy softness and peach-skin crunch. These elements of fruit quality, ferment funk and barrel maturation beckon and entice as a young wine, but even more certainly as a wine that will reward those who cellar it.

Drink: Now - 2030 
257 dozen made.

95 points Wine Companion

Technical Data

Alcohol:  13.6%
pH:          3.24
TA:          7.3        

Single Vineyard Range

2023 Latara Vineyard Semillon                                           

Variety:      100% Semillon 

Vineyard:    Keith Tulloch Latara Vineyard

Region:       Pokolbin, Hunter Valley

Vine age:    Vines planted in 1978

Tasting Notes

From the Latara Vineyard on the corner of Deasys & McDonalds Roads in central Pokolbin, established 1978. This vineyard is owned and operated by Keith Tulloch Wine as part of our estate, and is 4.5km from the cellar door.

Whilst many Hunter Valley Semillon vineyards are established on light sandy alluvial soils, the Latara vineyard sits upon dark cracking clay soils with a gentle East-West aspect. This makes for a powerful expression of Semillon with body and frame that is more luscious and approachable, particularly as a young wine.

The aromas speak of ripe Hunter Semillon fruit, delivering more than the classic lime juice and lemon, with extra aromatic dimensions of fresh-cut apple showing the flair and expression of the Latara site. Elegant perfumes of lemon-Myrtle and verbena simmer with fresh energy across the top.

Apple-like flavours amplify throughout the palate, with ripe yellow apple crunchiness twinning with a delicious sweet red-apple tang that recedes with mouthwatering finesse.

Limited Release 186 Dozen made

Halliday Wine Companion 93 points

Technical Data
Alcohol   10.5%
pH           2.99
TA           6.3

FIELD OF MARS - Single Vineyard Range                            

Field of Mars Block 4 Chardonnay 2022

Variety:   100% Chardonnay

Region:     Pokolbin, Hunter Valley

Vineyard:  Field of Mars Vineyard

Vine Age:  Vines planted in 2014

Soils:        Fine, sandy alluvial

Tasting Note                                              

In 2014 we established Block 4 on a tiny patch of fine alluvial sand, planting Chardonnay Clone 548 on rootstock Paulson 1103. The vines are close planted to twice the normal vine number per hectare,so this vineyard is ultra-low yielding and produces high-quality wines that are powerful and complex.

Aromas are instantly engaging delivering powerful golden Summer stone fruits, plus beautiful sulphite rich scents of gunsmoke and oyster shell. The bouquet develops into an exotic mélange of fruit and flower, with hints of musk, pineapple, ozone and sea spray adding flair and substance. Finer aromas of marzipan and pistachio are there as well, with very elegant hints of cashew and vanilla, combining to deliver superb harmony of fruit.
The powerful fruit core gives terrific presence and length, opening with the glorious flavours of golden peach and white nectarine switching softly to gentle savoury notes of brown fig and soft yellow apple.
As these mainstay flavours open out, the palate reveals extra dimensions of soft velvety texture, closing with gentle French oak hints of amaretti-biscuit and nougat. Fine acidity brings the palate to an elegant yet soft finish with a tangy sea-spray salinity.
This wonderful and complex Chardonnay will be a challenge to keep. Ideal cellaring is from 2 to 6 years.

Drink: now – 2030

96 points Halliday Wine Companion

95 points The Real Review

Limited Edition - only 68 dozen made

Technical Data

Alcohol: 12.2

pH: 3.25

TA: 7.5