2022 THE KESTER Shiraz

2023 PERDIEM 'Recolo' Rose

Variety:   Shiraz, Viognier, Semillon
Region:   Hunter Valley

Tasting Notes

Recolo ( Verb - latin) : 'I remember'

This fresh, inviting Rosé is worth remembering. First, there are the aromas, like crushed raspberries and rosewater; the flavours that follow are racy blood orange zest, cherry, pomegranate and watermelon. To finish there's a bead of red-grape texture and crunchy pink lady apple, enough to remind you that you're drinking a crisp, dry Rosé. 

Pop in the fridge or ice bucket immediately and serve chilled. Drink tonight with good food and company.

Drink: Now.
Food Match: Chicken, pork belly, and salads.

Technical Data

Alcohol: 12.5%
pH: 3.3

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

2022 WCD Shiraz

Variety:     Shiraz (100%) 
Region:     Hunter Valley

This fruit comes from a vineyard located less than 14km from our cellar door, on Wine Country Drive in central Pokolbin. This site enjoys balanced weather influences, gifting the site with slightly cooler Summer days with slightly more Easterly breeze. Soils are deep brown clays with flecks of red ironstone.

The Shiraz fruit from here has imposing ripeness yet also expresses a tinge of dark spice and ferrous savouriness, something of a classic hallmark for Hunter reds.

The aromas express dense blackfruit compote, mixing the freshness of black cherry and blood plum in even unity, plus deeper aromatic swirls of rotundone, juniper, and black Ceylon tea; on the palate, Ripe Shiraz fruit again delivers a rich seamless balance of plum and cherry, soft already onto a long finish. This inky blackfruit core is harmonised with notes of fine oak spice and cedar, and the finish delivers equally harmonious hints of graphite and black chocolate laced with licorice.

The WCD Shiraz is a charmer with bold expression yet refined soft tannins. 3 to 5 years in the cellar would be ideal, or if drinking before then decant for early reward.

Drink: Now to 2032

Only 157 dozen made

95 points Wine Companion

Technical Data

Alc 13.5%

2024 Hunter Valley Semillon

Variety:     100% Semillon
Region:     Pokolbin, Hunter Valley
Vine Age:  Planted in 1969

Vineyard : Keith Tulloch Hermitage Road 

Tasting Notes

100% Estate-grown fruit from the Field of Mars vineyard established in 1968 and our Latara vineyard established 1978. The mix of alluvial sand and richer clay soils from these two top Semillon sites delivers lovely fruit purity, along with bolder, richer depth of yellow and green citrus character.

Bright aromas of fully-ripe and freshly-squeezed Meyer-lemon and Tahitian lime are clear and powerful signatures, full of zest and energy. 

Flavours are equally zesty and direct – tangy and juicy and ripe from the initial taste through to a long-lasting and vibrant persistence. The mid-palate fruit focus is opulent lime and lemon, unwavering and full of potential with an almost endless fine balance. The finish and persistence are right on-point, showing delicious ripe-acid freshness plus hints of crunchy grapefruit and savory lemon-pith.

It shows terrific potential for cellaring beyond 10 years, but is so easy to enjoy now that we recommend drinking from now until 2040.

Drink: Now to 2040.

Technical Data

Alcohol: 10.5%