James Suckling - Top 100 Wines of Australia 2023
James Suckling is an American wine and cigar critic and former Senior Editor and European Bureau Chief of Wine Spectator. He established jamessuckling.com in 2010 and is one of the world’s most influential reviewers. His wines in Australia are reviewed by Ned Goodwin MW.
The Top 100 Wines of Australia for 2023 were recently published with the 2021 Block 15 coming in at 18 and the Estate Block 9 Shiraz coming in at 21. Surrounded by some great Australian wines, it was very exciting to say the least. And all the reviewed wines are still available via our website.
2021 Estate Block 9 Shiraz - 97 Points - An extremely exciting producer, relatively new on the Barossan scene. At least to me. The tannins across each wine, beautifully rendered. Immaculate. A feeling of infusion over aggressive extraction, serving the pulpy fruit and bumptious nature of the region's wines very well. Plush and full-bodied, but uncannily fresh, fragrant and beautifully poised. Think violet, anise, clove, cinnamon, tamarind and cardamon. Exotic Moroccan whiffs of incense sort of stuff, with plenty of blue and black fruit in the mix. A long, refined and effortless finish, with the pithy linger of well-managed tannins. Drink or hold.
2021 Block 15 Shiraz - 97 Points - This is an exceptional wine. I'm not sure I like it necessarily more than its Stone Well sibling, but...among the very best of the region. An apotheosis of latent power, salacious fruit, oak and welcome restraint thanks to the tannic kit. The tannic definition, again, the hallmark of the address. The oak is generous, yet nothing that this capacious wine shan't swallow in time. Bitter licorice pastille, biltong, molten dark fruit, licorella, kirsch and violet. As tempting as this is now, I'd bury it. Best after 2026.
2021 Primrose Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon - 95 Points - A full-bodied cabernet, drinking like a cooler-climatic one. A fine wine, boasting a phalanx of beautifully wrought tannins, corralling redcurrant and a wisp of verdant herb. Pliant, chewy and moreish, with real personality and fidelity to place, rather than invasive winemaking as the signature. The tannins make the wine, their pithy bite lingering long. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
