Swinney Mourvedre 2023

Savoury. That’s it. Well if I must say more, alongside the Farvie, this is Australia’s benchmark Mourvedre. Fragrant, savoury spice, blackcurrant, lavender, glace cherry, autumn leaves, cured meat, Provencal herbs and pink peppercorn. The firmest, most savoury and mineral of the estate wines. Medium bodied, with black olive, hedge fruits, seaweed, oyster shell and licorice. focused tannins, cashmere-like, but more prominent compared to the Syrah and Grenache. The smell reminds me of a oiled, freshly shot shotgun in a winter forest. Truly. Norris, Waters Wine Co

A very fine example of the variety – deeply flavoured, touched with floral and game meat aspects, distinctly herbal and savoury and yet imbued with pitch-black berry fruitiness. It’s svelte in the palate, almost a pinosity but for the variety’s somewhat gruff exterior and tendency to earthiness and dusty tannins. Beautifully balanced and epic in drinking. 95 points – Halliday Wine Companion

Yet another remarkable Rhone variety expressed perfectly from Frankland River. The aim appears to have been to present this as true a reflection of the vineyard as possible. It’s from bush vines and then a combination of whole bunches to build structure, wild fermentation to build texture and then finishing off for 11 months on lees in older French oak. It all contributes to a beautifully expressive wine capturing the distinctive ferrous regionality and the soft supple fruit of the variety with a little dried herb and sage bush lift. 95 Points – Ray Jordan, www.rayjordanwine.com.au, August 2024