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Reviews"Meerea Park ‘Alexander Munro’ Hunter Valley Shiraz 2007: A full expression of the Hunter Shiraz style the only difference I found was a hint of pepper on the nose giving an extra edge to the savoury style 93 points now but more as it ages as for price $70 is a lot but this is a wine that should be up amongst the most fated that Australia has to offer therefore yes it is worth it." Tony Keys - Key Report of Wine #27 - 30th April 2010 "Today, Meerea Park's wines are some of the finest in the region, in fact the whites are some of the best of their type in the country". Tim White - Australian Financial Review - 14th August 2009 "Glowing green-gold; richer and fuller than Alexander Munro, with generous lemon and lemon tart flavours braced by typical acidity; any time over the next five years. Screwcap."Rating 96 James Halliday - 2011 Australian Wine Companion "Crimson-purple hue; a particularly distinguished single vineyard wine, featuring the Hunter Valley at its very best; dark plum, cherry and blackberry fruit is framed by supple tannins and perfectly balanced oak." Rating 96 James Halliday - 2011 Australian Wine Companion "Dense purple-crimson; a fragrant and spicy bouquet leads into a supple palate reflecting whole bunch fermentation, although not the least stemmy; 250 cases made of a delicious wine." Rating 95 James Halliday - 2011 Australian Wine Companion "For once vintage rain did not force early picking, and the '09 semillons (this wine included) have an unusually intense citrus (lime and lemon) framework which offers great drinking now without threatening a sure-fire, 10-year future, thanks to the acidity and the screwcap." Rated 94 James Halliday - 2011 Australian Wine Companion 2005 'Alexander Munro' Semillon "Bright pale straw-green; has developed slowly but surely, still youthful and built around lemony acidity; is still building flavour, with another five-plus years to go to get close to its peak." Rating 94 James Halliday - 2011 Australian Wine Companion "Good hue; the fruit aromas and flavours are led by blackberry, with plum and a touch of spice in support; the medium-bodied palate has impeccable balance, and all the wine needs is a few more years to soften and open up." Rating 94 James Halliday - 2011 Australian Wine Companion "The vintage produced powerful red wines, and this is no shrinking violet. But the viognier (less than 5%) has added what I call 'light and shade' highlights in both the red-fruit-tinged flavour, and a touch of finesse to the structure." Rating 94 James Halliday - 2011 Australian Wine Companion "Strong and bright colour; has distinct regional earthy overtones to the black fruits on the bouquet, but the sheer strength of the fruit on the palate, and in particular its bright acidity, swamps the regional notes away at this stage of its development; they will return later." Rated 93 James Halliday - 2011 Australian Wine Companion "A blend of Hunter Valley/Hilltops which comes together very well, the Hilltops cooler-grown fruit adding elegance to a light- to medium-bodied palate that has persistent black fruits, licorice, leather notes. Gold medal Winewise '09." Rated 93 James Halliday - 2011 Australian Wine Companion 2009 'Alexander Munro' Chardonnay "Some colour pick-up; very well made; nectarine and melon fruit swathed in a gauze of French oak, lengthened by citrussy acidity; 40-year-old vines." Rated 93 James Halliday - 2011 Australian Wine Companion "Bright yellow-green; touches of smoky/funky characters (borrowed from Burgundy, perchance) lift the nectarine, fig and cashew characters of the palate; 250 cases made." Rated 93 James Halliday - 2011 Australian Wine Companion "Pale crystal green; a tightly folded single vineyard wine, without the usual flamboyant fruit characters of '09; however, will grow with bottle age." Rated 90 James Halliday - 2011 Australian Wine Companion "Meerea Park’s Hilltops/Hunter Valley shiraz blend has proven enormously popular in recent years. Rightly so. 2009 was a fantastic year in Hilltops. Sweet, violetty, jube-like fragrance bursts from the glass. It’s alive and kicking right from the get-go. It tastes of liqueured cherries and blackberries, subtle spice and subtle, toasty oak. Really though it’s about pure, essence-like fruit flavour, served fresh and medium bodied and delicious. Velvety tannins keep it tidy. Fantastic quaffing." Rated : 91 Points. Campbell Mattinson - The Winefront - 9th June 2010 2005 'Alexander Munro' Semillon "From the Braemore vineyard, Rhys Eather has made a scorching semillon. Wonderful delicacy and intensity of lightly-browned toast and lemony flavours, beginning to build bottle-aged complexity. A classic and just 11 per cent alcohol. Now to five-plus years." 96 / 100. Huon Hooke - SMH Good Living - 8th June 2010 "This is a firm structural wine of some size, though it needs time to resolve itself. It's peppery and stalky with flavours of mixed berries and jellybeans - of the black variety. It's firm with tannin and a touch bitter, but should age very, very well. One for the cellar." 92 Points. The Big Red Wine Book 2010/2011 "Meerea Park ‘Hell Hole’ Hunter Valley Shiraz 2007: As with its brother (Terracotta) it has the hunter earthy nose and immediately releases savoury flavours those flavours go deep and last long the whole effect in the mouth is a wonderful sensation. I found it more forward (slightly) then Terracotta therefore more enjoyable to drink now and worth a point more as well 94 also worth $50." Tony Keys - Key Report of Wine #27 - 30th April 2010 "The 2007 Alexander Munro Shiraz is matured in French barriques rather than the larger formats. It has a very deep garnet black color and a beautifully fragrant nose of allspice, cassis, violets, dried plum, star anise, cassis, cardamom and some hung meat. Very concentrated with great structure, medium-high acid and medium-firm, very fine tannins. A nice touch of earthy truffles in the very long finish. 400 cases made. Drink 2012 to 2020. " 94 Points. Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW - The Wine Advocate #188 - Apr 2010 "Such was the supreme ripeness of 2007 that 20-25% stalks were included in the ferment of the 2007 Meerea Park Hell Hole Shiraz. It was matured in larger French oak format, hogsheads and puncheons, for 20-21 months, 30-40% new. It gives a deep garnet color leading to spicy, peppery, warm blackberry and blueberry aromas with some anise, underbrush, cardamom and a noticeable waft of cedar. Violets come through after a few minutes. Clean, pure, medium bodied, it is very spicy on the palate with finely grained tannins of a medium level. Elegant. Long finish. Drink 2012 to 2018. " 93 Points. Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW - The Wine Advocate # 188 - April 2010 "The 2007 Meerea Park Terracotta Shiraz was co-fermented with 3% Viognier. With a medium-deep garnet color it has a pretty hint of honeysuckle on the nose over blackberry crumble, vanillin, licorice and kirsch. There’s also a warmer touch of prunes and spice-cake on the nose. Full and viscous. Rich, quite peppery with a long finish. Drink now to 2017. " 92 Points. Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW - The Wine Advocate # 188 - April 2010 2004 'Alexander Munro' Semillon "The 2004 Alexander Munro Semillon provides an intensely scented nose of lemon curd, grilled bread, toasted almond, lime cordial plus a touch of bark and pepper. Crisp with some honey-nut flavors coming through on the palate and a light body, it gives a very long finish. Only 180 cases produced. Drink now to 2020. " 91 Points. Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW - The Wine Advocate #188 - April 2010 "The 2004 Meerea Park Terracotta Semillon has a wonderfully aromatic citrus fruit nose with notes of grapefruit, yuzu zest, kumquat, white pepper, nuts and coriander seed. Crisp, clean, light body, intense. Long and minerally in the finish. Only 60 cases made. Drink now to 2020. " 92 Points. Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW - The Wine Advocate #188 - April 2010 2008 'Alexander Munro' Chardonnay "Coming from 40 year vines, the 2008 Meerea Park Alexander Munro Chardonnay is whole bunch pressed and barrel fermented in 35% new oak with no MLF. It gives a nice vibrancy of tropical, pineapple and guava aromas with some honeydew and a bit of spicy, toasty oak. Touch of oatmeal. Creamy, silken texture. Crisp acid. Rich yet medium body with a modest 13% alcohol. Nice concentration. Long in the finish with some minerality. Just 180 cases. Drink now to 2018. " 92 Points. Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW - The Wine Advocate #188 - April 2010 "The 2009 Hell Hole Semillon is a single vineyard wine, coming off Braemore Vineyard. It has an intense lemon / lime, lemongrass and slightly toasty nose. Very crisp and dry with a light body and great intensity of pure citrus fruit. Long finish. Drink 2012 to 2019. " 90 Points. Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW - The Wine Advocate #188 - April 2010 "Hunter Valley winery Meerea Park adds a new label to its collection with excellent, affordably priced semillon, chardonnay and shiraz, the last sourced from the fast-rising Murrumbateman district. Half the fruit was whole-bunch fermented, a technique finding increasing favour with those wanting to push the boundaries with cool-grown shiraz. It's superbly spicy, complex and tantalising on the nose, moving into a palate of elegance, persistence and depth. Floral, spice and berry flavours mark this as a cool-grown regional wine from Canberra, where 2008 was a great vintage. Only 250 dozen were made. Drink now to six years plus." 93/100. Huon Hooke - SMH 'Good Living Wine Of The Week' - 20th April 2010 1999 'Alexander Munro' Shiraz - Aged Release "From old vines on the Howard vineyard at Pokolbin, this is a classic aged Hunter red, loaded with leathery, earthy, tar and crushed oyster-shell aromas. It has terroir by the spadeful. It's savoury, elegant and mature." 95. Wine Magazine - Top 100 New Releases - April 2010 "The Hell Hole name refers to the hot, dry country that is the Hunter Valley. Rhys Eather has packed a lot of fruit into this '09: plenty of lime and lemon citrus, even grapefruit on the palate. Great texture and a sparkling crisp acid finish." 93 points. Nick Stock - Wine 100 - February 2010 1999 'Alexander Munro' Shiraz - Aged Release "This "aged release" is a great Hunter red, loaded with personality and totally opposite to modern juicy-fruit reds. Very leathery, earthy aromas with crushed-seashell nuances. Just 13.5 per cent alcohol so it's lighter and leaner in the mouth. Those who are scared of feral aromas best stay away. Drink now." 95/100. Huon Hooke - SMH Good Living - 2nd February 2010 2008 'Alexander Munro' Chardonnay "A super rich and fascinating chardonnay that manages to maintain balance and vibrancy. The palate has structure, finesse, creaminess and length, together with a little barrel ferment complexity. Oak shows on the finish, but the intensity of flavour carries it well." Highly Recommended. Winewise Magazine - December 2009 “Here we are in 2009 and here is an oaked chardonnay from the 2009 vintage – the fresh new way of Australian chardonnay. It’s a gorgeous wine too. It tastes of pears and melons, oak-spice and toast. Most particularly though it has both deliciousness and persistence all wrapped up. Searing acidity but a wealth of flavour to carry it. Beautiful”. Rated : 94. Campbell Mattinson—The Winefront—8/12/09 1999 'Alexander Munro' Shiraz - Aged Release "A well-inserted, quality cork has done its job well, carrying the wine through to the start of its plateau of maturity, with earthy Hunter flavours running through the black fruits, the tannins present but fine; has a particularly long finish." Cork. James Halliday - Australian Wine Companion - December 2009 2004 'Alexander Munro' Semillon "Tight and fine, with some lees-type smells, mealy parmesan, gentle toast and lemon-peel fruit. Tight and lime; juicy in the mouth, pith and peel. Incredible drive across the palate, but also lightness. Will peak in three to four years. 95/100. Tim White - Australian Financial Review - 28th November 2009 "With rising characters of lanolin, lemon butter and roast nuts, this wine is beginning to edge into the mature phase of life. It maintains an impeccable balance of lemon and lime on its long, zesty finish, with great contrast of flesh and fine acid-the best of both worlds." 94 Points. Tyson Stelzer - Wine 100 - November 2009 "Intense, aromatic and lingering, it finishes a little softer than others. A terrific future". Rating: 93. Ken Gargett - Courier Mail Qweekend - 31st October 2009 "For a cool, savoury Shiraz from the bargain basement, this is a very cleverly assembled wine with very few like-priced peers. It's a spicy, peppery, gamey Shiraz with leathery complexity overlaying its berry/plum fruits. Oak is subtle, tannins are fine and balanced and it has impressive length and poise." 91 Points. Tyson Stelzer - Wine 100 - August 2009 "A wine of power and finesse, reflecting cool-grown material. The palate is long and beautifully balanced, delivering rich dark fruits flavour. This is a bargain blend of Hunter and Hilltops material." OUTSTANDING. Winewise - August 2009 "The name derives from a verbal corruption of "hot as hell" by early settlers, a fair description of 45C days. For once vintage rain did not force early picking, and the '09 semillons have an unusually intense citrus framework which offers great drinking now without threatening a sure-fire, 10 year future, thanks to the acidity and the screwcap." Rating: 94. James Halliday - The Weekend Australian Magazine - 29th August 2009 2004 'Alexander Munro' Semillon "A quite brilliant wine that won the best semillon at the recent Winewise competition. it is still fresh as a daisy, with masses of fruit flavour enhanced by glorious lemony acidity that drives the palate through to a lively, lingering finish and aftertaste." Rating: 96. James Halliday - The Weekend Australian Magazine - 28th August 2009 "This is super smart and already quite complex: chilli pod and flint, some cream too. There's also a sea breeziness. Has a tightness on the tongue, along with juicy creaminess, with buttered rye toast and nuttiness. Excellent fruit depth here: this is fabulous. 96 (97)/100. Tim White - Australian Financial Review - 14th August 2009 "Cedary, spicy and fragrant. Has smoked oyster and coal dust, but also sweet -smelling forest berries. Almost pomegranate. Has a really easy and sparkly, forest berry mouth-feel - dust-storm tannins - and just a bit of meatiness. There's a touch of salami and walnut toasty oak to close. 94/100. Tim White - Australian Financial Review - 14th August 2009 2008 'Alexander Munro' Chardonnay "Pleasant wine, with ripe stone fruit and melon flavours, bolstered by enough acidity to provide balance and length." Rating 90. James Halliday - 2010 Australian Wine Companion "Right in the mainstream of young Hunter Valley semillon, its future assured; grass, herb and lemon zest flavours are supported and balanced by crisp acidity." Rating 94. James Halliday - 2010 Australian Wine Companion "Good crimson hue; distinguished Hunter style, certain to age gracefully, the black fruits supported by perfect tannins." Rating 95. James Halliday - 2010 Australian Wine Companion "Bright straw-green; strikingly similar aromas to the Alexander Munro, the palate less intense but better balanced, perhaps. A pair of striking wines." Rating 93. James Halliday - 2010 Australian Wine Companion "Deep, but bright colour; voluminous shiraz fruit aromas and flavours are supported by positive tannins; long range proposition and will reward." Rating 93. James Halliday - 2010 Australian Wine Companion "Good hue and depth of colour; fresh, bright fruit profile, the flavours in a cherry/raspberry range. Experimental wine; 110 cases made." Rating 92. James Halliday - 2010 Australian Wine Companion "Hell Hole semillon has fast become an ‘ever reliable’. It’s grown on the Braemore vineyard. Love the low alcohol style of it - it adds to the enjoyment of what it has to offer. Fine and long but an enjoyable drink already. Citrussy and pure, acidic and pear-like. Lovely even flow to it - finishes a touch spicy too, in a good way. Can’t go wrong here." Rated : 92 Points. Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front - 5th June 2009 "Semi-mature reds of this quality are rare. Nicely developed with tertiary complexities, this is loaded with earthy, leathery, roast-meat, savoury Hunter character. There are a lot of tannins, balanced by a core of sweet, ripe fruit." 95 Points. Wine Magazine - Top 100 New Releases - June / July 2009 "Explosive red. Crushed berries and cherries, pepper, sap, dusty vanilla oak and a touch of licorice. Medium-bodied but tannic, dry and punchy - and balanced. Big finish. Long-term. A big-hitter in grand style. Excellent." Score 96. Campbell Mattinson & Gary Walsh - The Big Red Wine Book - 2009/2010 "It takes savoury character and piles it on. It's full of spicy, earthy flavour with toasty, oak-derived edges, its inky, plummy heart playing second fiddle to its distinct regional style. The tannins are firm but have folded well into the wine, and if you search hard you find a licoricey, beefy, gamey character floating through the aftertaste. Keep this in a cool, dark place for five or six years and it should drink beautifully." Rated 93 points. Campbell Mattinson & Gary Walsh - The Big red Wine Book 2009/2010 "Meerea Park’s excursion into the Hilltops region has been highly successful, and this 2008 is excellent too. One of the bargains of the year. The balance, flavour and presentation are top-drawer for a wine of this price. Juicy, spicy and fresh – it tastes of pepper steak spread with a mix of raspberry and blackberry jam. It has a lick of dry tannin and good flavour – all clean, sweet, berried fruit. Vibrant too. Finishes saucy and tasty. A clear ‘buy’." Rated : 92 Points. Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front "A beautifully made shiraz which is fragrant and spicy, yet has just enough of the classic regional tilled earth character to beguile the taster. The flavours are rich and long on a firm but balanced palate thats begs for time." Winewise - Australia's Great Shiraz Wines - April 2009 "Meerea Park is one of a lively group of family wineries in the Hunter Valley working hard to re-establish some of the great traditions of the region. Rhys and Garth Eather take fruit from a range of local growers and offers shiraz and semillon at different price points. Meerea Park 'Alexander Munro' and 'Hell Hole' are expensive, ageworthy and impressive single site wines. This is the Meerea Park entry level red: vibrant, juicy mulberry and raspberry flavours, smooth texture, medium-body and fine, gentle tannins. An attractive early-drinking style at a fair price." Rating: Bloody Good. Peter Forrestal - www.quaff.com.au - 1st May 2009 "Bright purple in the glass with mixed ripe berries, dark toasted spices and a gentle earthy side. The palate has a smart drive through the entry and fleshes out in the middle before gearing into some drying tannin through the back. Crisp, elegant and compact finish." 93 Points. Nick Stock - Wine 100 - May 2009 "Impressive purple red colour - looks really fresh with meaty complexity across violets and purple berry fruit. Elegant and bright palate with good acidity and more meaty nuances, supple, medium weight and balanced. A drink now style." 91 Points. Nick Stock - Wine 100 - May 2009 "This deliciously mature Hunter semillon is named after the terracotta coloured clay soil of the region. It reinforces Meerea Park as one of the best modern producers of this classic wine type. Lime-lemon sherbert and honeyed aromas have an earthy component, and the sustained flavour has freshness and a lingering savoury finish. " Ralph Kyte-Powell - The Age Epicure - 28th April 2009 Bargain of the week. "A terrific value red from the Eather brothers, made from Hilltops and Hunter grapes. It's a lovely, fresh, bright, fruit-forward red with nicely ripened dark berries and spices to sniff. A lighter, soft, early-drinking style and very enjoyable. Now to five years." 88 / 100. Huon Hooke - SMH Good Living - 21st April 2009 1999 'Alexander Munro' Shiraz - Aged Release "Still pretty fresh and lively with raspberries, blackberries and liquorice, pepper, cedar oak, the sweet old leathery scent of bottle age and an intriguing sort of smell which could be a) malt b) miso c) iodine or d) all of the above - well it’s quite complex anyway is all I’m trying to say. Then medium to full bodied, suitably mellowed by bottle age - the tannins smooth and fine but still lightly drying and grippy. It’s sweetly fruited but finishes dry with good length. Lovely wine just entering its plateau of charming maturity. Classic." Rated : 94 Points. Gary Walsh—The Wine Front—March 2009. "A classic old-fashioned Hunter Valley "burgundy". The colour has a distinct tawny rim; the bouquet has earth, tar and roast-meat complexities. The palate is rich and savoury with fully ripe, fruit flavours backed by drying tannins. Stylish stuff. Now to 12-plus years." 95/100. Huon Hooke - SMH Good Living - 10th February 2009 "Unusually (for a Hunter shiraz), grape stalks were added to the fermenter, resulting in a delicious, vibrant, sappy red, all sweet, glossy black berries at first, then revealing classic, regional Hunter soily notes later." Max Allen - Weekend Australian Magazine - 7-8th February 2009 “There’s a bit of free sulphur at the moment and then citrus and stonefruit - almost a tropical richness and pleasant grass and lettuce overtones. It’s bright, juicy and balanced in the mouth - not austere with just a dab of sweetness to help it along. It’s excellent now and fairly bursts with flavour, the length and overall package just bang on. I’d not cellar it - it’s a perfect low alcohol white for drinking over the next few summers.” Rated : 92 Points. Gary Walsh—The Wine Front—January 2008 "Typical young semillon, the bouquet locked up, but the wine springs to life on the palate, with grainy, zesty lemon-accented fruit. The future is assured". Screwcap. James Halliday - Australian Wine Companion July 2008 "Bright colour; the inclusion of 5% co-fermented viognier works well, taking the wine outside the usual context of Hunter shiraz into lifted red fruit territory; finishes with fine tannins". Screwcap. 14º alc. Rating 94. James Halliday - Australian Wine Companion - August 2008 " Named after two spinsters from way back, there's punchy overt oak sitting out from the fruit here, dark spiced fruit aroma and concentrated earthy presence. Dressed to impress, in the regional style, tannins are fine and savoury; finishes with dried berry and chocolate flavours". Score 91. Nick Stock - 2009 Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide " This regional pairing works well, Hilltops fruit adds bright fragrance and lift to the ripe berries, with plenty of earthy Hunter notes below. The palate's forthright, delivering great density and supple savoury tannins, still in the medium-bodied league, finishing with elegant plum fruits". Score 91. Nick Stock - 2009 Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide "This top-flight bottling delivers ripe dark berries and plum fruits, some lighter fragrant notes too; attractive and clean. Plenty of dark earthy complexity and oak spice in the mouth, medium-weight; dry dusty tannins dig in through the finish, dropping a wake of savoury liquorice complexity and dark minerals". Score 94. Nick Stock - 2009 Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide " A pristine lemon and grass expression here, relly bright and effusive savoury citrus notes. The palate brings some crisp green lemon and faint tropical fruits in the background, fine acidity, super fresh and tidy through the finish. Score 91. Nick Stock - 2009 Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide " Aromas of savoury lemon grass and fine dry chalk, really restrained and pure, delicate hints of cut straw. The palate is super fine, really precise and polished, some lime and lemon citrus fruits, fine acidity and a soft, delicate texture. Score 92. Nick Stock - 2009 Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide "This is an experimental wine from Meerea Park. Basically (and I hate it when people start a sentence with that word) it’s about four hogsheads of old vine Shiraz (off the Howard Vineyard) with 50% whole bunch and 100% new oak.There’s a 110 dozen made and a fair whack of those are magnums..of which I will grab a couple. There’s a caveat here that if you don’t like a bit of stalk action in your wine then this is probably not for you. It’s fresh and lively with cherry and berries and the lift of menthol and stalk. Throw in some liquorice, spice and plenty of cedar oak and you get the complete picture. I should add that all that new oak is already being mopped up by the fruit most admirably. It’s firm and distinctly fresh in the mouth, and even though only just above medium bodied, has excellent drive and power. Sappy, spicy and fresh berried closing with a good length and dryness. This is a wine for the connoisseur, the enthusiast or the adventurous. I’d say it will live a long time and may even have a few tricks up its sleeve yet to play". Rated : 94 Points Gary Walsh - The Wine Front - September 2008 “Mixed berries, clean earth, dark chocolate and licorice, spice and vanilla oak - lightly perfumed and beautifully presented. I thought there might have been a slight attractive grassiness about it at times that I just might mention. It’s medium bodied and feels fluid, clean and fresh - a wine with energy and life. All red and blue fruits with a little pepper, fine oak and supple smooth fine grained dry tannins that glide through the mouth and off into the distance with a minimum of effort. Lovely wine and a particularly charming one too”. 94 Points. Gary Walsh—Winorama—28th July 2008 2008 'Alexander Munro' Chardonnay “I've had this open for three days now and it keeps improving. The fruit comes off the Casuarina vineyard in Pokolbin, the vine age being about 40 years. It's still young and fruity with a mix of white peach, preserved lemon and spice. Only medium bodied and sporting an excellent flavour to weight ratio, sensible spicy oak and a clean fresh mouthfeel. There's no malolactic, so no creaminess and only moderate lees influence which provides a bit of savoury stuffing (blessed are the makers who don't turn their Chardonnay into cheese). Clean long finish too. It's fine and balanced - a wine of admirable restraint and complexity even at such an early age. Give it another 6 months to settle though.” ABV: 13% Drink: 2009-2013. 92-93 points. Gary Walsh – The Wine Front – 20th August 2008 "This is a poised, taut Hunter shiraz, which is ready to pounce, but demands a long time in the cellar to really come out of itself. When it does, its elegant black fruits, spice and fine , minerally tannins will confirm it as one of the greats in the Meerea Park cellar". 93 Points. Tyson Stelzer - Wine Business Monthly 100 - August 2008 "Has less depth than Alexander Munro, but more drive and intensity to the more focused lemon and mineral flavours, and pronounced citrussy acidity. To 2013." Rating 94. James Halliday - 2009 Wine Companion "A silky, fluid mouthfeel, with undulations of red fruits and supple tannins; though only light to medium-bodied, has all the flavour one could wish for. To 2020." Rating 94. James Halliday - 2009 Wine Companion 1998 'Alexander Munro' Shiraz - Aged Release "Now shows all the classic Hunter aromas and flavours of mature shiraz, with leather and warm earth along with black fruits; the tannins are fine, but sufficient to sustain it for another decade or two, and underpin its great length. To 2018." Rating 94. James Halliday - 2009 Wine Companion 2007 'Alexander Munro' Chardonnay "Impressive Hunter chardonnay; melon and white peach fruit; good line and length, the oak well-balanced and integrated. To 2013." Rating 92. James Halliday - 2009 Wine Companion 2002 'Alexander Munro' Semillon "A lovely, pure semillon, with just the right amount of development; long and seamless, with an array of flavours that really persist. To 2018." Rating 95. James Halliday - 2009 Wine Companion "Here’s another one I’ve been meaning to write up, having tasted it once in February and again in July with consistent points, but slightly different notes. This year sees a bit of experimentation going on with the inclusion of 20% whole bunch and 50% indigenous yeast. I’ve included both notes - just because.
Gary Walsh - The Winefront - July 2008 “This is an aged release from Meerea Park and Epoch is their entry level semillon. From a hot and generally forward vintage, here is a wine that is doing very well. Typical lemon, lime, a bit of dried herb, hay and some toasty development coming through. It’s has plenty of oomph and flavour with lemon barley and lime flavours, soft but clean acidity and an affable sort of chubbiness that makes it very pleasant drinking now and over the next few years. Not quite the length of a great Semillon but an excellent aged dry white at a very fair price.” Rated 91 Poimts. Gary Walsh—The Wine Front—June 2008 “Here we are in May 2008 and the odd 2008 wine is already rolling in for review - and when they are as good as this, there are no complaints from me. The 2008 Hunter season was shockingly cold and wet, and for some perverse reason that often means that the semillon turns out excellent. I believe this has. This is very acidic and lemony but it is long and pristine too, with the odd flash of white flowers floating through the wine's aromatics. It's is very young, but very good”. Drink: 2010-2018. 94 points. Campbell Mattinson - The Wine front - 28th May 2008 "Two tastings of this now, one in February and one a couple of days ago, and both times I’ve scribbled in a 94-95 point range. The first tasting was amongst its siblings (Alexander Munro and Aunts) and the second amongst its peers (Graveyard and KISS). It’s aromatic and fresh with berries, plum, spice, a bit of earthiness and some liquorice richness coming through with a bit of airing - quite Rhôney even. Again the theme is replayed on the palate - medium bodied, bright and very lively with refreshing acidity, fine lightly grippy tannins and a real sense of vigour throughout. It has flavours of plum, spice and earth with a deft application of tasteful malty oak and a very long dry finish. Serious and stylish but really needing a bit of cellar time to show its best." 94+ Points. Gary Walsh - Winorama - 26th May 2008 1998 'Alexander Munro' Shiraz - Aged Release "A lovely mature style, this has weight, elegance and length. Rating: 93. Ken Gargett - Courier Mail - QWeekend - 3rd May 2008 “Son of a gun. This is good—or maybe even better—than the outstanding 2006. The tannin structure of it, the easy-going complexity, the blush of ripe, bright, vibrant fruit—it’s all going on. A mouthful of plummy, spicy flavour at ridiculously low price”. Drink: 2008—2017. 93 Points. Campbell Mattinson—The Big Red Wine Book—May 2008 “I liked this wine so much that I felt like a better person the moment I started drinking it. It’s perfumed and musky and outrageously plummy, its earthy, spicy foundations evident, but discreet. A fine flourish of scented flavour bursts through the finish; as do superfine tannins. Wow. Classic Hunter, in the best possible way. Drink 2012—2020. 96 Points. Campbell Mattinson—The Big Red Wine Book—May 2008 1998 'Alexander Munro' Shiraz - Aged Release "A multi-layered, fathomlessly complex aged Hunter shiraz with aromas of leather, crushed seashells and all manner of weird things. Loaded with character, it makes other wines seem simplistic. Tannins are very evident and it's best with protein-rich food. Now to 10 years. 93/100. Huon Hooke - SMH Good Living - 15th April 2008 "Brash and obvious with juicy stonefruit, tropical fruits, quince, vanilla and roasted nuts. On the palate medium to full bodied with good rich flavours of slightly candied stone and tropical fruit, spice and supporting vanilla oak. It has a lightly slippery glycerol mouthfeel with balanced acidity and a dry spicy finish of good length. Good wine. Smart price". Rated : 91 Points. Gary Walsh—Winorama—March 2008. "The Eather brothers, Rhys and Garth, have a family tradition in Hunter winemaking stretching back to the mid-19th century but their wines are very much at the forefront of modern Hunter style. This 100 per cent shiraz is based on specific vineyards, and is a bright, ripe-fruit style with a lick of nicely handled oak. All Meerea park shirazes are at the more powerful end of Hunter style". Huon Hooke - SMH Good Living - 4th March 2008 1998 'Alexander Munro' Shiraz - Aged Release "A museum release from Meerea Park of one of the best reds they've made to date. It tastes mighty good as a ten year old too. It's all leather, earth and fresh blackberry, a slight mentholly character adding lift and life. For my tastes it's just entering its peak drinking window - though it will age nicely, and well, for another five or even ten years. It's one of those aged reds that smells beautiful - time has been kind to it". Drink: 2009-2020. 93 points. Campbell Mattinson - The Wine front - 20th February 2008 1998 'Alexander Munro' Shiraz - Aged Release "I've tasted this wine on numerous occasions over the years and my sampling last week shows it's better than ever and still has lots of cellar life in it. It is deep garnet in the glass and has plum pudding and leather aromas. Beautiful, intense, mellow plum flavour glides onto the front of the palate and cassis, dark chocolate and molasses fruit characters integrate with subtle nutty oak on the middle palate. Persistent plum flavour and smooth earthy tannins combine at the finish. It would be perfect with char-grilled kangaroo fillet, duck a l'orange, or roast fillet of beef with mushrooms. Ageing 10 years. êêêêê John Lewis - Newcastle Herald - 12th February 2008 2007 'Alexander Munro' Chardonnay "This is a prime example of the new style of Hunter chardonnay - fresh, crisp, smoky and boosted with a quick injection of quality oak (it must have only been in oak for a few months). In my books it tastes great. Crisp, lemony, peachy and clean, the finish tangy and refreshing. Excellent. Drink: 2008-2013. 92 points". Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front - 4th February 2008 1998 'Alexander Munro' Shiraz - Aged Release “Good clear garnet colour with typical Hunter aromas of red and black berries, licorice, sweet leather, cedar with just a little mintiness. On the palate medium bodied with a mix of berry fruit, leather, licorice and cedar oak all intermingling nicely. It has some chocolate characters too but the impression is largely of fresh berry fruit with some tertiary bottle aged characters coming through. Well structured with firm fine tannin, distinctly fresh clean acidity and good length of flavour closing with a sweet berry and leather aftertaste. At the moment I think this is still too young to drink, it needs (at least) another five or six years to show its Huntery best and will keep going on from there”. Rated : 94+ Points. Gary Walsh—Winorama—January 2008 A Hunter Hit..... "One of a number of top-shelf Shiraz from this boutique Hunter winery. This has a lot of grunt by Hunter standards with heaps of sweet dark fruit, some smokiness, and dried earth complexity. Lots of moreish Hunter spice, too". Rick Allen - Ciao Magazine "This is the new breed of Hunter semillon from the Eather family - whose winemaking roots go back 150 years. A single vineyard white with intense, mouth-puckering lime and lemon citrus flavours, tight structure and taut, racy acidity. Age-worthy". Peter Forrestal - Qantas Magazine - December 2007 2002 'Alexander Munro' Semillon "This great individual vineyard wine from the Eather brothers in the Hunter Valley hit a peak in 2002: wonderful, classic buttered toast bouquet now mellow and rich but still fresh. The palate is fine and soft and seems a tad low in acidity. But that's a minor quibble". 93 / 100. Food sauteed Balmain bugs. Huon Hooke - SMH Good Living - 27th November 2007 "Whether or not the Hunter Valley is a "hell hole" due to its summer heat is open for debate but it's certainly a great place to grow semillon. This shows lemon, stonefruit and lanolin-like regional traits, and its palate is ripe, long and intense. First-class. Food: Salt and pepper calamari. Aging: Drink now to 2012". êêêêê Sally Gudgeon & Ralph Kyte-Powell - Sunday Life 'Uncorked' - 18th November 2007 2007 'Alexander Munro' Chardonnay “Aromas of lemon rind, peach and matchstick with cashew nut and ginger spice oak. On the palate medium to full bodied with intense flavours of peach, grapefruit and lemon rind backed with spicy ginger oak and a little bit of struck match. It has penetrating mouth-watering acidity, a light slightly chalky texture and a little warmth. Finishes long and dry with a tangy preserved lemon aftertaste. There is a fair bit of free sulphur floating about at the moment that needs to settle, but this really is an excellent chardonnay”.92+ Points. Gary Walsh—Winorama—September 2007 “Aromas of blackberry, plenty of spice, dark chocolate, smoky bacon and some earthiness. All very nice. It has a medium to full bodied palate with blackberry and dark cherry fruit, spice, dark chocolate and earthy flavours. Firm dry lightly grippy tannins and good weight (not too heavy, not too light) so that you can drink heartily and well (but no more than your allotted two standard drinks per day mind you..) at a very keen price. Outstanding value”. Rated: 91 Points Gary Walsh – Winorama – November 2007 Fantastic aromas, classically varietal in nature. Fresh and invigorating, limes, limes and limes abound. Ripe resplendently lively and fresh. Lemon citrus follows. A gloriously composed wine with a clean crisp finish. Beautifully balanced and superbly drinkable. Really spot on stuff. Try with stuffed squid. Drink to 2020. About $25. 95/100 – Superb. Paul Ippolito - www.paulippolito.com.au - October 2007 "2007 Ewok is one of Meerea Park's best ever Semillon releases. This estate has threatened to produce something amazing for several years, but somehow just managed to duck under the Empire's radar. 2007 is, we hope, the beginning of a run of definition and craftsmenship, which makes this Semillon more than worthy of its position in your drinking calendar this year. With brilliant fresh lemon notes, this is one of the best Semillons we have seen, with the precision and brilliance of a fully charged light sabre." Matthew Jukes & Tyson Stelzer - Taste 2008 “This is excellent value too - even if I prefer the straight shiraz. There's a sweet aniseed-like flavour to its cherry-plummed core, the Hunter's natural earthiness lessened by the wine's apricotty lilt. For less than twenty bucks it drinks beautifully though, and better value is hard to find. Drink: 2007-2012. 90 points”. Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front - October 2007 “Awesome value. A lovely medium-weight, savoury wine that will probably go well in the cellar over ten years but, of course, drinks deliciously now. It's savoury but fruity, its cherry-plummed heart flecked with spice, earth and cedar. Its tannin are firm and grapey - this is a case buy. Really. Drink: 2007-2017. 92 points”. Campbell Mattinson—The Wine Front—October 2007 “Hunter Valley shiraz writ large. Smoky char oak and meaty, earthy fruit typical of the region but with superb concentration and depth. Elegant, fleshy and just a tad animal. This is a character-filled red of great potential”. Now to 2025. 93/100. Huon Hooke - SMH Good Living “Strong colour. Aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, earth, chocolate and light vanilla oak. There is a bit of floral perfume from the viognier but nothing distracting. It’s medium bodied with earthy blackberry and dark cherry fruit and has quite strong grainy tannins rippling through the palate. Minimal oak influence with clean slightly crunchy acidity and good length of flavour. Showed no signs of tiring after being open for a couple of days. Yet another vintage delivering outstanding value and great drinking”. Rated: 91 points. Gary Walsh - Winorama - www.winorama.com.au “Immaculate expression of variety and region. Typicity up to its gills - and a single vineyard wine to boot. I'm in the midst of writing a book called (provocatively?) Why The French Hate Us: The Real Story of Australian Wine - and it's wines like this that I'm going to ram forward. This is pure, piercing, lingering and lovely. It's cutely zesty and acidic, as a wine of this quality should be. It will be gorgeous in ten years - as, with oysters, it is gorgeous right now”. Drink: 2008-2019. 95 points. Campbell Mattinson – The Wine Front – July 2007. "This is exceptional value. It's a cracking wine. It's a great mix of drinkability and cutting cellarability, the high, driving, piercing ring of lemony flavour splashed with musky, spicy, tropical flavours. The length is outstanding. I love the bite of flavour on the finish. Very high class wine. Drink: 2007-2014". 93 points. Campbell Mattinson – The Wine Front – July 2007. "Aromas of cassis, licorice, earth and smoky spicy oak with a light floral lift. Darkly sweet and savoury. On the palate medium to full bodied with intense sweet black fruit and more earthy flavours backed with spicy smoky oak. It feels glossy and smooth with good fine firm tannins and a long sweet fruited finish”. Gary Walsh – Winorama – July 2007. “The third wine is a very interesting beast. It's very perfumed, quite licoricey, fruity and attractive, and yet it's still a savoury wine. It's the kind of wine you can sit and smell all day. As it turns out, it has five percent viognier in it, which is why it has such a sweetly exotic nose, but in the mouth it's not apparent at all, offering a delightful serve of medium-bodied, savoury, spicy Hunter Valley shiraz goodness. The tannins here, again, are ripe and fine, and for a moment I thought that this was the Hell Hole - a hefty compliment”. 92 points. Campbell Mattinson – The Wine Front – May 2007. “Aromas of rich blackberry, raspberry, pepper and licorice with smoky bacon and vanilla oak. On the palate medium bodied with blackberry, raspberry and blackcurrant, spice, vanilla and some smoky earthy flavours. Beautifully ripe expressive fruit without any heaviness. Smooth and supple with fine ripe tannins and balanced acidity. Long dry spicy finish with a blackcurranty aftertaste. Lipsmackingly good wine”. Rated : 94 Points. Gary Walsh – Winorama – June 2007. “I've been raving about the 2005 Meerea Park reds, but this is the one you must not miss out on. It's got a hit of vanillin oak, true, but most of all it's earthy and spicy and deliciously plummy, the Hunter Valley engraved on a heart of lipsmacking drinkability. There a bit of leather and game in the background, serving to drive the yum factor higher. Drink: 2007-2013”. 92 Points.
Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front - June 2007. 2002 'Alexander Munro' Semillon The 2004 version of this wine, made from Ken Braye's Braemore vineyard grapes, won a gold medal in the 100 per cent Hunter Valley any vintage semillon dry white class at the recent Hunter Valley Wine Show. The 2002 is pale straw in the glass and has green apple and lanolin scents. Crisp lemon flavour shows on the front of the palate and sherbert and lime zest characters chime in on the middle palate. Fresh steely acid refreshes at the finish. It's a lighter, delicate style of white that would be best with potato and leek soup, chicken and mushroom vol-ua-vent or warm broccoli and tuna salad. Aging: 5 years. 4 glass rating. John Lewis - Newcastle Herald - Uncorked - 5th September 2007 “Spotlessly clean; tightly wound, but crisp and balanced, with very good length; notes of grass and spice are very different to the ‘05, but do not suffer in comparison”. Rating 93. To 2017. James Halliday—2008 Wine Companion. "The aroma and flavour complexity is enhanced by the 6% viognier; blackberry, dark chocolate and that touch of apricot; soft and satisfying finish. Controlled use of french oak". Rating 94. James Halliday - 2008 Wine Companion "Medium red - purple; an elegant, medium- bodied wine; good texture and structure; plum, cherry and blackberry fruit, with fine tannins. Has soaked up the French oak in which it spent 2 years; 150 dozen made". Rating 94. James Halliday - 2008 Wine Companion "A spotless bouquet, then a super-precise and focused palate offering intense mineral, herb and lemon flavours; very long finish; 150 dozen made". Rating 95. James Halliday - 2008 Wine Companion "Typical vivid colour; a medium-bodied, fruit-driven wine with soft, almost silky, red fruits and viognier lift; minimal tannin and oak inputs". Rating 90. James Halliday - 2008 Wine Companion "A nicely constructed medium-bodied wine, with neat red fruits and fine tannins". Rating 90. James Halliday - 2008 Wine Companion “This wine was straight out of the fridge on the second day and the aromatics were already pumping, again. You just cannot hold a great wine down - amazing stuff indeed. Gary has recently said that he judges young Semillons by balance and length of flavour, and I think that is sound logic. And it must be said that this wine has both of those characteristics in spades. An awesome nose, lemon and lime, slate and just a shaving of citrus peel. The palate showed lemony acid, tight and refreshing, dry with some slightly grassy characters, soft acid and a long long finish. It is not simple; it is pure. Pure pleasure. Beautiful balance and length. Top notch stuff”. Rated : 95 Points. Lincoln Scott – Winorama – July 2007. This is big for a Hunter shiraz; deep and assertive with density. Smoky, charred barrel and coconut over dark cherry and plum. It's impressively proportioned. Best 2010 to 2020. 93/100. Huon Hooke - SMH Good Living An aged release from a top Hunter Valley maker, this is really beautiful, semi-mature semillon with lemon, herbal aromas and the beginnings of toasty development. Hints of beeswax and lemon curd; fresh, lively and delicious. Now to five years. 95/100. Huon Hooke - SMH Good Living - Top Aussie White “Aromas of dried cherry, raspberry pie, smoky bacon, dried herbs and spice. Curious smelling wine but I like it. On the palate medium to full bodied with dried cherry, raspberry, dried herb and earthy flavours. Smooth texture with some grainy tannins. Gamey raspberry finish of good length. Very good wine at this price”. Rated : 89 Points. Gary Walsh—Winorama—August 2007 "In years to come these guys will challenge the best". Ken Gargett - Qweekend - Courier Mail - 7th October 2006 "Every time someone asks me for the "next big wine thing" tip I point them to Meerea Park wines in the Hunter Valley". Paul Ippolito - Paul Ippolito Talks Wine - July 2006 "Meerea Park has been the bolter of the past few years, producing a constant stream of excellent wines, both white and red. Its maker, Rhys Eather, is clearly one of the region's winemaking stars." Campbell Mattinson - Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine - February 2006. "Over the past decade, Meerea Park has established itself as one of the Hunter's best producers." "Meerea Parks' four shirazes constitute one of the strongest ranges of Hunter red."Huon Hooke – Good Living – 12th July 2005 "Yes I know this is expensive but I think it's simply the best Hunter red I've had in years - maybe ever. This is not one of your tough old leathery Hunter Shirazes, as mighty as some of those have been. This has lovelyrich fruit, beautiful balance and structure and a little splash of Viognier, which makes it not only trendy but also just a tiny bit more delicious. If this is the future of Hunter Shiraz then I want a part of it." êêêêê Stuart Gregor - Don't Buy Wine Without Me 2005 "The next morning I visited the boys at Meerea Park, who all of a sudden are putting together some of the Hunter's best wines, at all prices. It's a tiny operation with barrels in every spare inch and the heart of passionate, small-scale winemaking on everyone's sleeve." Winefront Monthly – Campbell Mattinson – Sept-Oct 2004 "Meerea Park is among the Hunter Valley's foremost boutique winemakers.." Jeff Collerson - Daily Telegraph - 30th April 2003 "Meerea Park’s offerings are generally not complex, but they are hedonistic, delicious reds possessing abundant fruit . . . everything a beverage of pleasure should be". Robert Parker Jnr. - The Wine Advocate - October 2002 Rhys Eather...."He's become something of a star winemaker, but he's picky." Tim White - Australian Financial Review - February 2002 |
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