Tyrrell's Wines

The Weekly Review Wine Column - Ben Thomas
May 2010

This is one of two Rufus Stone wines on the market (the other is from McLaren Vale) and it shows all the traits that makes Heathcote such a good region for Shiraz. It smells of dark cherries and blackberries with a hint of clove and liquorice. It’s rich and full of flavour with red berries, with a lovely spiciness and fine-grained tannins. It’s a top wine at $20 but this is often discounted heavily at the major chains so keep an eye out for it.

Weekend Gold Coast Bulletin - Lindsay Saunders
May 2010

You may remember last week we gave the McLaren Vale version a whirl, this week it's the Victorian shiraz and by crikey if it didn't knock off its Barossa cousin. It's a tart and tight shiraz with rich plummy flavours and cherries and vanilla on the nose. There's a definite zing on the tongue too. The Heathcote is a worthy table mate for red meat.

Australian Wine Journal - Chris Plummer
13 April 2010

Brightly coloured with a vivid red hue, the 2008 Heathcote Shiraz opens to an arrestingly regional, clear whiff of white pepper underlined by sweetly fruited dark plum and raspberry aromas with lightly toasted notes of cedar and mocha oak playing a secondary role. Its barely medium-bodied palate possesses the mouth-coating, long prickly spice characters that so define classic central Victorian shiraz, underneath which resides some evenly ripened sweet red berry and cedar tones. There's fluid movement and development to its well composed palate, which contains enough structure from a firm, tannic backbone to suggest it'll flesh out nicely over time. Fine, sweetly fruited yet spicy, structured, long and truly regional; this is what I call a quaffing shiraz price wise, that's a downright proper shiraz style wise. Drink to 2016. 91 points

Winewise -
February 2010

The ripe fruit is helped along by hints of spice and pepper. A big, but regional, red that is drinking well now.

Central Western Daily - David Cumming
25 February 2010

It is a balanced and flavoursome wine with black berry fruit, olive, chocolate and coffee characters. These are overlaid with a lovely smoky earthiness with roasemary and herbs. The vanillin oak is integrated and balanced.

Bendigo Advertiser -
20 February 2010

There aren't many Heathcote wines at better value than this at the moment. Tyrrell's is a proven performer that produces quality Shiraz. Dark crimson in colour it gives aromas of ripe dark fruit with flavours of ripe cherries and raspberries, making for a soft, elegant wine that continues to give. Long lasting, the subtle savouriness and the balanced use of oak make a wine that would complement a nice, hearty beef ragout.

Sydney Star Observer -
19 August 2009

The 2007 Rufus Stone Heathcote Shiraz is medium-bodied, smooth and packed with juicy flavours. The aromas are pepper and spice, typical of the Heathcote region.

Australian Doctor -
August 2009

Rufus Stone also sells a McLaren Vale version which is excellent, but this shiraz is a corker. Intense white pepper and chocolate aromas with a well-balanced palate, silky tannins and great length; it represents extraordinary value.

Sydney Star Observer - Sydney Star Observer
5 August 2009

The 2007 Rufus Stone Heathcote Shiraz is medium-bodied, smooth and packed with juicy flavours. The aromas are pepper and spice, typical of the Heathcote region.

Liquor Watch - Liquor Watch
May 2009

The Heathcote Shiraz has dark berry and spicy aromatics, showing the terroir strengths.

2009 Big Red Wine Book - Campbell Mattinson
June 2009

You have to taste this to believe it. It is monumentally delicious - it's really worth raiding the piggy bank for. It's seamless and smooth, and packed with juicy flavour. It tastes of plums and sandalwood, musky oak and cloves. It's a touch exotic, but mostly mesmerising in its sheer attractiveness. You just want to drink it and drink it and drink it - is there any better recommendation? Drink 2013-2022

Launceston Examiner - Mike Burnett
May 2009

The Rufus Stone Heathcote is medium to full bodied, with rich berry and spice characters running through the wine from the nose to an uncompromised finish. It is rich and juicy with fine, grippy tannins. The French oak nestles with the fruit to add flavour and complexity. It is a wine that should keep the dinner guests happy when red or game meats are served. It could also be that red that a couple can enjoy at the end of a working day at home or when dining out, where it should be a worthy wine listing for restaurants.

Newcastle Herald - John Lewis
20 May 2009

The wine is vivid garnet in colour and has meaty, plumy scents. Generous cassis flavour grabs the front of the palate and layers of dark chocolate, Satsuma plum, fennel and nutty oak flow in on the middle palate. Smooth flinty tannins come to the fore at the finish.

Sunday Herald Sun - Campbell Mattinson
17 May 2009

It's as smooth as silk, packed with dark, juicy fruit and has a gorgeous clip of musky vanillin oak flavour. Drink it with a slow-braised shoulder of lamb.

Oz Baby Boomers - John Rozentals
3 Mary 2009

There's lots of lovely dark berry and spice leaping out of the glass on the bouquet, but the palate is quite restrained, which is something I like. These elegant, medium-bodied dry reds are often the ones best suited to matching food.

Sunday Canberra Times - Chris Shanahan
26 April 2009

This excellent pair (Rufus Stone Heathcote & Rufus Stone McLaren Vale) from Tyrrell's invariably attracts trade attention, resulting in very low prices for wines of such quality and provenance. As I write they're available for as little as $15.99 by the dozen - a real bargain, as they are so delicious and have the capacity to age well for another five or six years. The Heathcote (Victoria) wine is a big but harmonious red - generously fruity and showing peppery varietal character with fine soft tannins.

Australian Gourmet Traveller - Australian Gourmet Traveller
April 2009

Tyrrell's Rufus Stone 2007 Heathcote Shiraz has an intense, sweet fruit oak on the nose. This combination follows through to dominate the front and middle palate.

Central Western Daily - David Cumming
16 April 2009

The 2007 shiraz is a big and bold wine. The dark inky black/red colour gives away its depth of flavour. Dark, brooding black fruit aromas combine with pepper and spice. The palate is fleshy, with intense fruit, chocolate and dark plum flavours. The tannins are dusty and slightly grippy. This is a wine that needs time in the bottle.

Weekend Post - Weekend Post
30 May 2009

Dark purple-red in colour, it's a medium bodied wine, that has aromas of spices, white pepper with ripe cherries and subtle oak. The flavours on the palate are balanced showing fruit richness, savoury undertones with an elegant structure. This wine, although enjoyable now, will cellar well to 2015.

Winestate - Winestate
Annual 2009

Intensely coloured, medium-weight wine with lovely balance and length of stone-fruit/charry oak aromas and flavours, with a fresh menthol finish.

Weekend Australian - Weekend Australian
8 November 2008

Tyrrell's secured water by a big pipeline when it acquired its land in Heathcote, which has paid big dividends in the ensuing drought years. Striking purple-red, this elegant, medium-bodied wine has ravishing black cherry and spice fruit, perfectly matched by seamless tannins and oak. Gold medal, National Wine Show 2007. Drink now to 2015 with osso bucco.

Winestate - Winestate
October 2008

Inky, oaky nose with an interesting fleshy palate showing decent fruit vibrancy. Still very young.

Mount Barker Courier - Mount Barker Courier
17 September 2008

Purplish red, the wine presents white peppers and red berry fruit on the nose while the palate is complex and rich.

Courier Mail - Mike Frost
16 September 2008

This central Victorian red shows rich, dark berry fruit with some pepper and restrained toasty oak on the nose and palate, with a savoury backbone and a fine tannin finish. Try it over the next five years with roast beef, lamb or game dishes. The companion '06 McLaren Vale Shiraz also is worth trying. Rating: 92

Courier Mail - Ken Gargett
July 2008

This needs time to open and reveal its deep black fruits and mulberry notes. Still, it has a lovely purity of fruit and is a seamless style. 92

Australian Gourmet Traveller - Australian Gourmet Traveller
July 2008

The 2006 Rufus Stone Shiraz shows fruit richness, savoury undertones with an elegant and complex structure. The finish is held together by tight acidity.

Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine - Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine
July 2008

Tyrrell's Wines expanded its shiraz portfolio in 1994, investing in vineyards outside the Hunter Valley for the first time. In the same year, Mark Richardson a new member of the Tyrrell's winemaking team was employed. During the following 14 years, Richardson has helped nurture the vineyards and craft red wines under the acclaimed Rufus Stone label. The 2006 Rufus Stone delivers on the promise of Heathcote as a shiraz region. Balanced flavours on the palate show fruit richness, savoury undertones with an elegant and complex structure. The finish is long and tightly held together by the thread of acidity, so important to the wines of this region. This wine, although enjoyable now, will display the benefits of cellaring in years to come.

Illawarra Mercury - Kerry Skinner
11 June 2008

Rufus Stone is the result of a major Tyrrell's project started in 1994 to produce top-shelf shiraz from Heathcote and McLaren Vale under the stewardship of red winemaker Mark Richardson. This latest vintage is right up there with layers of blackberry and plum fruit, spice and peppery characters, unobtrusive oak and silky tannins. Drink it with rare roast beef.

Central Western Daily - David Cumming
5 June 2008

Tyrrell's Wines are more known for their Hunter Valley wines than other regions throughout Australia. Having been in the Hunter for 150 years, it is no wonder. However, Tyrrell's have been making Shiraz from Victoria's Heathcote region for 10 years. The wine is made under their Rufus Stone label, which also stables a McLaren Vale Shiraz. The wine shows dark berry, chocolate, spice and coffee aromams which flow through to the palate with fruit cake flavours and a touch of anise. The tannins are integrated and approachable. The alcohol is a whopping 15.5%, but it does not come across too hot, which shows balance has been achieved. Cellar: 2009-2012

Winewise - Winewise
April 2008

When we saw the declared alcohol figure for this wine we couldn't believe it. The fruit component is vibrant and spicy, with no sign of raisin character or excessive alcohol heat. In fact, this wine was tasted in a bracket of cool region styles and fitted the bill in all respects. An impressive shiraz that will cellar well. Excellent Value

Winestate - Winestate
1 April 2008

A luscious fruit cake-like style of shiraz with a good dose of charry oak. "It's a pleasure to drink," said one judge. Spices on the nose and sweetness in the mouth.

Good Living - Huon Hooke
14 Aug 07

TOP AUSSIE RED "Remarkably balanced and appealing for a wine of 15.8 per cent alcohol. Dusty, earthy and cigarbox aromas. Big flavour and firm, drying tannins make a strong statement. Smooth, savoury, lingering finish. Now to 10-plus years." 90/100 Food: Aged hard cheeses.

International Wine Cellar - NA
July/August 2007

“Ruby-red. Spicy cassis and kirsch on the nose, with lively floral and mineral notes adding interest. Bright and fresh but chewy, with focused dark berry flavors enlivened by zesty acidity and firmed by fine-grained tannins. Nothing sloppy or overdone about this. The persistent, clear finish features crisp notes of crushed blackberry and candied violet.” 89 points.

Australian Table - Nick Ryan
July 2007

Tyrrell’s Rufus Stone Heathcote Shiraz 2005 “Heathcote, in Central Victoria, is a hugely exciting region for shiraz. So much so that Hunter Valley stalwart, Tyrrell's, has planted extensively in the area. Gloriously rich and opulent, this is a robust red that works a treat with slow-cooked meats.”

West Australian - Ray Jordan
12 July 2007

Tyrrell’s Rufus Stone Heathcote Shiraz 2005 “Supreme balance is the thing that stands out about this from the first sniff to the last sip. Neatly woven fine tannins, cedary oak and savoury spicy fruit merge seamlessly into a wine of substance and style.”

The Age - Ralph Kyte-Powell
May 2006

"Despite being firmly married to the Hunter Valley for generations, Tyrrell's was very impressed by the potential for Shiraz from Victoria's Heathcote region. Now, the company has a substantial vineyard there, and the wine quality so far hasn't disappointed. The latest example shows typically generous personality, with excellent depth of ripe plum and blackberry aromas. It's a less sunburnt wine than the '03, with more freshness and life but it still shows some ripe characters. The palate is smooth and plump, with good length and typically soft tannins. Four and a half stars."

Winestate Magazine -
July/ Aug 2006

“Sweet fruit nose and generously flavoured sweet, slightly earthy, palate.”