David Sly, SA Life – "Wine"
Weary of big, buff shiraz that keeps whacking you in the mouth with hot alcohol, jammy fruit and sweet oak? It doesn't have to be this way, as winemaker Peter Butcher delicately points out with this elegant offering from his vineyard, tucked in a higher, cooler pocket of McLaren Vale, close to the toes of the Willunga escarpment. This is deeply-coloured shiraz with all its dusky, savoury character on show; blackberry, cassis and white pepper, gently integrated and silky on the palate. Indeed, Butcher understands what the French do with shiraz in the Rhône's Côtes-Rôtie, and gets his fruit to speak in similar tongue.
Philip White, Adelaide Advertiser
The old riverbed shales on the southern Willunga piedmont are emerging as a source of great shiraz, like this wine of rare finesse and elegance. It has lovely lush intensity and polished crimson rose perfumes, like the Rhone's Cote-Rotie. Put it in a big bowl and wallow. It has wondrous silkiness, beautiful acidity and none of the presently fashionable blacksmith influence. Juicy pink meats. 93 points
James Halliday, Winepros/Compendium
Medium bodied; elegant, spicy overtones to both bouquet and palate; attractive plum and licorice flavours; good handling of oak and tannins.
Best drinking: 2005 to 2012 Rating: 92 out of 100
Maggie Beale, China Daily/Hong Kong
I first tasted Halifax Shiraz 2002 from McLaren Vale in January this year and found it a remarkable wine of great quality. It is a big wine, with aromas of eucalyptus/mint and it is full of complex flavours; dark berry fruit, meaty and spicy.
With a full mouthfeel and a long lingering finish this vintage will cellar well. It has great potential for ageing but can be drunk now.
Highly recommended. Rating: 93
Maggie Beale, China Daily/Hong Kong
..served along with eight other wines at the prestigious Australian Grape Expectations dinner yesterday in the Kowloon Hotel, the Halifax Shiraz topped the parade with classic elegance and impeccable balance, and jumped up a point from the previous rating to 94 points. Worth collecting
