2022 WCD Shiraz

Single Vineyard Range

2022 Norlana Vineyard Shiraz

Variety:     100% Shiraz

Region:     Upper Hunter Valley

Vineyard:  Norlana Vineyard  

Tasting Note

This special bottling is dedicated to the vineyard owner and grape grower Geoff Oldman, who supplied great quality Shiraz to us from 2015 - 2023, but sadly passed away in September 2023, aged 82.

Norlana is an outstanding vineyard just outside Denman in the Upper Hunter Valley, on a gentle hillside overlooking the confluence of the Goulburn and Hunter Rivers. The soil is a rich black clay flecked with iron-stone and red gravel, generating a perfumed and elegant style of Hunter Shiraz.

The sweet red-cherry, raspberry perfumes with a fine touch of cranberry, deliver freshness and elegance. Smooth and finely floral, with powdery fragrances of violet and lavender, beautifully fresh, lithe and light in expression, yet opulent.

Soft-fruits run along the palate, showing powder-soft flavours of raspberry and strawberry sherbet. This remarkably glossy texture continues with delicious velvety persistence, juicy red plum and red apple, finishing with hints of white pepper and nutmeg. Tannins are soft and creamy due to the whole-bunch nature of the fermentation, and the large format 1500litre oak foudre used for 12 months of aging.

Drink: Now – 2040

Limited Edition - only 160 dozen made

95 points Wine Companion

 Technical Data

Alcohol: 13.5%

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

Technical Data
Alcohol   10.5%
pH           2.99
TA           6.3

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%

The Family Collection

2022 The Kester Shiraz

Variety:     Shiraz (100%) 
Region:     Hunter Valley

Tasting Notes

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-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

Technical Data

Alcohol: 14%
pH: 3.55