CURRENT RELEASES

Winemakers: Daniel Chaffey Hartwig, Theo Engela + Huon Fechner
Varietal: Kerner
Region: Eden Valley
Alc/Vol: 13%
pH: 3.2
Acidity: 4.7
Bottle size: 750 mL

Shop back vintages here.

“… an exceptional expression of this rare variety, as the 2020, 2019 & 2017 vintages demonstrated. Vibrant aromatics with a hint of nuttiness. Great linear flavours of red apples and citrus, steely when young and softening off and rounding out over time to become a truly sensational, silky smooth, creamy wine.” - Dan Traucki, WBM

2024
93pts "Eden Valley kerner, whole-bunch pressed, wild ferment on full solids in stainless steel. Pale straw with bright citrus and light stone fruit tones. Hints of almond paste, citrus blossom, crisp pear, crushed stone and dried meadow flowers. A light textural note and a brisk, minerally finish; this makes for great and really interesting drinking." - Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion

92pts "Aromas of lemon sherbet, lime leaves, stone fruit and candied orange zest. The palate is light-bodied with zesty acidity and a generous texture. Really fresh and fun. " - James Suckling

2022
93pts "Single-vineyard Eden Valley kerner (a mashup of riesling and trollinger). Pale straw with lemon, lime and green apple fruit tones. Hints of marzipan, almond blossom, a splash of nashi pear and a handful of crushed quartz ... some light whey and a suggestion of cut fennel further back. Lean, crystalline and lemony with plenty of verve, briny acidity and inherent drinkability. Get on the kerner train!" - Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion

2021
91pts "A delicious example of this little-known grape variety. Bold and zesty with ice bon-bon and melon aromas. Really swings its way over the palate and leaves you wanting more of this unique kind of white wine. Fun." - James Suckling

2020
91pts "This has quite a restrained apple and lemon nose. Apple peel, too. The palate is fresh, lively and has some attractive, fresh green apple and pear to close. Drink now. Screw cap." - James Suckling Reviews

90pts + Silver - Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show

90/100 "Pale lemon and lime tints in the glass. Ripe pears, white flowers and broken slate aromas. Light to medium on the palate, it sits with a good weight of orchard fruit and aromatic sweet spices. There's a hint of sugar amongst it, but the taut acid line and brush of phenolics balance that to dry the finish pleasingly."- Stuart Knox, The Real Review

2019
Stewards' Choice Trophy - Australian Alternative Variety Wine Show

93/100 "Fresh and lively: initial pear split by spice, lychee, creamed honey, grilled kaffir lime skin, stony quartz with a touch rosewater on the pull-away. Offering some flesh to the front palate with richer than expected elements before the acidity refreshes with a lime granita like finish and a slightly tacky, drying phenolic grip. A moreish wine of difference." - Regan Drew, Vino Notebook

Since a vinuous pilgrimage to Spain in 2013, we have been on a quest to make the perfect roblé-style Spanish blend. 2023 marks 10 years on and the extended cool season (thanks La Niña!) gifted us the most complex and sophisticated La Conquista yet!

Tempranillo parcels from Gomersal on the Western ridge meshes seamlessly with Old Vine Grenache from Vine Vale while the Moculta Graciano adds spice and fragrant lift. Matured for eight months in seasoned French puncheons and hogshead barrels before meticulous blending, the final blend this year has more Grenache than usual which gives the ripe juicy fruit needed to flesh out the structure of Tempranillo’s complex and savoury fruit. The final blend is tempranillo, old vine garnacha and Graciano or TGG. Cherry and cola aromas mingle with hints of chocolate and spicy florals. A dark yet luminous crimson colour hints at the rich semi-savoury dark cherry and cola palate that finishes with a hint of red cherry juiciness.

Rioja-Inspired Red Blend. Perfect with pizza, or epic tapas wine.

2023 
92pts "A Spanish Barossa blend with Tempranillo from Gomersal, Graciano from Moculta and Garnacha from vines in excess of 50 years old from Lyndoch. The name comes from the 1811 Battle at Barrosa Ridge (yes, it is supposed to be spelt that way) where Spain fought the French. The famous Colonel Light, integral to the Barossa, fought in that 1811 conflict, hence the name of both the region and this wine, even if the spelling of the former took a tumble along the way. Eight months in French oak. Delicious stuff. This is deep garnet hue, with a nose of warm soil, dark berries, leather, coffee grinds and roast meats (which is also something that would match this wine rather wonderfully). There is a satiny texture, making it almost an easy drinking style, with very fine tannins and a lingering finish with a gentle fade. Absolutely terrific drinking now, it will offer pleasure for the next six to eight years. Drink now-2032." The Vintage Journal 

91pts "A slurpy mash-up of tempranillo, garnacha and graciano with spicy red and dark berry and red plum fruits, a dab of Medina spice, dried citrus rind, cola, pressed meadow flowers and drying grass. Lively with some nice crunch to the fruit on the palate and a super-lively mineral cadence." - Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion

2022
SILVER + 93pts - Barossa Wine Show 2023

SILVER - New Zealand International Wine Show 2023

5 stars + 93pts "Sweetly fruited and elegantly perfumed, the wine shows Black Doris plum, clove, hazelnut and rich floral aromas, leading to a silky-smooth palate offering fleshy texture and silky tannins. Plump and flavoursome with a lengthy soothing finish. At its best: now to 2030." - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

92pts "A vibrant, crunchy blend of tempranillo, graciano and garnacha. A joy to drink with its spicy red and dark berry and plum fruits, hints of souky spice, dried citrus rind and pressed wildflowers and fine, sandy tannin base. Bright, with just the right dosage of slurpiness and lots of enjoyment in each glass" - Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion

91pts "In the groove with cola and cherry notes, black jelly bean, smoked chicken breast, wine gums, pickled jalapeño chillies and some roast nut earthiness. Mid weight and piquantly spiced. Fly screen mesh tannins and cool plum/raspberry fruit with an anise and clove offset. All the swirls of sweet and savoury and spice. Perfect to carve through a plate of tapa." - Regan Drew, Vino Notebook

90pts "Aromas of geranium, pot pourri, white pepper and mulberry. Firm, fleshy and textured in flavour. There's a solid drive of dark fruited goodness along with savoury, drying tannins and crunchy acididty. Quite complex and sophisticated." - Aaron Brasher, The Real Review

2019
92pts "Sub-names Battle For Barossa, this blend of tempranillo, grenache and graciano is all smoky black jelly bean, dried meats, pickled walnut nuttiness, nutmeg spice and jubey raspberry red fruit. Tight, dark and fruit focused with a keen thrust of acidity." - Regan Drew, Wine Words

91pts "Barossa blend of tempranillo, garnacha and graciano. Unfined and unfiltered. Here’s your point of difference. It’s more red berry than black, more stewed than sweet, more complementary than commanding. It’s a mid-weight red wine with lots of personality, not to mention charm. It’s completely different to the more usual black-hearted thumping Barossa red, but it’s not less enjoyable." - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front

90pts "A full-bodied, bold and savory red with a blood orange freshness. Plenty of substance, good balance and quite a zesty finish. Unfiltered. Drink now. Screw cap." - James Suckling

90/100 "Aromas of earth, cured meats, pot pourri, spice and a whiff of menthol. A full flavoured and layered palate; there is ample dark fruit flavours, but there's also a savouriness and floral edge to this that makes for a pretty complex glass of wine. Good length; grippy, textured tannins and firm mouth-feel. A very pleasant wine" - Aaron Brasher, The Real Review

2018
91/100 "Medium to deep red colour with the slightest tinge of purple in the rim. The bouquet is likewise forward-developed and starting to show some mellowness, with undergrowth, briary aromas and a soft, savoury, light to medium-bodied palate. Flavours are sweet in the centre but otherwise savoury and developed. Soft, lightly drying tannins. A very appealing forward, approachable red to drink now. And great value." - Huon Hooke, The Real Review

2017
90pts "Barossa blend of tempranillo, garnacha and graciano. Great drink. Up-front with blue- and black-berry fruit flavour with lacings of peppercorn and coal. It feels gentle and refreshing and yet it’s hearty in volume terms. Bright with flavour." - The Wine Front

2016
90pts "64% Barossa tempranillo, 22.5% old vine Barossa grenache, and 13.5% graciano from Eden Valley. A lifted, perfumed bouquet, each variety contributing of course, but the whole seems more than the sum of its parts. It's silky and slippery on the palate with flavours of cherry cola and raspberry, and a sweet-fruited finish." - Steven Creder, Halliday Wine Companion

2015
92pts "It’s a fiery blaze of flavour too. If you’ll allow me to suggest; this is money well spent. It’s smoky and sordid and jubey and twiggy, all at once; it spins you around like a Luna Park ride, the combination of sweetness/savouriness/smokiness/spiciness managed quite beautifully. One thing it most definitely is not: boring. And yet it’s immaculately clean to boot" - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front

4/5 Stars - Tony Love

Winemakers: Daniel Chaffey Hartwig + Huon Fechner + Theo Engela
Varietal: Shiraz
Region: Barossa
Alc/Vol: 14.5%
pH: 3.6
Acidity: 5.9

2021 vintage:

GOLD MEDAL + 95pts - at [news embargoed until October] ...World Wine Awards!!

SILVER MEDAL + 93pts - at 2025 Melbourne International Wine Competition 

SILVER MEDAL - at 2023 Global Syrah Masters

93pts + 5 ⭐️ "This is richly fruited and enticing on the nose, displaying aromas of blackberry, smoked meat, dried herbs, and roasted hazelnut. The succulent palate shows excellent weight and ripe fruit flavours, wonderfully framed by finely pitched tannins, finishing persistent and flavoursome. At its best: now to 2033." - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

92pts "A lot of pure Barossan bang for your buck here. Comforting ... familiar even, with its cascade of plush blood plum and summer berry fruits, deep spice, licorice, dark chocolate and earthen tones. Creamy, powdery tannins, a bright line and a tide of pure, exotically spiced plummy fruit on the finish makes the wine instantly endearing and definitely prompts another glass. Great value" - Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion

92pts "Oh goodness, it’s just what you expect to smell and taste and not be disappointed. Plenty of dark/red-berry-plum and cherry fruit, licorice edges, ample choc wrapping with a ferrous spine tinged with earth. Sprinkled with baking spices and pink peppercorn. Suave and supple. Quality of fruit is evident, but it never loses focus of being inherently drinkable by having a bright flourish of live fruit. Tannins are a little loose knit, but still spreading and consistent.  Simply a lovely wine." - Regan Drew, vinonotebook.com

2020

SILVER - 2022 Barossa Wine Show

SILVER - 2022 Syrah du Monde

SILVER - 2022 Decanter Wine Awards

SILVER - 2022 Sommeliers Choice Awards

SILVER + 91pts "Fruit from the northern Barossa, valley floor and the Eden Valley. Here's a great-value shiraz, flush with ripe fruit that sits at the lighter end of medium bodied. Dark and red plummy fruits, a splash of cherry and some red-fruited lift, a base of compact spice and chalky tannin along with wafts of chocolate, kirsch, earth and some mocha-like tones. Ticks all the boxes." - Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion

91pts "Plush Barossa purple in hue. Has the hallmarks of what you need Barossa to be: choc/mocha and deep plum, cherry, blackberry with earthy ferrous ironstone providing some grounding. Fully flavoured, but not full on. Manages restraint and even a touch of elegance with grippy, chalky tannin driving through the finish. Nothing complex but classily put together and dangerously drinkable." - Regan Drew, Vino Notebook

90pts "Deep ruby colour with purple tints. The nose offers mulberry, mocha and ironstone, all of which show as power flavours on the palate. There's a fleshy character to the fruit without being too much and the tannins offer a good focus and drive to the finish. Very approachable now and will develop in time too." - Stuart Knox, The Real Review

90pts "Aromas of mixed peppercorns, currants, blackberries and rosemary. Very clean, youthful and peppery with a medium body and creamy tannins. Fresh finish." - James Suckling

2019

91pts "Deep, rich plum, dark cherry, black peppercorn, a fresh turned earthiness and dark chocolate kiss. Opulent and fleshy with good tannin structure" - Regan Drew, Wine Words

91pts "Barossa shiraz, warm and rich. There’s lots of flavour and lots of alcohol here. Blackberry jam, peppercorns, black earth and asphalt flavours with some brighter redcurrant-like notes and a general softness to the mouthfeel. This will satisfy." - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front

91/100 "Aromas of dark cherry, liqueured chocolates, dried herbs and spice. The flavours are all deep and dark with a juicy, fleshy roundness, plenty of generosity and just the right amount of tannin to tighten up the opulent fruit. A very enjoyable and drinkable wine" - Aaron Brasher, The Real Review

2018
Silver Medal - 2020 Barossa Wine Show

2017
91pts "Eucalypt strikes from the outset though it brings raspberry and sweet plum with it. There’s a clovey, almost graphite-like note here too. This is a soft, supple, well-shaped shiraz, just complex enough and essentially easy to like." - The Wine Front

2016
90/100 "Deep, dense red/purple colour, with a slightly meaty reductive note on the nose, which clears with airing to reveal red fruit and spicy high-notes. The palate is straightforward and firm, intense and tight, with some firmness and grip, as well as length. Slighty rustic, but very good." - Huon Hooke, The Real Review

93pts "Sourced from low-yielding vineyards throughout the zone including 17% from Eden Valley. New and seasoned French and American oak. Contemporary Barossa shiraz, expertly done. Bright, lifted berry and plum fruit in the bouquet, and a gentle, tarry earthiness to convey a sense of place. Softly textured, juicy and flavoursome, bouyant and fresh. Ticks every box" - Steven Creber, Halliday Wine Companion

90/100 "Deep, dense red/purple colour, with a slightly meaty reductive note on the nose, which clears with airing to reveal red fruit and spicy high-notes. The palate is straightforward and firm, intense and tight, with some firmness and grip, as well as length. Slighty rustic, but very good." - Huon Hooke , Halliday Wine Companion

Gold Medal and Food Match Trophy "An impressed Charlie Carter of Ten Green Bottles described ‘cassis and menthol notes on the nose, leading to more cassis dominating the palate, with some nice gamey character coming through on the finish, which has notes of black tea, menthol and liquorice’. The River Cafe’s Mattia Mazzi, meanwhile, enjoyed notes of ‘tobacco, as well as sweet-and-savoury fruit compote’, finding it to have ‘good concentration and balance’." - Sommelier Wine Awards UK 2019

"Wine of the Year" Gastro Pub category - Sommelier Wine Awards 2019

2015
93/100 "Sourced from low-yielding vineyards throughout the zone including 17% from Eden Valley. New and seasoned French and American oak. Contemporary Barossa shiraz, expertly done. Bright, lifted berry and plum fruit in the bouquet, and a gentle, tarry earthiness to convey a sense of place. Softly textured, juicy and flavoursome, buoyant and fresh. Ticks every box." - Steven Creber, Halliday

92/100 "Deep red/purple colour with a voluminous dark berry aroma, invoking black plum and herbs tinged with aniseed. The wine is full-bodied and loaded with fruit sweetness, masses of drying tannins and a slight grittiness. This is classic Barossa and a real contrast to this maker's more elegant wines from Eden Valley. (Northern Barossa, Barossa Valley floor & Eden Valley)" - Huon Hooke, The Real Review

90/100 "Deep red/purple colour; the aromas and flavours are dense and ripe, concentrated, fleshy and smooth, soft and easygoing, but also intense and driving. It's a wine of up-front appeal with fine, dry, sandy tannins and a long palate. There is lush fruit and ripe sweetness balancing the tannins. Worthy stuff." - Huon Hooke, The Real Review

93/00 "Volume of licorice, asphalt and raspberry jam flavour. This wine pours it on. It remains fresh and lively but it whacks the flavour at you. Firmish tannin to close. A full-bodied red, done well." - Campbell Mattinson, Halliday