Two Best’s wines in Halliday’s 2019 Top 100

The 2019 James Halliday Top 100 was released in the Weekend Australian Magazine on 9 November 2019 and two Best’s Wines made the list. This much anticipated list ispublished each year. James Halliday noted:

The Top 100 selection is influenced by value for money and the imperative to offer a balanced, representative choice across varieties and region.

The vast majority of wines submitted to enter have already had a five-star rating in 2020 Wine Companion and no more than six wines could be submitted by any winery, a tough new restriction that reduced the number of wines, but increased the overall quality of wines in the field.

Here’s what James had to say about the Best’s wines that made the cut:

2017 White Gravels Hill Shiraz

97 points, Top 20 Reds Over $30

“Hand picked, open-fermented with 70% whole bunch, 30% whole berry, 14 months in French barrels. Wow. It has its own personality, its spiced tannins dancing around blackberry and satsuma plum fruit. The finish and aftertaste are superb.

James noted that the red wines under $30 category was the most interesting of the four groups of table wine. With an intersection of variety, vintage and place. In the outcome there were six shiraz, four pinot noirs, four grenache and blends, three cabernet and three other varietals. Our 2018 Best’s Great Western Pinot Noir stands alongside some fine company. Putting Great Western Pinot Noir in the spotlight alongside wines from Yarra Valley, Huon Valley and Tasmania.

2018 Great Western Pinot Noir

96 points, Top 20 Reds Under $30

“From vines planted in the ’80s as cuttings taken from Best’s ancient pinot planted in 1866. Deeply coloured, its bouquet and palate are driven by red cherry, pomegranate and rose petals. Is is a pinot with power, the quality enhanced by a further six months in the bottle.”

This wine is sold out, but perhaps try our 2017 Old Clone Pinot Noir. It scored 95 points from Halliday in 2019 Wine Companion. Old Clone is sourced from our pinot noir vines planted in 1860’s it is something special!