Red

The Family Collection

2013 The Kester Shiraz Museum Release

Variety:    Shiraz 99% Viognier 1%

Region:    Hunter Valley, Single Heritage Listed Vineyard

Vine Age: Planted on own roots in 1923

Tasting Notes

This is a classic Hunter red just entering its peak, showcasing all the hallmarks of mid-bodied, savoury and complex Shiraz, relaxed and expressing all of its ‘Kester’ personality. The wine is powerful with astounding flavour length, whilst the frame of tannin has layers of savoury elegance. It delivers classic Hunter Valley mid-bodied power, standing tall.

 The main aromatic drive is dense black Shiraz fruit and a richly laden simmering potpourri of brown spices; this fuller ‘garrigue’ herbaceousness flows around it, with notes of sage, tarragon, and thyme. The palate follows: dark cherry with the energetic savoury flashes of black olive and liquorice. These core flavours are enveloped in spicy power, anchored to their fine tannin foundation. This savoury undertow is the siren-song, with a constant echo.

Drink : Now - 2030

Technical

Alcohol: 13.8%

FIELD OF MARS - Single Vineyard Range                            

Field of Mars Block 1 Shiraz 2021

Variety:     100% Shiraz

Region:      Pokolbin Hunter Valley

Vineyard:   Field of Mars Vineyard

Vine Age:   Vines planted in 1968

Soils:         Dark cracking clay

Tasting note

Block 1 Shiraz on Hermitage Road was planted in 1968 on 0.75 hectares of dark, fertile cracking clay soil. This terroir delivers a balanced and concentrated Hunter Valley Shiraz, with a core of dense black fruit that will allow many years of cellaring.

The black-fruit aromas of firm black cherry over a cola-like darkness, herb tinged, with bright supporting notes of black olive and peppercorn plus a dusting of juniper. Deluxe oak aromas sit further in the background, bringing deeper fragrances of tobacco and fine black tea.

The palate follows with the same deep black-cherry and a vibrant dark-streak of cola, with subtle waves of liquorice, anise and black chocolate. Flavours of black olive and juniper unite on the mid-palate, building a fine-grainy dryness and savory lift. Tannins are inky yet gentle with subtle oak-spice from a single 1500litre foudre, generating lovely balance, harmony, and grip on the finish.

Decant if drinking before 2027.

Drink: Now – 2040+

 96pts Halliday Wine Companion

Limited edition - only 161 dozen made

Technical Data

Alc: 13.0

pH:  3.55

TA:  6.3

2021 Hunter Valley Shiraz Viognier

Variety:     Shiraz (95%) | Viognier (5%)
Region:     Hunter Valley
Vine Age:  40+ years old

Tasting Notes

This mild growing season created classically elegant Hunter Valley reds; soft and immediately attractive. The colour carries an intense red-blue with violet hue, the aromas are a melange of black cherry and orange blossom. On the palate the fruit carries blackberry, cola and Turkish delight underpinned by a velvet creaminess and chocolatey roundness - the magic of Shiraz-Viognier co-fermentation.

Drink: Now to 2030

Technical Data

Alcohol 13%

Single Vineyard Range

2021 Tawarri Vineyard Shiraz

Variety:     100% Shiraz

Region:     Upper Hunter Valley

Vineyard:  Tawarri Vineyard 

Tasting Note

The Tawarri Vineyard near Merriwa is one of the most unique vineyard sites in the Hunter region, only 10km from the top of the Great Dividing Range, 27km north-northeast of Merriwa. Here the climate differs entirely from the growing conditions of Pokolbin, with the 460m altitude bringing cool summer nights and even a dusting of snow through the winter months. The soils here are also unique, the Merriwa plateau being home to the deepest, most fertile black earth that is highly sought after by farmers. Red varieties thrive here, with this 25-year-old vineyard planted north-south with the P23 clone Shiraz that produces fruit with ripe, black flavours of impressive density.

The Tawarri Vineyard delivered by far the most powerful and intense wine of our 2021 harvest. This wine embraces that depth and fruit weight, with a full spectrum of concentrated black fruit ranging from sweet blackberry through to liquorice, black cherry and blackcurrant. There are briar-like elements, black tea and white pepper highlights, whilst the central pillars of texture are espresso-like tannins supported by fine-grained French oak extract. This wine hardly needs cellaring; it’s already hitting the sweet spot, but will preserve in bottle beautifully for those willing to wait.

94pointsHallidayWineCompanion

Drink: Now to 2032

Technical Data

Alcohol: 13.9%

The Family Collection

2021 The Kester Shiraz

Variety:     Shiraz (100%) 
Region:     Hunter Valley

Tasting Notes

The Kester 2021 shows all of the hallmarks and typicity of a classic Hunter Valley red, medium-weight in body but remarkably focused and concentrated on the palate. The 2020-21 growing season was influenced by the change in Pacific Ocean currents from El Niño to La Niña, which brought mild conditions; the vineyard enjoyed replenishing rains that promoted healthy subsoil moisture and strong vegetative growth compared to the hot and dry 2017-2020 period.

The wines from this season have remarkable bright black and red fruit duality, where the cooler growing conditions have led to the retention of natural grape acidity and a more stable accumulation of grape sugar; this has resulted in fresher, brighter fruit characters with compelling harmony and plush balance.

Aromas are black and purple fruited, intertwined with violet-like floral aromas complimented by barrel perfumes of sandalwood and vanilla pod; the palate balances primary and savoury notes, with black chocolate tannins backed by cherry-cheesecake umami, black cherry and blackcurrant fruit power.

95pointsHallidayWineCompanion

Drink: Now to 2040+

Technical Data

Alcohol: 13.5%
pH: 3.43

The Family Collection

2021 The Kester Shiraz Magnum

Variety:     Shiraz (99%)  Viognier (1%)
Region:     Hunter Valley, single heritage listed vineyard
Vine Age:  Planted on own roots in 1923

Bottle:      Magnum 1500ml

Tasting Notes

The Kester 2021 shows all of the hallmarks and typicity of a classic Hunter Valley red, medium-weight in body but remarkably focused and concentrated on the palate. The 2020-21 growing season was influenced by the change in Pacific Ocean currents from El Niño to La Niña, which brought mild conditions; the vineyard enjoyed replenishing rains that promoted healthy subsoil moisture and strong vegetative growth compared to the hot and dry 2017-2020 period.

The wines from this season have remarkable bright black and red fruit duality, where the cooler growing conditions have led to the retention of natural grape acidity and a more stable accumulation of grape sugar; this has resulted in fresher, brighter fruit characters with compelling harmony and plush balance.

Aromas are black and purple fruited, intertwined with violet-like floral aromas complimented by barrel perfumes of sandalwood and vanilla pod; the palate balances primary and savoury notes, with black chocolate tannins backed by cherry-cheesecake umami, black cherry and blackcurrant fruit power.

95pointsHallidayWineCompanion

Drink: Now to 2040+

Technical Data

Alcohol: 13.5%
pH: 3.43

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

 Technical Data

Alcohol: 13.5%

Variety: 100% Shiraz

Region: Hunter Valley

Tasting Note

This is an elegant light dry red that embodies the historic 'HRB' style of the Hunter Valley wine region; this is a wine that is fresh and ready to enjoy, delightfully supple and juicy.

The nose fills with subtle cinnamon spice, lavender and rose petal, carrying onto the palate to add delicate layers over the lip-smacking red cherry flavour. Its deliciously approachable and easy to enjoy.

You can pour at room temperature or even chilled to enjoy with good food and company.

Drink: Now

Food Match: Pizza, BBQ, Pasta

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