Grabbed another bottle, keeps getting better with age. The Prisoner Wine Company’s eponymous first wine was inspired by the drinkable “mixed blacks” made by the Italian immigrants who originally settled in Napa Valley. Fruit from vineyards in warm Oak Knoll and cool-climate Carneros with just a touch of Roussanne. Pleasant aromas of tropical fruits and citrus. Fresh flavors of peach, apple and lemon zest, well balanced, vivid acidity with nice mouthfeel. Lingering finish ending with mineral notes. wow! — 6 years ago
Pax Mahle makes majestic Syrah that is light and gentle as single vineyard cool climate Pinot. His wines encapsulate the best of the idiosyncratic grape in a more delicate than typical frame that is complex and lean, but neither thin nor meager.
His Wind Gap Majik single vineyard has funky expressive aromas of iodine, menthol, violet, olive, and black peppercorn. Flavors of herbs, unripe blackberry, and salty minerals. Tons of flavor and body at an astounding 11.5% ABV (2014 was 10.4%!).
P.S. considering buying his Pax Hillside which got 100 points from @Antonio Galloni last year. If anyone has tried 2017 please let me know how it was. — 7 years ago


Another masterstroke from Steve Pannel, beautiful cold climate shiraz, good body, dark berries, touch of soft spice but overall a nice fruit driven shiraz for Australian climates. — 9 years ago
Wonderful cold climate Cabernet Sauvignon from just outside of Hobart. Herbaceous almost grassy with a hint of mint. Intense black fruit on the mid-palate with a wonderful grippy kick. Had four of these now over 4 years and yet to be disappointed. The bottle variation is almost nonexistent. — 10 years ago
Aged cool climate Syrah from a consummate family. The tertiary flavors are stellar. — 5 years ago
Deep Ruby in colour. Cherry, red fruits generally, stems and a Jujube confectionery note. Intense red fruits on the medium bodied palate. Lovely texture and mouthfeel - sweetish. So obviously delicious it is difficult to look beyond anything else. From Australia’s most southerly vineyard in the Huon Valley south of Hobart. Visited there a few years ago with the family and had a lovely lunch. This wine won the Trophy for Best Pinot Noir at the Australian Cool Climate Wine Show in 2014 - and one can see why. — 6 years ago
A shining example of cool climate, domestic syrah — 8 years ago
Well made. My first venture into Tasmania wine. It was fleshier than I was expecting from a cool climate. Kind of peachy with some baking spices. Tried it over two days. — 8 years ago
I had very high expectations for this wine. I had heard a lot of very good things about Bedrock. This was my first one.
It came out of the bottle hot. Despite a couple of hours, it remained mostly hot. Strawberry and cassis on the nose. Definite American oak. A slightly bitter and metallic finish.
I was surprised to read the back label that claimed this was cool climate. It doesn't feel like that at all.... — 9 years ago


Contrary to my last note, this IS my last bottle of 2 dozen. Mid Ruby in colour. Dark ripe cherries with a little pepper on both nose and palate. Can see why this wine has won 13 Trophies on the Australian Show Circuit including 5 at Royal Sydney. Ridiculous value at $22 or less. So easy to drink. Made by French winemaker Celine Rousseau in the cool climate Hilltops District near Young NSW. Wish I had more. — 6 years ago
Ripe dark black cherry and briar. Extremely young, but wonderful exuberant fruit and acid balance. Cool climate Syrah with nice class. Round, smooth, and already showing rounded ripe tannins. I think their syrahs show amazing value and sing with a Swiss steak braise. — 6 years ago
Love these cool climate Shirazes from Canberra District. A riot of white pepper and spice. Medium bodied with earthy minerality with some charcuterie notes. Short term cellaring from this point. Took a bottle to the UK 23 weeks later on 26th July 2019 and had it with chicken at sister Helen and Nick’s place. Consistent tasting notes as above. — 7 years ago
I'm so impressed by the complexity in this for such a young wine. How often do you hear CA syrahs being compared to N. Rhone? Way too much right? Well, how many CA syrahs out there are cold climate, coming in at 12.0%, and bringing the funk? This starts interesting with a soft fruit nod and then ends with an earthy funk punch. Could potentially be a dead ringer for a fine St. Joseph with another 7-8 years. — 8 years ago
Expected more of the 2012 National Wine Show Trophy winner for Shiraz although at $15 great QPR. Cool climate continental Shiraz from the developing Gundagai district- similar terroir to nearby Canberra district. Aromatic spicy nose - medium weight minerally palate with moderate length. Short term collaring. — 9 years ago
Still trying to get a hang of this spice rack. Cool climate to the max. — 10 years ago
Johnno Harris
This is such a good LL release. Cool climate Shiraz / Syrah at its very best. So good. — 5 years ago