2016 Australia

Frankland Estate is located 250 kilometres east of Margaret River in Australia’s most isolated wine region: Frankland River. This family-run estate was founded in 1988 with sustainability and organic viticulture at the heart of its philosophy. In addition, all their vines are dry farmed, allowing a distinct expression of the region’s cool climate and vintage variation.

This is a cool-climate Shiraz with aromas of black pepper, dried herbs and damson. Alongside this fresh, scented spice there is a plush, ripe fruit character from the 5% Malbec. There is a hint of toastiness from 18 months in French oak, supported by fine tannins and engaging, fresh acidity. Drink now to 2022.

Lifted aromas of blackberry and redcurrant mingle with black pepper spice and flint on the nose and palate of this Shiraz, sourced from the Isolation Ridge vineyard. The 2016 vintage has a core of dense plum and subtle oak complemented by finely grained tannins and iodine saltiness. The small addition of Viognier and Malbec lends further aromatic complexity and texture to the wine. A wonderful accompaniment for roast beef or pork. Drink now to 2028. 
Daisy Gatt, Buying Assistant (spring 2019)

The Crittendens are a family of dedicated winemakers with an exciting range of hand-crafted wines. Winemaking now resides with the talented Rollo Crittenden, who has taken over from his father, Garry, who founded the estate over 30 years ago. Today, their efforts are channelled into producing small batches of wines that elegantly speak of their varietal and geographic provenance.

Red-berry fruit and vanilla spice layer on the nose. The tannins are fine and softened by the presence of restrained oak on the palate. The core of the wine is deceptively concentrated and rich, disguised by the fresh acidity and complemented perfectly by the purity of Pinot fruit. Drink now to 2022.

Many of the vines behind Bin 138 were originally used for the production of fortified wines, back when table wine was not so popular in Australia, providing old-vine concentration for this cuvée. You can taste the liquorice-like intensity right from the off, with plenty of spice and rich jammy fruit coming through from the Grenache too. The palate is slightly less expressive right now, more brooding than past vintages with more solidity and rich chocolate depths. Very different to the rest of the Penfolds reds, this wine is noticeable for its clever use of both French and American oak. Drink 2020-2026.
Peter Newton, Private Account Manager

Marananga is a famous sub-region of Barossa, source to some of the most famous names in Australian wine and this is one to add to that list. Rich and decadent, it is a real Shiraz-lover’s wine. A blend of both French and American oak, around 30 percent new, adds a level of spice to the Christmas cake and plum fruit. There is a touch of menthol which freshens the palate before finishing with seamless and svelte tannins. Always one of the standouts in the Bin series, the 2016 doesn’t disappoint. Drink 2020-2028.
Fergus Stewart, Private Account Manager

This has vast depth on the nose. It is very refined, with bags of concentrated, ripe tropical fruit and just a touch of buttered brioche. There’s a lovely saline glide on the tongue, all intense and mineral. The ripeness shows after a few minutes, with toffee apple, grapefruit and banana coming to the fore. There's a poise here and promise of much more after a few years in bottle. Drink 2019-2024.
Ben Grosvenor, Private Account Manager

The nose blows up in your face, like walking into a spice shop: cinnamon, cardamom and lavender along with hints of chocolate, orange and forest floor. The palate is classically Barossa in its proportions, with massive blue and black fruit supported by layers of cinnamon, lavender, five spice and smoked meat flavours. It’s all wrapped in a blanket of cedar and vanilla. The tannins and wood are still very strong and need a little time to integrate. Drink 2021-2030.
Mike Jordan, Private Account Manager

Pure Shiraz, this spends 13 months in a blend of French and American oak. There is a streak of violet on the nose, reminiscent of the Northern Rhône, with a big rich plummy and black-fruited body to counter the floral precision. This is a big wine, but not overblown at all and finishes with real fruit purity. An outstanding Magill this year and one that you can comfortably cellar for decades. Drink 2022-2040.
Fergus Stewart, Private Account Manager

The 2016 vintage of Penfolds’ flagship white wine, Yattarna Chardonnay, is a blend of fruit from Tasmania, Henty, Tumbarumba and the Adelaide Hills. The name Yattarna comes from the Aboriginal language and means “little by little, gradually”, appropriate as the wine continues to evolve from one vintage to the next. The nose is quite subdued at present, providing compelling minerality, but with no hint of the wine’s barrel fermentation, nor its eight months’ ageing in French oak (65 percent new). It’s rich on the palate, with a touch of toast, lovely depth and minerality along with ripe, white-fleshed fruit, balanced by rapier-like acidity. This has a long finish and will age very well. Drink 2019-2024.
Chris Pollington, Private Account Manager

This is a wine that would surprise many if tasted blind and surely dispel any doubters regarding high-quality southern-hemisphere Chardonnay. Unmistakeably cool climate, it is cool and lifted on the nose, with a precise minerality wrapped in a delicate blanket of freshly baked apples and a hint of gunflint. Supple and fluid on the palate with a lovely creamy texture, hints of sweetness are backed by a firm, mineral, citrus core. Chalky acidity drives through to the finish. Hugely appealing, it has a great balance of freshness and delicate fruit – firm and fresh, but not to the point of austerity, with soft-edged fruit unmasked by new oak or excessive bâtonnage. Unquestionably a worthy rival for many high quality European Chardonnays, this is delicious now but ideally you would hold onto it for a couple of years before tucking in. Drink 2019-2027.
Adrian Brice, Buyer

The Powell & Son Eden Valley Riesling emanates from a single site in the high Flaxman’s Valley, 460 metres above sea level. The five-acre vineyard showcases dry grown, rod and spur pruned Riesling vines now over eighty years old.

The 2016 Riesling from Eden Valley opens with a lovely lime juice and orange blossoms laced nose, revealing an undercurrent of yuzu, honeysuckle and coriander seeds. Light-bodied, dry and elegantly fruited in the mouth, it provides tons of citrus layers and a lively backbone, finishing with great persistence. Drink 2017–2027. 
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate 229, 28th February 2017

The eight hectare Polish Hill vineyard is at 460 metres altitude and is just five kilometres from Springvale. Its infertile, shaley soil is slightly acidic and its topsoil has a clay and shale crust. As the vines have to work harder than those at Springvale, it produces smaller, distinctly flavoured and concentrated berries.

It’s the explosive flavours of the Grosset Polish Hill 2016 that distinguish this vintage with power and tremendous intensity of flavour. The bouquet has lavender, a touch of lime and some minerally notes while the palate has surprising generosity, lime juice characters and some characteristic chalkiness. It is tight, uber-fine with steely structure, before a dry finish featuring pure natural acidity and hints of schisty mineralogy.

While there’s no doubting its longevity, there will be many who will love this Polish Hill in its youth. Ageing Potential: 6-15 years, up to 20 years

Year on year this never fails to impress. The complexity, solidity and balance here shines brightly, even when lined up alongside other stellar Penfolds offerings. The nose is deep, full of liquorice intensity and well-packed dark fruits infused with fine-grained tree bark. The palate is closed-in, but the quality of rich blackcurrant and dark plum fruit is unmissable. Broad and almost chocolate-like in texture, this has fine-grained velvet tannins and a great line of persistent freshness that conjures notes of dark cherry. The long finish is all about the quality of ripe fruit. It’s seductive now, with everything already in the right place, but this beauty will only improve. Drink 2021-2028.
Peter Newton, Private Account Manager

The St Henri is considered an intriguing alternative to Grange, with its distinctive style and polished finesse. The 2016 vintage maintains this reputation, showing great depth, complexity and concentration. Black cherries and blackberries are evident on the nose, whereas the palate leads on with mocha and dark chocolate characteristics. This is superbly well-structured with great balance and supple tannins. The 2016, although delicious now, will grow into its own in time and drink well for decades to come. Drink 2022-2045+.
Dominic Goddard-John, Private Account Manager

The name ‘Woodcutter's’ originates from when David Powell spent several years working in the Scottish Highlands as a lumberjack in the Torbreck forest.
 
At just over £10 a bottle this should be must buy. The black fruits and pepper notes delivers surprising depth and concentration for its 'level'. There is a small presence of tannins suggesting that it’ll age well over the next 5 years. Surely this is the perfect BBQ wine to buy now and enjoy over the nex few years up to the 2021 Ashes series!
Hugo Thompson, Private Account Manager

The Roussanne Marsanne is based on the style of the great Hermitage Blancs of the Northern Rhone Valley. The aim is for richness, minerality and hedonism in this, the most premium white wine. The style is typically lower in acid and high in phenolic content, which provides richness on the palate and requisite phenolics to age. While floral, bright in fruit and pretty in youth this wine should age to become savoury, complex and decadent in years to come.

A blend of 60% Marsanne and 40% Roussanne, the 2016 Marsanne Roussanne offers pretty scents of warm peach, beeswax, honey and allspice with a hint of baking bread. Medium-bodied with plenty of savory and stone fruit flavor layers, it has a satiny texture and great persistence. 160 cases were made. Drink 2017–2023. 
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate 229, 28th February 2017