Oakdene Halliday Wine Companion 2020
2020 Halliday Wine Companion
Every year the release of Halliday's Wine Companion draws a lot of attention and excitement and the release of the 2020 edition is no exception.
This year Oakdene has 6 wines rated 94 points or above and retained a 5 red star rating for the sixth year running keeping Oakdene in the top echelon of Australian producers.
Here is a snapshot of our scores and reviews.
95 points, 2017 Oakdene Single Vineyard William Shiraz
Hand-picked, wild yeast fermented in small open vats with 15% whole bunches, matured in French barriques (30% new) for 16 months. Oakdene has decided to go for it in this spectacular vintage, and has got off to a flying start with this sumptuous wine. Picked at a modest baume level, it has the power more commonly found in the Barossa or Eden Valley at 14.5%-15% alcohol. This also has fine-grained tannins in best cool climate style.
95 points, 2017 Oakdene Single Vineyard Bernard's Cabernets
71% merlot, 16% cabernet franc, 13% cabernet sauvignon. Fine and elegant, the varieties complement each other with redcurrant, plum, cedary spice and pencil shavings amongst the aromas you can pick up on the bouquet, and a suite of similar flavours on the palate. It's long and supple with enough grip to encourage cellaring.
94 points, 2018 Oakdene Single Vineyard Jessica Sauvignon
Hand-picked, crushed, pressed to French barriques (15% new) for cultured yeast fermentation and 8 months maturation. High quality estate fruit, matched by skilled winemaking. This is a wine of real quality and stamina, its citrussy acidity driving the long palate and aftertaste.
94 points, 2017 Oakdene Single Vineyard Liz's Chardonnay
Wild-fermented in new and used French barriques. Attractive and generous in an open-hearted fashion, with white and yellow peach fruit, citrussy acidity and cashew/oak. Good overall balance and length.
94 points, 2017 Bellarine Peninsula Pinot Noir
Estate-grown, fermented in small open fermenters, matured in new and used French oak for 11 months. A highly expressive bouquet reflects the vinification (some French oak in particular), and the underlying quality of the fruit. The palate is plump, rich and textured. There's lots on offer here, now or in 10 years time.
94 points, 2017 Oakdene Single Vineyard Peta's Pinot Noir
Wild-fermented with some whole bunches to build spicy notes on the bouquet and palate, matured for 12 months in new and used French barriques. The bouquet is fine, the palate needing time to settle down (which it will do).
94 points, 2018 Oakdene Late Harvest Riesling
Probably not quite what is expected of a late harvest style in 375ml packaging, that being more typical of a luscious dessert wine. The water-white colour is an indicator. Following that there's ripe and aromatic riesling character on the bouquet, and a palate which is certainly sweet, but light on it's feet with crisp acidity escorting it all the way. Drink now and enjoy I'd say.
91 points, 2018 Bellarine Peninsula Pinot Grigio
Shows some skins/lees type savoury characters on the bouquet, along with the usual ripe pear aromas of the variety and a hint of apple pie with cinnamon. Nicely textured palate, quite mouthfilling, and offering sweet fruit flavour and lively youthfulness. It has reasonable acidity but it's basically soft and forward in style, so drink now is the way to go.
91 points, 2018 Bellarine Peninsula Rose
Made from whole bunch pressed pinot noir. Lifted aromas of strawberry, fresh and inviting, and there's a 'vinosity' of aroma that can sometimes be missing with rose. Flavours are light but attractive, red berries leading the way with rose water and watermelon in addition. Finishes well with a pleasantly astringent twist.
91 points, 2017 Bellarine Peninsula Shiraz
Estate-grown, open-fermented, matured in French barriques for 11 months. Excellent hue and depth. Well made, with a crosscurrent of red and black cherries on one hand, some muted savoury/leafy notes on the other. The overall balance is good, as is the length.
89 points, 2018 Oakdene Bellarine Peninsula Sauvignon Blanc
Generous fruit, mostly in the riper spectrum for the variety, although there's a background of more herbal characters and some evidence of the post-ferment time on lees. The flavours are fresh and juicy, just lacking the intensity for a higher score but there'll be few complaints from the customers.