2021 Halliday Wine Companion

James Halliday has released his scores for the 2021 Wine Companion. We have 22 wines that have received 95 points and above!

Here is a list of these wines and their reviews:

2019 Cherubino Great Southern Riesling - 97 points

All the tightness, precision and intensity of the palate have been prophesied by the bouquet and reinforced by the aftertaste. Meyer lemon, lime and Granny Smith apple are welded together by the core of acidity that will underwrite the longevity of the wine. 

2019 Cherubino Porongurup Riesling - 96 points

There’s a laser precision to riesling from Porongurup as this attests. A touch of lavender to the citrus blossom, grapefruit alongside Meyer lemon and mouth-watering chalky acidity. Long, pure and classy. 

2018 Cherubino Margaret River Chardonnay - 96 points

Impressive from the start, offering the best regional flavours. Stone fruit, grapefruit, creamy honeycomb, ginger spice and flint; oak neatly in place yet playing a part. Complex, powerful and utterly delicious.

2018 Cherubino Gingin Chardonnay - 96 points

A real energy and drive here with a more linear, taut structure compared with its Dijon/Karridale sibling. Mouth-watering flavours of pink grapefruit, lemon with struck-match, flinty sulphides. Laser precision across the palate but there’s give, it’s not lean and mean. It has power and drive with refreshing acidity to the very end. 

2017 Cherubino Frankland River Cabernet Sauvignon - 96 points

It starts out allserious and broody offering a hint of the savouriness with licorice, meat stock and wormwood. It’s full-bodied with densely packed tannins and yet, it doesn’t feel weighty. It unfurls with aplomb and while it’s a pleasure to drink now, time will be its benefactor.

2019 Laissez Faire Riesling - 95 points

A real thirst quencher thanks to itslemon sorbet acidity, saline crunch and zippy palate. It’s all about citrus flavours and is lip-smackingly good.

2017 Uovo Riesling - 95 points

The Uovo range has been a revelation despite the absence of any detail about it. Still, no better example than this riesling that has a beautiful acid line with layers of flavour and texture. Lemon and ginger curd, fresh citrus and plenty of juiciness across the palate with a dash of sweetness softening the finish. 

2018 Cherubino Beautiful South White Wine - 95 points

From the best blocks of sauvignon blanc from a selection of Great Southern vineyards. It was wild- fermented and matured in French oak for 6 months. It can be cellared for at least a decade. It’s a powerful wine, acidity providing all the structure required for this to prove true. 

2018 Ad Hoc Hen & Chicken Chardonnay - 95 points

The name refers to the Gingin clone that produces radically different sized berries on each bunch.
The result is a wine with great concentration and depth that will leave all other chardonnays at this price gasping for breath – there is a full panoply of chardonnay fruit flavours from melon to vanilla and white peach.

Cherubino Dijon  Chardonnay 2018 - 95 points

Dijon, as in clones 95 and 96 grown in Karridale. A mighty fine result. Moreish, savoury with grapefruit, pomelo, ginger spice and sweet oak influence. Fuller bodied, creamy across thepalate and yet reined in by refreshing, lithe acidity.

2018 Laissez Faire Chardonnay - 95 points

No shortage of flavour with grapefruit, stone fruit and oak spices. A juiciness across the palate with fresh acidity plus creamy leesy influence, but not too much. This only spent 6 months in new and used French oak but it feels more substantial. Very good drinking now. 

2017 Uovo  Chardonnay - 95 points

Frustrating not having moreinformation. Regardless, this is a gem. Tight, linear with a fine acid line yet layers of flavour and a real depth. Stone fruit, lemon with ginger cream, fabulous texture, almost chalky. 

2019 Laissez Faire Fiano - 95 points

Fiano can handle oak, but not too much.The back label states whole-bunch pressed and partial-barrel fermentation. It has more phenolic grip as a result. It’s textural and honeyed on the palate. Lemon blossom, fresh herbs with lots of ginger and spices on the nose.

2018 Laissez Faire Vermentino 2018 - 95 points

It has a depth of flavour often missing with Australian renditions. Sure it has the lemon saline allure, the camomile and blossom, but it’s the palate that stands out – textural, some phenolics adding a comment. 

2018 Laissez Faire Field Blend 2018 - 95 points

Gewurztraminer, pinot grigio, riesling and pinot blanc form the quartet. No information other than the back label claiming hand-harvested and natural fermentation. It tastes as if there’s been some skin contact, heady aromatics spicy and citrussy with the palate in tow. Well handled phenolics and a savoury, moreish finish. Love it. 

2018 Laissez Faire Syrah - 95 points

Estate-grown (Riversdale Vineyard); hand-picked and sorted, matured for 10 months in French oak. This is high  quality shiraz fruit handled with attention to detail. It is fragrant and juicy, long  and very well balanced. Texture and structure in a medium-bodied guise, and a cornucopia of black fruits. 

2018 Cherubino Frankland River Shiraz - 95 points

It has regional appeal aplenty – black–blue fruits, squid ink and black pepper; on first pour, somewhat hammered by lots of varnishy-sweet-charry oak. Yet all that fades with air, to reveal a vibrancy and plushness. Ripe, dense tannins and appealing in the end.

2018 Uovo Grenache - 95 points

This is the essence of grenache. Heady aromatics of florals, red fruits, musk and a touch of cherry cola, but it’s the palate that makes this special. Medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins and, while the fruit is delicious, the enjoyment is in its savouriness. Grenache in Frankland River is proving to be something special. 

2017 The Yard Riversdale Cabernet Sauvignon - 95 points

The substantial Riversdale Vineyard was originally planted in the mid-’90s, so the vines are relatively young. One can only imagine how good it will be in another 10 years. Not that this wine needs any excuses, it’s classic cabernet with blackcurrant, black olive and bay leaf aromas/flavours supported by firm tannins that are the markers of prime quality cabernet sauvignon. 

2017 Cherubino Rivers End Cabernet Sauvignon - 95 points

Percentage unknown but a blend of fruit is from Frankland River and Margaret River, the latter taking the lead: mulberry, earth, lead pencil and warm spices. Lots to take away and enjoy with its soft, shapely tannins and freshness throughout. It’s in the zone.

2017 Cherubino Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon - 95 point

Fruit sourced from Wilyabrup sites so it is full of cassis, mulberries, licorice and violets. A lovely start .A vibrancy throughout with finely chiselled tannins and bright acidity working across the medium-bodied palate. Approachable now and will reward the patient. 

2017 Cherubino Beautiful South Red Wine 2017 - 95 points

A blend of cabernet sauvignon and malbec from the Riversdale Vineyard in Frankland River. Shot with savouryflavours of licorice, warm earth and wood spices. There’s a flutter of leafy freshness, cassis with captivating tannins.