Best's Great Western

Shiraz, 'Thomson Family', Best's Great Western

Shiraz, 'Thomson Family', Best's Great Western

Shiraz Thomson Family Bests Great Western

The Thomson Family Shiraz is produced from Henry Best’s original 1867 Shiraz plantings, and only available in exceptional years, on average about six times a decade. The vines are cropped at less than two tonnes per acre (four tonnes per hectare) and are then meticulously hand-harvested, selected and sorted. Thomson Family Shiraz was first made in 1993, one hundred years after the Thomson family settled in the area. It is produced predominantly from the fifteen rows of vines planted by Henry Best, recorded as “Hermitage” by Henry in his daily journal. Today the clone is referred to by the CSIRO as the Concongella clone or the Best’s Old Block clone and it is the mother clone of all subsequent shiraz plantings at Best’s Great Western.

Thomson Family Shiraz is hand harvested, hand plunged and fermented in small open fermenters and the wine is only produced in years when the quality is second to none. The Langton’s Classification is “Outstanding”.

Info

Producer:
Best's Great Western
Vintage:
2020
Country:
Australia
Region:
Victoria
Appellation:
The Grampians
Variety:
Syrah
Color:
Red

Sizes Available

Full Bottle AU-BGW-30-20 12/750ml

Tasting Notes

The wine opens slowly to unveil a heady mixture of concentrated and broody dark fruits, potpourri, bitter chocolate, intense warm spices, black olives and fine grained perfumed oak.
The essence of the vineyard is displayed with powerful, yet medium bodied flavours of liqueur cherry and warm spices. A graphite minerality and age worthy velvety tannins draw out the long and savoury finish.

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Press & Reviews

James Suckling
Score
97
Date
2025-03-23
"There is such a high level of polish, with aromas of blackberries, cocoa, peppercorns, violets, potpourri and spices. The palate is seamless, with tannins that just melt, supported by a full-bodied mouthfeel and balanced acidity. The depth and purity are coming from old vines and a well-balanced use of oak. Excellent and all class. Drink or hold."
Wine Advocate
Score
97
Date
2024-04-07
"The 2020 Thomson Family Shiraz is light, herbal and leafy, with kicked red earth, goji berries,raspberry seed, sweet paprika dolce and reverberating depth and complexity. There's not much more to say than that. There is balance, poise, length and, most importantly, a mainline into the dirt there at Best's in Great Western. 14% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink now to 2050."
James Halliday
Score
95
Date
2022-01-01
"Oozes class and elegance. Destined for a long and fruitful life, Thomson Family Shiraz embraces blackcurrant, blood plum, bramble, briar, earth and spice. Fine in features, it can be deceiving because there is a strength here, built on old vines and the gentlest of oak which allows the fruit to sing."

REVIEWS FROM PAST VINTAGES

2015
James Halliday
Score
98
Date
Wine Advocate
Score
97
Date
2022-12-08
"The fruit for this 2019 Great Western Thomson Family Shiraz is picked predominantly from the old 1868 plantings in the Concongella vineyard on the Best's property. It is a resoundingly elegant wine, with a core of fruit that crouches, waiting on the mid-palate. It is complex and complete already, offering a window into what will be a very long life, indeed. It is an exercise in balance and length, line and form (mineral austerity comes to mind), with not a hair out of place. You'd be forgiven for saying the structure has an open weave, almost loose-knit quality about it, were it not for the super streamlined finish that shows all the openness and approachability is merely a clever disguise. This wine can be drunk now, and sure, it should be (it's delicious, the feel of it in the mouth is insane). But if you have the patience, wisdom and foresight to cellar it, your children will be amply rewarded."
James Halliday
Score
96
Date
2021-07-06
James Suckling
Score
96
Date
2022-11-28
"#45 Top 100 Wines of Australia 2023: An extremely sophisticated and concentrated shiraz that,s so precise and focused on the beautifully balanced, medium-bodied palate. The interplay of fine tannins and lively acidity is really fascinating. Very clean and long finish. From the Concongella Vineyard. Drink or hold. Screw cap."
Vinous
Score
94
Date
2024-11-05
"From one of the oldest Shiraz vineyards in Australia, this 2019 Shiraz offers both opulence and detail. Thanks to extended oak maturation, it opens with a rich serving of blackberry and chocolate aromas with tarry accents and savory tones. Generously fruited to start yet retaining vibrancy and elegance, the vine age is displayed with exceptional length underpinned by a supple, open-knit frame."