HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION REVIEWS
WINE COMPANION LISTINGS
2016 JRS The Sussex Squire Barrel Select Shiraz
Hand-picked from the estate Thomas Block, open-fermented for 10 days, then drained through the basket press without pressing, matured for 24 months in new French puncheons. You either accept the impact of the new oak or you don’t, and I’m on the acceptance side. It is exceptionally intense and long, the decision to bypass pressing inspired.
14.5% Drink by 2031
2017 Sussex Squire The Bloodline Shiraz Cabernet
A 55/45% blend from three estate blocks showing the elegant intensity of the wine part nature (the cool vintage), part man (carefully chartered vinification). The net result is a truly delicious wine that fills the mouth with red and black cherry fruits and subtle oak. Bargain.
14.0% Drink by 2031
2017 Sussex Squire Samuel Block Cabernet Sauvignon
Hand-picked, destemmed, 12 days on skins, lightly basket-pressed, matured in French oak (20% new), 210 dozen made. Continues the style and quality of the ’17 Sussex Squire wines, cassis in abundance, rare in the Clare Valley and closer to cool-grown cabernet. A striking wine in the context of the Clare Valley.
14.5% Drink by 2032
2016 Sussex Squire The Hungry Sheep Mataro
A dry-grown vineyard at 500m in Penwortham, open-fermented for 10 days, matured in French oak (30% new) for 12 months, named after the hungry sheep that roam the vineyard in the winter months. Sussex Squire really nailed this wine, getting the picking date at the right moment, and making no mistakes in either vinification or maturation. Its full-flavoured yet fresh, with no cooked fruit characters whatsoever. The new French oak has been absorbed, leaving the finish clear and bright. 14.8% Drink by 2030
2016 Sussex Squire The Partnership Shiraz Mataro
From two dry-grown vineyards, fermented and matured separately for 12-15 months in new and used French oak before blending. A convincing marriage of regions and varieties, with a wedding waltz of spicy saviour notes ex Mataro setting the tune and beat of the medium bodied palate. Shiraz (60%) is the groom and Mataro the bride, and you end up liking them both. 14.5% Drink by 2031
2016 Sussex Squire Samuel Block Cabernet Sauvignon
Hand-picked from a small vineyard in Armagh, de-stemmed, open-fermented, hand-plunged twice daily, 12 days on skins, matured in French oak (20% new), 110 dozen made. There’s more happening here than might appear on first acquaintance, explained by the slightly elevated acidity and bright crimson edge to the colour. Vibrant cassis breaks free on the finish and aftertaste, and will sustain the wine for years to come.
2016 Sussex Squire Thomas Block Shiraz
Estate-grown, hand-picked, de-stemmed, open-fermented, hand-plunged twice daily, 10 days on skins, matured in French oak (30% new) for 15 months. This is uncompromisingly full-bodied, its complex dark fruit mince pie bouquet bringing unexpected spicy notes along with it, followed by a delicious savoury edge to the plum and blackberry fruits of the palate. The tannins are far softer than the weight of the wine might suggest.
2016 Sussex Squire The Raging Bull Malbec
From Armagh, open-fermented on skins for 10 days, basket-pressed, matured in used French oak for 12 months, named after Mark Bollen’s grandfather’s show bull who didn’t like travelling and was always very bad tempered when it arrived at shows. An elegant example of one of the Clare Valley’s favourite sons, no raging bull anywhere to be seen. Rather, the varietal, plum-accented fruit stakes its claim to the heart of a wine with depth, balance and length.
