Ralph Kyte-Powell - The Real Review – August 2020
Its bright in colour, with a slightly raw varietal nose of cherry liqueur, almond and spiced plum. The well- concentrated palate has lovely depth and density, with a tight backbone of tannin and quenching acid balance. It’s built to grow in the bottle, but it’s also a classy drop to sip right now.
Jamessuckling.com - July 2020
A very complex pinot noir that has a strong, whole-bunchy streak with a big hit of sappy, stalky character across red to dark cherries. Still very wound-up. The palate has a sleek, smooth feel with ripe, red-cherry and berry flavors, delivered in a succulent, juicy mode. Drink or hold. 93 points.
Andrew Graham - Oz Wine Review - July 2020
From the first aromatic flicker of gentle red fruit this seems right. It’s vinous, varietal and well balanced, all rhubarb, redcurrant and then a flicker of vanilla oak before plenty of acidity.
Lithe. Beautifully formed. Correct acidity. It’s comfortably still Hills Pinot, complete with the mid palate fruit exuberance. And it all makes for a genuinely enjoyable wine that I could easily finish a bottle of. 94 points.
Angus Hughson - Winepilot.com - July 2020
On the palate the wine is equally generous – fleshy fruit that is complex and dense underpinned by supple tannins. There are also some pretty autumnal elements – spice, truffle and meat in the background for additional interest. It finishes long and strong too driven by that powerful core of fruit. The wine probably won’t last as long as some other vintages but delivers flavour and complexity in spades right now and over the medium term.
Campbell Mattinson – The Wine Front – June 2020
It would be fair to say that Shaw + Smith Pinot Noir has improved greatly over the years. This is fresh, well powered and structured, overtly varietal, neat-as-a-pin and yet inherently complex. It makes all the right moves. It’s all undergrowth, garden herbs, cherry plum and spices; I’d even say that it reminds you of the specialness of wine. In short, it’s very good. I’d buy it and I’d recommend it. 94 points.
Huon Hooke - The Real Review – March 2020
Deepish red colour with a good tint of purple and a bright, brooding aroma of dark cherry which is very rich and concentrated. The palate flavour is sumptuous and mouth-filling, with substantial structure and firm tannins. Rich, fruit-sweet, decadent and powerful, with some bitterness in the tannins which will evaporate in the presence of food and/or after a little bottle-ageing. A serious pinot of real depth, concentration and structure. Impressive stuff and good value. 95 Points.
Ralph Kyte-Powell - The Real Review – August 2020
Its bright in colour, with a slightly raw varietal nose of cherry liqueur, almond and spiced plum. The well- concentrated palate has lovely depth and density, with a tight backbone of tannin and quenching acid balance. It’s built to grow in the bottle, but it’s also a classy drop to sip right now.
Jamessuckling.com - July 2020
A very complex pinot noir that has a strong, whole-bunchy streak with a big hit of sappy, stalky character across red to dark cherries. Still very wound-up. The palate has a sleek, smooth feel with ripe, red-cherry and berry flavors, delivered in a succulent, juicy mode. Drink or hold. 93 points.
Andrew Graham - Oz Wine Review - July 2020
From the first aromatic flicker of gentle red fruit this seems right. It’s vinous, varietal and well balanced, all rhubarb, redcurrant and then a flicker of vanilla oak before plenty of acidity.
Lithe. Beautifully formed. Correct acidity. It’s comfortably still Hills Pinot, complete with the mid palate fruit exuberance. And it all makes for a genuinely enjoyable wine that I could easily finish a bottle of. 94 points.
Angus Hughson - Winepilot.com - July 2020
On the palate the wine is equally generous – fleshy fruit that is complex and dense underpinned by supple tannins. There are also some pretty autumnal elements – spice, truffle and meat in the background for additional interest. It finishes long and strong too driven by that powerful core of fruit. The wine probably won’t last as long as some other vintages but delivers flavour and complexity in spades right now and over the medium term.
Campbell Mattinson – The Wine Front – June 2020
It would be fair to say that Shaw + Smith Pinot Noir has improved greatly over the years. This is fresh, well powered and structured, overtly varietal, neat-as-a-pin and yet inherently complex. It makes all the right moves. It’s all undergrowth, garden herbs, cherry plum and spices; I’d even say that it reminds you of the specialness of wine. In short, it’s very good. I’d buy it and I’d recommend it. 94 points.
Huon Hooke - The Real Review – March 2020
Deepish red colour with a good tint of purple and a bright, brooding aroma of dark cherry which is very rich and concentrated. The palate flavour is sumptuous and mouth-filling, with substantial structure and firm tannins. Rich, fruit-sweet, decadent and powerful, with some bitterness in the tannins which will evaporate in the presence of food and/or after a little bottle-ageing. A serious pinot of real depth, concentration and structure. Impressive stuff and good value. 95 Points.
