Shiraz from the two oldest blocks on our Rayner Vineyard - the 1950 and 1960 plantings. The 1950 block is dry-grown on deep sandy soils with ironstone rocks, this gives wonderful fragrance and an elegant structure. The 1960 planting is in shallow clay on limestone base, this gives the bones - the structure around the pretty flesh. Limited release.
96 points - Halliday Wine Companion
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From the two oldest blocks on the Bondar-owned Rayner vineyard. The 1960 vines are on clay and limestone; the 1950s, being the major component, on deep sand with ironstone. Andre Bondar is never going to pursue rich styles, but this bottling usually has a little more supple generosity. That’s still true here, with a sultry feel to the dark-fruited nose in blackberry, boysenberry and black cherry, and to the silky, saline palate. There’s also a malty, tarry note, master stock, kelp, violets and iron. The cool year, the third in a row, plays into the house credo, balancing fruit depth and intensity with pep and floral lift. It’s a very good release." - Marcus Ellis
2021 vintage - TOP 100 WINES OF AUSTRALIA James Halliday (The Weekend Australian)
97 points
”Deep, brooding crimson-purple. This is a reproduction of variety and place of the highest quality. It’s velvet in the mouth, and mines all the black fruits, dark chocolate, liquorice and spice hoped for. The tannins are polished, the oak absorbed by the fruit.”
