2007

91/100 points “Hearty, rich and warming red in a mellow and flavoursome style.  Some ripe plum and berry flavours contrast with more savoury, toasty, spicy notes.  A distinctive and characterful wine.”

- Bob Campbell, MW, Gourmet Traveller Wine, Australia

4 stars  ”Drinking well now, this Waipara red is a blend of merlot (50%) and malbec (40%), with minor portions of cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc.  Barrel-aged for two years, it is deeply coloured and fleshy, with generous, spicy, nutty flavours, showing excellent complexity and richness.”

- Michael Cooper, WineState, Australia

2006

94/100 points

“… this impressively dense and surprisingly ripe Waipara red is truly worthy of its flagship label ... Strong sweet fruit with an array of red berry spice, cigar box and classy oak flavours. Accessible but with plenty of cellaring potential. A thread of vibrant acidity gives the wine energy and no doubt will assist its ability to age.”
- Bob Campbell MW, Gourmet Traveller Wine, Australia
  

2005

95/100 points

"Big,dense red with an almost chewy texture. Masses of flavour with chocolate, dark berry, anise, liquorice, spicy oak and forest floor. High quality Bordeaux varieties grown in the South Island are hard to find".

- Bob Campbell, Gourmet Wine, Australia
 
"A delicate dense, rich, velvety, immensely satisfying wine of soft spoken power. One to savour".

- Keith Stewart, Truewines, NZ
 
"Wow! This is a huge wine with intense berry aromas and hints of leather and smoke. The palate is also full on with good complexity...Get some".

- TizWine.com, NZ