It is actually a very interesting mix. Here we have arguably the world’s most famous wine company in Moët & Chandon a million miles away from their comfort zone in Champagne, making Australia’s most revered wine variety in Heathcote, a region that has gone from being the ‘next big thing’ to just being a big thing! Guess what? It works. And boy, does it work. Despite being far removed from their spiritual France, this wine is eerily more reminiscent of a Northern Rhone Shiraz than it is of an Australian wine, and in this instance, that is a great thing.

A deep crimson colour; it opens up with the most gorgeous, inviting nose that fills the room with acacia flowers, vanilla, spice, blackberries and cherries. Like smelling those fruit pastels I used to eat when I was younger (two weeks ago). The weight is also un-Heathcote like but again this is a bonus as it makes this wine so gluggable. I love the ‘juicy’ nature of this but it is never extracted or overripe – it is impeccably balanced. The elegance and seriousness is always there with a great backbone of excellent oak treatment and finishes with mouth drying fine grained tannins. As a bonus, I’m happy enough to drink this now, after a decent decant. Now – 2018+; Quality: Excellent BW; WineStar© December 2009
 
Full crimson-purple; a wine that brings out all the best features of Heathcote, the fragrant aromas of cherry and spice leading into a beautifully balanced, elegant, medium-bodied palate that flows across the tongue, finishing with succulent tannins. Screwcap. 14% alc. Rating 96 Points; Drink 2022 $32 Date Tasted Sep 09 James Halliday Wine Companion
 
Nice stylish wine this one. The bottle says 14%, but it’s clocked at exactly 13.9% on the technical specs. Spicy with a twist of black pepper, blackberry, licorice and top marks for the beautiful, unobtrusive, oak treatment. It’s medium weight and fresh with spicy bramble berry flavours and a pleasant roast nut flavour. Fine grainy tannins, no excess heat, and excellent length and flow through the mouth. It’s a lovely wine to drink, perhaps a little lacking in excitement (for even higher points), but wholly admirable for its style and delivery. Rated : 93 Points; Tasted : Dec09 Alcohol : 13.9% Price : $33 Closure : Screwcap Drink : 2009 - 2015+ By Gary Walsh; The Wine Front
 
An elegant, spicy shiraz in a Cornas style with an almost exaggerated floral, musky perfume of violets, cassis and blackberries backed by aromatic, lightly smoky oak with meaty, earthy undertones and a hint of cracked pepper. Saturated with intense plum and berry favour, it's full to medium in weight, supported by a firm, drying and bony chassis and finishes quite meaty and savoury. (17.6/91, YTD 2012-2015) Jeremy Oliver