Crown & Anchor McLaren Vale Shiraz 2023
96 Point Rated - Australian Wine Showcase Magazine
96 Point Rated & 5 Star Rated - Sam Kim Wine Orbit

Curtis Family Martins Vineyard Limited McLaren Vale Shiraz 2020
97 Point Rated - Sam Kim Wine Orbit
"This is gloriously rich and enticing with blackberry, warm spice, tapenade and cedary oak characters on the nose. The palate is equally impressive, displaying outstanding weight and power combined with velvety mouthfeel, finishing superbly long and delicious. At its best: now to 2040. $150.00

96 Point Rated - Ken Gargett Wine Pilot
"This wine is part of a limited series of McLaren Vale Shiraz and for me, perhaps the most impressive in the range – which is saying something as it has plenty of competition. Vibrant purple in colour, this offers a lovely seductive nose, which is deeply flavoured with blackberry notes, plums, boot leather, bergamot, black cherries and spices. Hints of oak but melding well. Dense in structure though well balanced at all times, this is very long and has satiny tannins in abundance. It should sail through a decade in the cellar, though is drinking well now. Simply a cracking McLaren Vale Shiraz. Price: $150.00

96 Point Rated - Patrick Eckel
"This is a classy McLaren Vale Shiraz and seems to defy what was more of a challenging vintage. The nose shows brooding dark plum and blackberry fruit that is amply supported by a swathe of brown spices and dark chocolate. The impact of incredible quality oak in undeniable on the nose, however the way it folds into the textured plum and black cherry fruit on the palate is seamless; tannins are fine and firm as is the acidity but in near perfect balance with the drive and influence of the fruit. The finish has a touch of leather to textured black fruits and lingering spice. Will live a long time."

96 Point Rated - Australian Wine Showcase Magazine

96 Point Rated - Kim Brebach

92 Point Rated Stuart Knox The Real Review

94 Point Rated Alex Lloyd The Wine Panel

94 Point Rated - John Clarke The Wine Panel

90 Point Rated - Ned Goodwin James Halliday Wine Companion

90 Point Rated - James Suckling

Mount Bold McLaren Vale Cabernet Shiraz 2016
93 Point Rated - Australian Wine Showcase Magazine
"Plenty of brooding fruit aromas. Dark fruity plum flavoured palate with a lovely luscious mouthfeel."

Normans Chais Clarendon McLaren Vale Shiraz 2016
96 Point Rated - Australian Wine Showcase Magazine

"Fruit driven spicy, blackcurrant aromas. Plenty of sweet fruit on the palate, tasting of violets, blackcurrant, blackberry and cherries with wonderfully integrated oak. Has very nice complexity."

Curtis Family Vineyards Pasha Bin 388 McLaren Vale Shiraz 2018
96 Point Rated - Sam Kim Wine Orbit
"Immensely complex and enticing, the wine shows dark fruit richness with smoked game, cake spice, mushroom and spicy oak characters on the nose. It's equally gratifying on the palate with outstanding concentration and weight, wonderfully enhanced by velvety mouthfeel and loads of polished tannins. Sumptuously appealing. At its best: now to 2038."

96 Point Rated - Natalie McLean
"Pasha 2018 Shiraz is as rich on the nose as it is on the palate with dark cherry, smoked meat, anise, cinnamon and earthy mushroom aromas and flavours concentrated on the palate with a lingering spicy finish. Tannins are velvety. Enjoy now with a roast leg of lamb rubbed with rosemary and garlic, or cellar to 2030."

96 Point Rated - Kim Brebach
"The Curtis family have made a name for themselves in recent years by crafting traditionally styled McLaren Vale Shiraz – big, bold and chewy wines with lavish oak that are crowd pleasers. The hot 2018 vintage is ideal for the style and has turned out another blockbuster here. This wine is big in every way – deeply coloured with powerful fruit supported by a fair whack of oak, at least part of which is American. Blueberry, blackberry and chocolate fruits are here in spades. It’s then ripe and tannic on the palate with dense fruit which shows attractive length. A meat and potatoes kind of wine for a cold Winter night."

95 Point Rated John Clark
"Elegantly poised with dark red and plum fruits, the wine is enveloped in notes of mocha and chocolate, all tied together with intricate spice and complexity. The palate echoes the same characteristics, offering a velvety texture that harmonizes the rich oak with the plush red fruits. With a readiness to be enjoyed now and an impressive potential for aging, this Shiraz is a true testament to the skill full winemaking and old vine shiraz."

96 Point Rated – Wine State Magazine

93 Point Rated - James Halliday Wine Companion
"An unabashed full-bodied wine. Made to an older-school creed, while glimpsing a contemporary vein of freshness. Just! A mid ruby. Dark cherry and red-fruit allusions, all. Lilac lift. Mocha oak, French and American. Yet there is a levity to this. A welcome lightness. Freshness, even. Nothing jammy or obtuse. The tannins, largely derived from oak. The core, creamy and smooth. This will win over plenty of drinkers."

92 Point Rated - Bob Campbell The Real Review
"Moderately dense, ripe shiraz with cassis, dried berry, chocolate-mocha, mixed spice and smoky oak flavours supported by firm tannins that leave a drying finish. A robust red with cellaring potential."

91 Point Rated - Aaron Brasher The Real Review
"Really deep, dark and opaque in the glass. Dark aromatics of stewed plums, panforte, liqueured prunes, vanilla and spice. Unashamedly big, bold and brash, an old-school shiraz. With plenty of black fruits, oak and alcohol, it packs a punch."

91 points - Michael Godel Wine Align
"Old vines, long cold soaks and ferments put this McLaren Vale shiraz in an old-school way and that's jus the way we like it, uh-huh, uh-huh. Makes for a beast of a varietal wine, austere when young just like they make 'em over in the old country. Also brings out the diversity in the clonal selection and mutation of plants from old vines so that one never knows what's really happening. In the glass complexity thy name is Pasha. Glycerin, bloody, tight, tart and somehow plush. Finishing spice is unique and exotic. Hard not to be more than curious about this specialized wine. Drink 2023-2028. Tasted December 2022."

90 Points - Angus Hughson Wine Pilot
"The Curtis family have made a name for themselves in recent years by crafting traditionally styled McLaren Vale Shiraz – big, bold and chewy wines with lavish oak that are crowd pleasers. The hot 2018 vintage is ideal for the style and has turned out another blockbuster here. This wine is big in every way – deeply coloured with powerful fruit supported by a fair whack of oak, at least part of which is American. Blueberry, blackberry and chocolate fruits are here in spades. It’s then ripe and tannic on the palate with dense fruit which shows attractive length. A meat and potatoes kind of wine for a cold Winter night."

90 Points - David Lawrason Wine Align
"Hand harvested from 60 year old vines, this is a fragrant, tidy if sweet edged shiraz with classic aromas of blackcurrant/black cherry, pepper, graphite and dried herbs. It is full bodied, fairly dense with some sweetness. A bit earthy and clouded on the finish. The length is very good to excellent. Tasted Dec 2022."

90 Points - Megha Jandhyala Wine Align
"This is an open, generously aromatic shiraz, infused with ripe blackberries, blueberry compôte, sandalwood, spice, and herbs. The full-bodied palate is thick and dense, almost syrupy, with fine tannins and juicy acids. Length is excellent with a softly warming finish. Ready to drink. Tasted December 2022 by Critic Understudy Megha Jandhyala."

Zagora Estate McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
92 Point Rated - Ken Gargett Wine Pilot
"For this easy drinking, well-crafted and good value McLaren Vale Cabernet, the wine saw a mix of fermentation techniques used, including the incorporation of French oak. Blood red/garnet hue here, the nose exhibits spicy notes, a mix of red and darker fruits, a hint of aniseed, warm earth and tobacco leaves. A savoury style with good concentration, we see espresso characters emerging on the palate. Fresh and quite vibrant on the palate, there is good focus, fine tannins and a line of acidity leading to a persistent finish. Attractive wine for enjoying over the next six to eight years."

Normans Peacock McLaren Vale Shiraz Cabernet 2016
95 Point Rated - Australian Wine Showcase Magazine
"Pleasant fruit cake bouquet. Matched nicely by a lovely, rich palate loaded with sweet plum flavours and a soft tannin finish.

96 Point Rated & 5 Stars - Sam Kim Wine Orbit
"Gracefully rich and sumptuous, the wine shows dark fruit intensity, cured meat, cedary oak and dark chocolate characters on the nose. The superbly weighted palate displays plush texture combined with beautifully melded tannins, finishing impressively long and expansive. A delicious offering filled with richness and complexity. At its best: now to 2034. $125.00. www.normanswines.com. Feb 2024."

Crown & Anchor McLaren Vale Shiraz 2023
Gold Medal
Australian Wine Showcase Magazine

Curtis Family Martins Vineyard Limited McLaren Vale Shiraz 2020
Gold Medal
AWC Vienna 2022
AWC Vienna 2021
CWSA 2022
CWSA 2021
CWSA 2020

Mount Bold McLaren Vale Cabernet Shiraz 2016
Gold Medal
Australian Wine Showcase Magazine

Normans Chais Clarendon McLaren Vale Shiraz 2016
Double Gold Medal

China Wine & Spirits Awards Best Value 2018

Gold Medal
Australian Wine Showcase Magazine

Normans Peacock McLaren Vale Shiraz Cabernet 2016
Gold Medal
Australian Wine Showcase Magazine