Shaw + Smith is an alliance between cousins Martin Shaw and Michael Hill-Smith. Their aim is to make contemporary, high quality wines that are outstanding examples of their type made from grapes grown in the Adelaide Hills. Shaw + Smith specialise in grape varieties suited to the cooler climate of the Adelaide Hills, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay & Shiraz.

Typically it shows a pink grapefruit character, concentration and mid-palate texture, which reflect the carefully selected sites and hand harvesting during the small window of perfect ripeness. The 2026 has lemon, lime and pink grapefruit aromas and real persistence of flavour. Great balance with bright acidity.

If the 2025 vintage was one of the earliest recorded in the Adelaide Hills, then 2026 was one of the longest. What a contrast. For Sauvignon Blanc, the vintage helps deliver a lovely textural quality and a quiet depth of fruit intensity and concentration. In other words, this is one serious Sauvignon. Lively passionfruit pulp aromas, citrus, green apple, lemongrass and herbals of pea shoot, dill, fennel with grassy elements. A saline crunch and citrus rind zestiness liven up the fruit and background earthy herbals, passionfruit pulp. Closes smooth and dry with a core of bright acidity persisting long. Seriously good. Date: July 2026; Rating: 95 Points; Jeni Port