The eagerly awaited James Halliday Wine Companion 2020 scores are out and we’re pretty happy.
2017 SubRosa Grampians Viognier – 95 points
Hand-picked bunches held in the press for 2 hours for phenolic extraction, cool, wild ferment in barrel, 9 months on gross lees with stirring, 80 dozen made. Great label design. A remarkable achievement: full flavour on a medium to full-bodied palate without any oily phenolics. Buy here
2016 SubRosa Nebbiolo – 94 points
Light, clear colour; perfumed violets and spices, all is calm on the tannin front, a lingering assembly of scents, silky texture. Buy here
2016 SubRosa Grampians Pyrenees Shiraz Viognier – 95 points
A 70/30% regional blend matured for 10 months in French oak, 240 dozen made. The Grampians gives the wine more stiffening – not of tannins or extract, but of fruit flavour, black cherry and blackberry acting in concert. The label design and printing is worth extra points, as is the splash of viognier. Terrific value. Buy here
2016 SubRosa Malakoff Estate Shiraz – 95 points
Hand-picked, matured for 16 months in French oak, only 80 dozen made. The colour is much lighter than expected, and it’s on the lighter side of medium-bodied – but it’s well balanced, expressing its variety and region, its fruit spicy and juicy. And yes, it’s a great drink. Buy here
These excellent scores mean we retain our five star rating.
It’s not easy making amazing wine in small batches. Well done Adam.