Halliday Reviews
HALLIDAY 2027 WINE COMPANION
It’s hard to top these great reviews! We’re grateful to Jane Faulkner for her thoughtful words about the following wines featuring in the Halliday 2027 Wine Companion.
2021 The Drake 97 pts
The Drake is Greg Follett’s way of making a classic Australian blend capable of living 20 years or more. In a nutshell, he does that by ending up with the best two barrels – a blend of 75/25% cabernet sauvignon/shiraz this vintage – with vines aged 60-plus and 50 years old respectively, in oak for 20 months; released only in the best vintages. This is a classic, Greg. There's a whorl of perfect dark fruits encased in cedary, spicy oak, all integrated with beautifully shaped tannins. It’s full bodied but not heavy, flavourful yet has inherent balance. It’s just a cracking wine today and will be in two decades’ time. Get in quick – only 540 bottles available. Jane Faulkner
2025 Nero d’Avola 95 pts
I love drinking this as it’s cracking value and a cracking wine. That's all thanks to its upfront dark- and red-fruit profile, exotic spices, hint of red lollies and juicy, uplifting acidity. There’s detail, too; it’s not just all fruit flavours as there’s a savouriness in the mix. The tannins are textural and shapely, the palate mid-weighted (just), and there’s an overall sense of enjoyment in smelling and tasting this. Happy days! Jane Faulkner
2025 Old Vine Grenache 95+ pts
Quite extraordinary to think this beautiful wine comes off 92-year-old vines and can be bought for a song. A bright if light garnet with heady aromas of rose petals, joss sticks and musk lollies. The palate is finely etched with silty tannins, sweet fruit and warm spices. Opening this, I just want to sit back and contemplate the good things in life and how old age, vines and people are precious. Jane Faulkner
2024 Section 54 Shiraz 95 pts
Seriously, Lake Breeze produces such wonderful, enjoyable, quality wines. They are exceptional value and tick so many boxes. This is another tip-top Section 54 offering a gorgeous deep ruby hue, swooning aromas of florals, baking spices, cocoa dusted on red berries, and cedary oak (but not too much, more like a seasoning). The palate is supple, with fine tannins and acidity working in tandem. Nothing is out of place, and it’s a beautiful drink. Jane Faulkner
2024 Bernoota 95 pts
Average age of the vines is 40 years. It’s a 60/40 split, and it’s fabulous – the best value red in Australia, I reckon. A core of excellent fruit, a hint of spicy oak, fuller bodied but not weighty, with beautiful tannins and fresh acidity. Seriously, what more do you want in a cracking drink-now wine? Jane Faulkner
2025 Rosato 95 pts
Grenache is at the heart of this refreshing rosato with its bright copper onion-skin hue; fragrant with florals, a little spice and watermelon rind. Flavours move through barely ripe raspberries and strawberries to some palate-coating leesy texture, which adds to its shape, then super-fresh acidity whooshes through nicely. Jane Faulkner
2025 Moscato 95 pts
As usual, it’s lightly fizzy, delicious and ultra-refreshing. Fragrant and full of varietal flavour, think roses, mint, lemon rind and salted lemons, some lollies, grapey, too, given its youth. The sweetness is well balanced by the acidity, so really, it’s very good. Chill and pour; all those terpenes will make you happy. Jane Faulkner
