Classic Aussie Shiraz from the vineyard that borders the backbone vineyard of Penfold's Grange. This one's made by ex-Grange winemaker Daryl Groom, who now lives in California's Sonoma County but owns his own Australia vineyard. Lush, deep, rich and ripe, the wine fans out to reveal complex layers of black cherry, plum, licorice, spice, chocolate, blackberry, tar…
— J.M.
(6/1/2003)
Winemaker Daryl Groom has crafted an expansive Shiraz that’s full bodied and lushly textured but not unstructured. Flavors of blackberry and mocha weave in and out with notes of cola, chocolate and black olive on the softly lingering finish. Drink now–2018.
— J.C.
(5/1/2012)
An enchanting nose with notes of leather, bright berry fruit and olives. The palate is velvety and mouth-filling with flavors of plums and complex notes of toasty new oak. A long, fresh finish promises significant improvement with age. Classic Barossa. Drink now to 2020.
— W.E.
(2/1/2009)
A bold wine, loaded with bright acidity but balanced with plenty of good body. It’s redolent of grapefruit, gooseberry, fig, melon, fresh cut hay, lemon and mandarine orange. Long and fresh on the finish.
— J.M.
(6/1/2003)
A sunny, lovely wine, the Groom smells of yellow fruit and vanilla bean (the latter note is strange, considering the wine’s unoaked). On the palate, it’s lively and crisp, with bright pineapple, citrus and green grape flavors. Juicy and crisp on the finish, with chalk drawing the wine to its close. Delicious, and affordable to boot.
— D.T.
(5/1/2004)
Daryl Groom has turned out a reasonably bold, intense Sauvignon Blanc that weighs in under 13% alcohol yet manages to avoid tasting malnourished or underripe. Fig, melon and citrus aromas and flavors hit the right buttons, then finish on a lingering note. Drink now.
— J.C.
(9/1/2008)
A fuller-sized, round SB, one that feels more Californian than from the Hills. Still, it’s a very pleasing wine. It smells of pure peach nectar—a flavor that is echoed on the palate, along with fresh mango. It all hangs on a dry, minerally frame. Imported by Winebow.
— D.T.
(8/1/2005)
This Sauvignon starts off with a very pretty lemon meringue aroma, which translates on the palate as a dusty-citrus core. There’s a helping of fresh green herbs and peas just at palate entry, with white peach and green apple flavors on the midpalate. Round and a shade less zesty than it has been in previous vintages, but still one of the prettier Hills SBs…
— D.T.
(6/1/2006)