96 points - "For the first time in decades, the wine is made exclusively from the oldest vine material on the estate: fruit from the 1880 vines of Old Hill, planted by Charles King, is blended with fruit from the 1921 vines of Old Paddock, planted by Maurice O'Shea (using Old Hill cuttings). You'll find blackberry, mulberry, dark licorice and spice. The mellow, juicy, dark-fruited base notes define the wine, yet there is also a freshness, energy and brightness. Liquid history." - Toni Paterson (Halliday Wine Companion)

95 points - "Dark fruit, liquorice/aniseed, iodine, but also has spice and gentle earthiness. Medium to full-bodied, plenty of weight, and there’ a lot of rich dark fruit here, some red, ferrous, shows some nutty oak, but the fruit is good with it. Finish is long and firm. Very good." - Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)

95 points - "The killer blows just keep coming with these Mount Pleasant 2023 releases. What an excellent range of wines from Adrian Sparks. This Old Paddock and Old Hill is superb.

Damn, this is a good drink. The density and depth are just awesome. What a beauty!

Aromas of plums, dark cherries, cola and red berries flow to the mouth with ease. Some black fruit emerges ever so slowly. Sauteed mushrooms, cardamom and cloves add detail. The tension and tannin structure it possesses sets it apart from its peers. Those tannins are long and drawn out adding precision and detail. Over a few days of tasting it continues to evolve with grace. This will live long with absolute ease." - Q Wine Reviews

94 points - "There were blocks planted after initial plantings but this wine now is only the original blocks involved. Or again.
A refreshing, frisky shiraz with good concentration, some ferrous notes, clove, cinnamon toast, dark cherry, choc-raspberry and faint cola characters. Has a bit of sinew and chew to texture, refreshing, pleasingly bitter acidity, a touch of blood orange. Even, balanced, energetic. Very good." - Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)

93+ points - "Aromatic red and black fruit, orange peel, maraschino cherry. Ripe and sweet-toned but cool in flavours. A chewy mid-palate with fine-grained but textural tannins and creamed coffee core. Sticky too with an iron-like edge and finish. Doesn’t show as much finesse and fine detail as the others of the 2023 release but the bar is high. Maybe needs time." - Kasia Sobiesiak (The Wine Front)

Sourced exclusively from the Mount Pleasant Old Paddock and Old Hill vineyards. This Shiraz blend has been made since the mid-1960s, a true classic of the Hunter Valley using vines dating back to 1880. A structural and powerful rendition of the Hunter Valley’s most revered variety.

Tasting Notes

An intense nose of red and dark fruits coupled with licorice and spice. A lovely savory palate, rich in dark fruits with beautifully balanced tannins and natural acidity.

Drinking Window

Balanced and approachable now, this wine will continue to mature for over 25 years.