The 2022 Halliday Wine Companion Prizes were broadcast live on the internet last week, virtually honoring the winners of the major awards and varietal categories.
Viewers from all over Australia and the world tuned in to learn which deserving winemakers, viticulturists, wineries, and wines would be honoured as the winners of the 2022 Halliday Wine Companion Awards.
This year’s tasting panel included regional experts from five states, with the team now totaling seven. The awards were assessed collaboratively for the first time, with the full tasting crew gathering in Victoria in March to review the shortlist selected from over 9,000 Australian wines.
See below some of this year’s reviews.
Reviews
Apricus Hill – Great Southern
2019 Apricus Hill Pinot Noir
95 Points – Erin Larkin
“Wildly aromatic – black cherry, chinotto, strawberry and olive tapenade. The palate follows suit; layered and distinctly Western Australian in its savoury, tannin-led approach to the palate. The phenolic structure carries the succulent fruit over the tongue, and leads it through into a long finish. Really impressive. “
Harewood Estate – Great Southern
2018 Harewood Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
92 Points – Erin Larkin
“Fruit from Porongurup, matured in French oak for 18 months. Elegant and pretty with a hoisin/soy edge to the the red fruit. Spicy and fine, this is a lovely cool-climate expression of cabernet sauvignon.. “
2020 Harewood Denmark Pinot Noir
90 Points – Erin Larkin
“A blend of 2 vineyards in Denmark. Bright, crunchy and like a first cherry of the season. Pretty. Decent delivery of ‘pinosity’ for $20.”
HentyFarm – Henty Wine Region
2018 HentyFarm Pinot Noir
93 Points – James Halliday
“The colour is midway between rose and table wine; the floral bouquet spanning red and purple fruits is effectively repeated on the light-bodied, but very intense and fresh, palate. Delicious wine for current drinking.”
Silkwood Estate – Pemberton
2019 Silkwood ‘The Bowman’ Pinot Noir
92 Points – Erin Larkin
“From a single vineyard. Matured for 18 months in French oak (40% new). 2019 was a very good vintage for many in Pemberton, and is already showing wines of supple and savoury fruit. While this lingers on the delicate side of the street, there is beauty and grace here that will develop in time. “
2020 Silkwood ‘The Bowers’ Chardonnay
92 Points – Erin Larkin
“Wild ferment in barrel (20% new). Soft tropics here – pineapple, honeydew melon and nashi pear. The palate is silky and fine, plenty of taut acidity and lustrous fruit to keep the wheels turning. “
2020 Silkwood ‘The Walcott’ Chardonnay
94 Points – Erin Larkin
“Crushed cashew, white peach and layers of brine, rockmelon, pear and nectarine. More complex and layered than the Bowers chardonnay of the same vintage. This is very classy.”
2020 Silkwood ‘The Walcott’ Pinot Noir
90 Points – Erin Larkin
“Made from 4 different clones, each vinified separately. All pressed post-ferment to French oak (30% new) for 10 months’ maturation. Very soft and round, there is a distinct plum jam character on the palate (not hinting at any overripe characters, merely expressing the flavours). This has absolutely no hard edges, and as such, the definition feels a little lacking. However, this very thing is what may appeal to many – it is plush, soft, cushy and pretty.”
2020 Silkwood ‘The Walcott’ Riesling
91 Points – Erin Larkin
“Citrus blossom, cloudy apple juice and parmesan rind. This is floral and structured, with a zesty, pithy acid line that keeps the fruit on track..”
2019 Silkwood ‘The Walcott’ Chardonnay
94 Points – Erin Larkin
“Supple and chewy, this bursts with ripe red berries and lush spice that speaks of juniper berries, Bengal pepper and star anise. Very pretty, lithe, syrah-styled shiraz. A lot going on, a lot to like.”
