2024 Wine Companion - the Halliday Stars Keep Shining 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The 2024 Halliday Wine Companion has just been released, reviewing over 3,500 Australian wineries & their wines. 
We are delighted to retain our 5-red-star winery rating, the highest awarded by the Halliday team. 
Plus, five new wines were awarded scores of 92 - 95 points. 
It's satisfying to see wines from all our ranges receiving high scores, from our affordable everyday Varietal range to our premium Flagship range.
We hope you enjoy exploring & tasting some of the Halliday team's favourites.

 

Newly rated in the 2024 Halliday Wine Companion

 

2021 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc
95/100 Gold

"A 60/40% blend from South Australia; hand-picked, destemmed, pumped to tank for settling, the semillon fermented in new French puncheons, the sauvignon blanc tank fermented, both parts using cultured yeast; matured for 12 months in barrel and tank, no mlf. Absolutely awash with flavour, ranging from citrus to exotic tropical notes. Yale Norris winemaker."  Reviewed by:  James Halliday, August 2023

Buy Now.  Limited stocks remain.

 

 

2021 Sangiovese
95/100 Gold
 

“Machine-harvested, hand-sorted; very good colour. Fragrant bouquet and a complex, medium-bodied palate with cherry all-sorts: red, black and spiced. Overall a very good wine. Finely milled tannins the icing on the cake.”  Reviewed by:  James Halliday, July 2023

Vintage now sold out.  Vintage 2022 pre-release is available to Discoverer's Wine Club Members.
General release 01 September 2023.

 

 

2022 Sauvignon Blanc
92/100 Silver

"Hand-picked Kangaroo Island fruit, destemmed, pumped to tank for 24-hour skin contact. A counter-intuitive wine, with Old World experience. Despite fearing the worst, it isn't phenolic, perhaps the cultured yeast is the sauvignon blanc clone isolated, not genetically manipulated. It's a wine with superior mouthfeel. Yale Norris winemaker." Reviewed by:  James Halliday, July 2023

Buy Now

 

 

2022 The Rose
94/100 Silver

"Ultra-pale partridge eye. Jacques Lurton had primary responsibility for this wine, underlining the skilled balance between wild strawberries and forest nuances sneaking up to a mouth-cleansing finish. Ideal for Chinese cuisine."
Reviewed by:  James Halliday, June 2023

Vintage now sold out.  Vintage 2022 pre-release is available to Discoverer's Wine Club Members.
General release 01 September 2023.

 

 

2023 Halliday Wine Companion-rated wines
 

2021 The Red Shiraz
94/100 Silver

“30% extended maceration post mechanical harvest late April. Matured 5 months in French puncheons (30% new). The crimson-magenta hue is striking. Positively juicy, with black cherry and plum fruit; tannin extract minimal. Altogether unusual wine, and it would be interesting to buy 6 or so bottles and track its development over the next 5 years or more.” Reviewed by:  James Halliday, December 2021

Buy Now

 

 

Petiyante Sparkling Chardonnay/Pinot Noir
92/100 Silver

"A playful sparkling in name and deed - Petiyante is a nod to the French word for bubbly. Lemon tart, baked apples, white florals and citrus zest is a good representation of the island's cooler climate. Bright on entry, the grapefruit and sherbety lift melds well with a sense of fresh-baked bread. Fine and steely."
Reviewed by:  Jenni Port, February 2020

Buy Now

 

2019 Old Rowley Shiraz Grenache
95/100 Gold

"A brilliant purple sheen is an enticing introduction to this smart, young Shiraz grenache. Softness is the key here together with a discreet, still emerging personality. It has a way to go. Pepper, spice, blackberries and red earth aromas. Deliciously ripe palate with dark cherry, black fruits and grenache violets and confection. Tannins are firm. Bottle age is a must."  Reviewed by:  Jenni Port, February 2020

Buy Now

 

 

2018 Boundary Track Shiraz
96/100 Gold

"Estate-grown bush vines, hand picked and sorted, berry by berry. Wild fermented in 1000L ceramic eggs; left on skins for 8 weeks for conclusion of mlf, thence matured in French demis (25% new) for 24 months. Still holding a crimson edge to the hue, it is a beautifully made wine with silky tannins and fruit freshness, the oak playing a nigh-on unseen hand. One glass insists on another."
Reviewed:  James Halliday, December 2021

Buy Now.  Very limited stocks remain.

 

 

2015 The Investigator Cabernet Franc
95/100 Gold

"Hand-picked, destemmed into demi-muids for wild fermentation, 20% skins return, maceration continued until mlf complete, the wine drained and the skins and stems passed through the hand basket press, matured for 2 years on lees in demi-muids. Jacques Lurton has always loved cabernet franc, and this spicy red-fruited wine, plus its diamond dust tannins, shows why." Reviewed by:  James Halliday, February 2019

Buy Now
 

 

2017 The Cygnet Shiraz
95/100 Gold

"Organically managed estate bush vines, hand picked, destemmed and and whole-berry table-sorted. Wild-yeast fermentation in used 600L demis, mlf completed before the must is basket pressed and gravity racked to new 600L French demis for 24 months' maturation. The quality of the oak is clearly good and is still to pull its head in, but will certainly do so as part of a long future. It's an elegant wine and already attractive, with more in store as the oak diminishes.”vReviewed by:  James Halliday, December 2021

Not yet released.  Discoverer's Wine Club Members receive advance access to all vintage releases.

 

2015 The Cygnet Shiraz
97/100 Gold

"Hand-picked bushvine vineyard, destemmed into demi-muids for wild fermentation and extended maceration on skins until mlf completed, the juice run off and the skins pressed in a hand-operated basket press, blended after 2 years in demi-muids. An extremely complex and powerful wine with black fruits, spices, oak, tannins, earth and sea spray moulded into a single flame of flavour."
Reviewed by:  James Halliday, February 2019

Buy Now

 

 

2016 The Independence Malbec 
96/100 Gold

"Hand-picked fruit, destemmed, table-sorted then barrel fermented in seasoned 600L demi-muids; left 5 weeks on skins, matured 24 months in new 600L demis. Deep crimson-purple hue, showing no sign of age. An alluring, expressive bouquet with licorice, polished leather, eastern spices, dried plum and earth all calling out. The palate tucks in behind that array, giving substance and cedary oak tannins on the long, perfectly balanced finish.”
Reviewed by: James Halliday, December 2021

Not yet released.  Discoverer's Wine Club Members receive advance access to all vintage releases.

 

Shop all available Halliday Favourites

On the Rebound: Three years on, how winemakers are recovering from the Black Summer bushfires

Almost three years ago, during the Black Summer bushfires on Kangaroo Island, an unstoppable firestorm destroyed our 280-hectare estate & 20 years of work in a matter of minutes.  We were not alone.  Bushfires devastated not just our region but also a number of wine regions around Australia.

While it is a chapter of our story that will never be erased, our latest chapters are all about reaping the rewards of facing the challenge head-on with hard work & determination.  And recognising the silver linings.  

Our thanks to The Weekend Australian & journalist Ricky French for continuing to tell the story of our rebound from life's challenges. 

Subscribers can view the full story here:  Read the story

Halliday's Favourites: 2023 Halliday Wine Companion round up

Your guide to the 2023 Halliday Wine Companion team's
favourite The Islander Estate Vineyards Wines

James Halliday is an unmatched authority in Australia on every aspect of the wine industry, a respected wine critic and vigneron with a career that spans almost 50 years.  The annual Halliday Wine Companion features tasting notes on over 5,000 wines & guides where to visit, what to taste, buy and cellar for Australian wine lovers.

We're proud to submit our wines each year for tasting and rating, it gives us a great feel for how our wines sit amongst the best in the country. 

In the 2023 Haliday Wine Companion we were excited to maintain our red 5-star winery rating (the highest possible rating) and add to our portfolio of wines rated Gold and Silver.  It is great to see wines from all three ranges receiving excellent scores, demonstrating value for money across all our wines.

See the Halliday Wine Companion team's tasting notes and ratings for all our current & upcoming vintages below.
 

Varietal Range:

2021 Pinot Gris
“While the back label shows South Australia as the GI (and the front label is silent), the information supplied by the winery says Adelaide Hills is the region, and the wine in the mouth is emphatically cool grown. Its exceptional power and texture is derived from wild ferment of the pressings in used French oak, the balance cool fermented in stainless steel. This throws down another challenge explaining to young wine students that the grape skins are purple.
Reviewed by:  James Halliday, December 2021
Rating:  SILVER, 94/100

2021 Sauvignon Blanc
“From an estate vineyard, managed organically though not certified. Machine harvested at night. Pale quartz green. Classic sauvignon blanc flavours, ranging from snow pea to wild herbs to gooseberry. No compromises needed – nor used. Revels in the exceptional vintage, flawless mouthfeel and balance.”
Reviewed by:  James Halliday, December 2021
Rating:  SILVER, 94/100

2021 The Red Shiraz
“30% extended maceration post mechanical harvest late April. Matured 5 months in French puncheons (30% new). The crimson magenta hue is striking. Positively juicy, with black cherry and plum fruit; tannin extract minimal. Altogether unusual wine, and it would be interesting to buy 6 or so bottles and track its development over the next 5 years or more.”
Reviewed by:  James Halliday, December 2021
Rating:  SILVER, 94/100

Estate Range:

Petiyante Sparkling Chardonnay/Pinot Noir
A playful sparkling in name and deed - Petiyante is a nod to the French word for bubbly. Lemon tart, baked apples, white florals and citrus zest is a good representation of the island's cooler climate. Bright on entry, the grapefruit and sherbety lift melds well with a sense of fresh-baked bread. Fine and steely.
Reviewed by:  Jenni Port, February 2020
Rating:  SILVER, 92/100

2019 Wally White Semillon
Going the extra step in the semillon department, fermented in barrel and bringing something extra to its already on-point ripe fruit. Creamy and complex, rather than austere and bracing like many semillons. With a couple of years of initial development, the structural foundations of acidity and a light pithiness carry this wine with the future in mind.
Reviewed by:  Tony Love, August 2021
Rated:  SILVER, 94/100

2019 Bark Hut Road Shiraz Cabernet Franc
Kangaroo Island's maritime climate is a dominating presence in the wines produced at The Islander. That, and the role of the native bush lands of old-growth eucalyptus and mallee. Both are evident here. Sea spray, red currant, raspberry and spice with an earthy savouriness, reveal a sense of place. A tad reductive on the palate, but it blows away with some swishing to reveal a savoury-infused palate, charcuterie and game with a rising pepper imprint. A complex lovely just starting out.
Reviewed by:  Jenni Port, February 2020
Rating:  SILVER, 93/100

2019 Old Rowley Shiraz Grenache
A brilliant purple sheen is an enticing introduction to this smart, young shiraz grenache. Softness is the key here together with a discreet, still emerging personality. It has a way to go. Pepper, spice, blackberries and red earth aromas. Deliciously ripe palate with dark cherry, black fruits and grenache violets and confection. Tannins are firm. Bottle age is a must.
Reviewed by:  Jenni Port, February 2020
Rating:  GOLD, 95/100

2018 Boxing Bay Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon
This blend can come in so many stylistic variations, but rarely is it as bright-eyed, lifted and crunchy as this. Fragrant with bush florals, dusted with sumac-like spice, tinted with background eucalypt, while the varieties find a delicious harmony of flavours and mouth-teasing structures.
Reviewed by:  Tony Love, February 2021
Rated:  SILVER, 94/100
 

Flagship Range:

2015 The Investigator Cabernet Franc
Hand-picked, destemmed into demi-muids for wild fermentation, 20% skins return, maceration continued until mlf complete, the wine drained and the skins and stems passed through the hand basket press, matured for 2 years on lees in demi-muids. Jacques Lurton has always loved cabernet franc, and this spicy red-fruited wine, plus its diamond dust tannins, shows why.
Reviewed by:  James Halliday, February 2019
Rating:  GOLD, 95/100

2017 The Cygnet Shiraz (not yet released)
Organically managed estate bush vines, hand picked, destemmed and and whole-berry table-sorted. Wild-yeast fermentation in used 600L demis, mlf completed before the must is basket pressed and gravity racked to new 600L French demis for 24 months' maturation. The quality of the oak is clearly good and is still to pull its head in, but will certainly do so as part of a long future. It's an elegant wine and already attractive, with more in store as the oak diminishes.”
Reviewed by:  James Halliday, December 2021
Rating:  GOLD 95/100

2015 The Cygnet Shiraz
Hand-picked bushvine vineyard, destemmed into demi-muids for wild fermentation and extended maceration on skins until mlf completed, the juice run off and the skins pressed in a hand-operated basket press, blended after 2 years in demi-muids. An extremely complex and powerful wine with black fruits, spices, oak, tannins, earth and sea spray moulded into a single flame of flavour.
Reviewed by:  James Halliday, February 2019
Rating:  GOLD 97/100

2016 The Independence Malbec (not yet released)
Hand-picked fruit, destemmed, table-sorted then barrel fermented in seasoned 600L demi-muids; left 5 weeks on skins, matured 24 months in new 600L demis. Deep crimson-purple hue, showing no sign of age. An alluring, expressive bouquet with licorice, polished leather, eastern spices, dried plum and earth all calling out. The palate tucks in behind that array, giving substance and cedary oak tannins on the long, perfectly balanced finish.”
Reviewed by: James Halliday, December 2021
Rating:  GOLD 96/100

2015 The Independence Malbec
Barrel-fermented in specially adapted demi-muids, followed by 5-6 week post-fermentation maceration, then pressed to 50/50% new and used demis. It makes no apologies for its full-bodied palate, but the primary flavours are profoundly varietal, the tannins firm but ripe.
Reviewed by: James Halliday, July 2018
Rating:  GOLD 96/100
 

Limited Release Wines:

2018 Boundary Track Shiraz: 
"Estate-grown bush vines, hand picked and sorted, berry by berry. Wild fermented in 1000L ceramic eggs; left on skins for 8 weeks for conclusion of mlf, thence matured in French demis (25% new) for 24 months. Still holding a crimson edge to the hue, it is a beautifully made wine with silky tannins and fruit freshness, the oak playing a nigh-on unseen hand. One glass insists on another."
Reviewed:  James Halliday, December 2021
Rating:  GOLD 96/100

Shop all of the Halliday team's favourites

 

Two to Tango by James Halliday

The Making of The Islander Estate Vineyards
by James Halliday
The Weekend Australian Magazine 9 April 2022

Our thanks to James Halliday and The Weekend Australian magazine for sitting down with Jacques Lurton and Yale Norris to catch up on the stunning recovery of our Kohinoor Hills estate and to share some of our upcoming releases.

Read the article online here & click on the links below to access reviewed wines.

Buy 2018 Boundary Track Shiraz
Buy current vintage 2015 The Independence Malbec (2016 yet to be released)
Buy 2021 Sauvignon Blanc

 

 

 

The Islander Estate Vineyards wines rated by USA Wine Enthusiast

As part of Wine Australia’s US Market Entry Program, a range of our wines were recently reviewed by the Wine Enthusiast’s rating panel.  Wines from around the world are tasted by the Wine Enthusiast’s expert tasting panel at their New York Office.

The tasting gives us the opportunity to test how our wines are received by USA wine experts, alongside some of the best from Australia & Europe.

We were really pleased to receive solid results.  Our Estate wines were placed in the Highly recommended category, with one of scoring 93 points, a score awarded to less than 1% of all Australian wines tasted by the panel.  Our everyday drinking varietal wines also scored in the good value, well-recommended category, exactly where we would place them.  Check out the reviews & order a selection for your wine cellar.

Wine Enthusiast Rating Scale

Classic  98–100	The pinnacle of quality
Superb 94–97	A great achievement
Excellent 90-93	Highly recommended
Very Good 87 - 89	Often good value, well recommended
Good 83 - 86	Suitable for everyday consumption; often good value
Acceptable 80-82	Can be employed in casual situations

              

2018 Boxing Bay Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon

Dark purple at the core, this supremely ripe wine’s nose bursts in aromas of cassis, oodles of menthol, Black Mission fig and Morello cherry. All at once sweet in fruit and savory in spice, this is a vibrant and slightly baroque wine in aromas and flavors. In structure, it is well-proportioned and seamless, leaving the taster to revel in the complex flavor dimensions. Creamy tannins are juxtaposed by roaring, refreshing acidity. The spicy finish recalls memories of walking through Istanbul’s Spice Market. Buckle up, this is quite a flavor ride. Drink now–2026.

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2019 Bark Hut Rd Syrah-Cabernet Franc

This is an energetic, engaging wine with tremendous aromatic appeal and racy palate lift. The nose shows distinctly different aromas with black peppercorn popping up first, followed by a refreshing herbal lift.  The palate gorges on popping-ripe blackberry and blueberry fruits. The tannins are strapping but well-placed and the acidity is marked and vibrant. The medium-plus body is nicely weighty with solid extraction but no heaviness. Lovely now, this should evolve nicely in the coming years. Drink now–2025.

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2019 Old Rowley Shiraz-Grenache

Sultry on the nose, with graphite and game dominating the blackberry undertones, the palate follows in the same vein. This is definitely one to decant. The palate opens up with time in the glass. Black plums, Dr. Pepper soda and dried wildflowers create a whirlwind of flavor with a solid caramel tone on the medium finish. That finish is also just a touch warm, but if the wine is served at cellar temperature, it will be fine with a hearty meal. The midpalate is a bit cherubesque, but it is nicely framed by sassy acidity and sculpted tannins. Drink now–2024.

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2021 Sauvignon Blanc

This is a snappy, youthful and delightfully intricate white. It shows classic Sauvignon Blanc aromatic markers of ripe yellow citrus and fresh green beans while offering a solidly ripe core balanced by roaring acidity. Hints of sweet and savory spice grace the pretty fruit on the medium finish, which is flecked with crushed slate. Lovely now, this should hold nicely in the bottle for a couple more years. Drink now–2024

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2020 The White Chardonnay

 This wine is rambunctious and inviting on the nose. Generous in floral perfume, it also reveals honeydew melon, green gauge plum and toasty baking spice. Nicely rounded on the midweight palate, the buttery undertones are a bit domineering for the reserved, lighter fruit flavors that finish with moderate length.  Still, the pleasant mix of tropical fruit and sweet spice influence is an attractive profile that will appease a wide sphere of consumers. Drink now–2024.

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2021 The Red Shiraz

This wine’s vivid aromas are a dance party for the nose. Sassy red and black cherries and plums pop out of the glass along with a spray of black peppercorns and an undercurrent of hard-stemmed herbs. The attack is a burst of perfectly ripened fruits with acidic verve and streamlined tannins. Nicely extracted but not unctuous, and neither cloying nor heavy, this shimmies across the palate with incredibly energetic, youthful fruit. Given the fairly fast finish, this crowd-pleaser is perfect for casual settings. Drink now–2024

 

Shop a selection of Wine Enthusiast's favourites 

 

Halliday 2021 Australian Wine Companion

Your guide to the 2021 Australian Wine Companion's
favourite Islander Estate Vineyards Wines

James Halliday is an unmatched authority in Australia on every aspect of the wine industry, a respected wine critic and vigneron with a career that spans almost 50 years.  The annual Halliday Wine Companion is a guide to where to visit, what to taste, buy and cellar for Australian wine lovers.

We're proud to submit our wines each year for tasting and rating, it gives us a great feel for how our wines sit amongst the best in the country. 

In the 2021 Haliday Wine Companion we were excited to receive the highest possible Red 5-star winery rating and a range of new wines rated Gold and Silver from our premium Estate and everyday drinking Varietal ranges.

See the Halliday Wine Companion team's tasting notes and ratings below.

Shop our current release Halliday favourites 

From the Ashes by James Halliday, Wine Companion Magazine

Thanks to James Halliday for his feature on our Kangaroo Island wine journey and our future beyond the 2019/2020 bushfires.

Jacques Lurton's relationship with James Halliday goes back to his first experiences in Australia as a young winemaker learning new world winemaking techniques in the freedom of the Aussie wine industry.

In this month's Wine Companion magazine, James reflects on the journey that led Jacques to select Kangaroo Island as the location for his only Australian wine business, with a vision to showcase the true potential that the region offers.  And how our vision remains just as strong after the devastating fires of 2020.

Click here to read James' feature "From the Ashes"

James Halliday's 3 Wines to Try

Three of James Halliday's favourite Islander Estate Vineyards wines have received scores of 95 points in his Wine Companion magazine feature.  All fantastic cool weather wines to feature in your wine cellar at this time of year.

2018 Wally White "Semillon on Kangaroo Island clearly has a future.  Wally White responds to the terroir with generosity, offering up an intriguing complexity that attacks all the senses.  Eye-catching medium-deep yellow in hue. Aromas of honeysuckle, beeswax and baked pear. Waves of flavour ride the mouth, concentrated, intense with abiding texture and acidity. As a 2yo it comes across as developed, but the acidity ensures a long life. Drink to 2027." Shop 2018 Wally White

2019 Old Rowley "A brilliant purple sheen is an enticing introduction to this smart, young shiraz grenache. Softness is the key here together with a discreet, still-emerging personality. It has a way to go. Pepper, spice, blackberries & red earth aromas. Deliciously ripe palate with dark cherry, black fruits & grenache violets & confection. Tanins are firm. Bottle age is a must. Drink to 2032. Shop current release 2018 Old Rowley

2019 The Sangiovese "In so many ways, The Islander produces wines that are more European than Australian. Note the degree of savouriness in its wines & the use of fruit as a conduit for complexity & not necessarily an end in itself. Sangiovese is such a wine. Fragrant with black cherries, capers, anise, bitter chocolate. It runs smooth across the palate, supple oak playing its part & imparting sweet mocha. Cherry pip, chalky tanning still melding.  Drink to 2030." Shop 2019 Sangiovese

 

Kangaroo Island's Best Tasting Experience - Cellar Door Awards by Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine

Best Tasting Experience. 
The one we want.

For wine lovers, there are many wonderful styles of cellar doors to experience.

When we took the leap to open our Tasting Room it was with a clear vision. We wanted it to be rustic, intimate, simple & most importantly, unassuming.  Just time spent chatting with our guests about wine. Sharing stories. Sharing passions. Letting the wine speak for itself.

We want our guests to leave feeling they’ve connected and perhaps learned something new in their personal wine journey.

We can’t wait to start welcoming you back. Many thanks to Gourmet Traveller WINE for the work they do recognising small wineries in these tough times. You've added a smile to our dial.

Click here to explore our Tasting Room experiences and plan your visit

Halliday's 2020 Wine Companion 95+ wines

Halliday's Half Dozen:
Our 95+ point wines from the 2020 Australian Wine Companion

James Halliday is an unmatched authority in Australia on every aspect of the wine industry, a respected wine critic and vigneron with a career that spans almost 50 years.  His annual Halliday Wine Companion is recognised as Australia’s most comprehensive tasting note library.

It goes without saying that any winery is proud to have their wines featured in the Australian Wine Companion.  And while, every wine lover's own palate is the most important judge of the wine they like to drink, many wine lovers also rely on the Wine Companion as a guide to the best of Australian wine.

Any wine that rates between 94 and 100 points in the Halliday Wine Companion is considered to be outstanding, of the highest quality, and often with a distinguished pedigree. So we're thrilled to share the wines rated 95+ points in this year's Wine Companion.  See the Wine Companion team's tasting notes and ratings below.

Shop the Halliday Range now

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit gets up close and personal with Islander Estate

Kangaroo Island was featured extensively in Sports llustrated's 2019 Swimsuit issue.  The SI Swimsuit team sat down with Islander Estate's General Manager Yale Norris to chat about what drew him across the world to Kangaroo Island and makes it the perfect place to make wine and a home. Check out the article here.