2023 Thomas Wines Sweetwater Ridge Shiraz
2023 Thomas Wines Sweetwater Ridge Shiraz

2023 Thomas Wines Sweetwater Ridge Shiraz

96 ptsHALLIDAY TOP 100
Thomas Wines |Hunter Valley |Shiraz
The most lifted and floral of Thommo's sensational 2023 single-vineyard Shiraz.
5.0
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
3 Reviews
Price:
$40.00
Stock:
Sold out
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Description

Andrew Thomas has built his reputation on capturing the nuance of Hunter sites, and Sweetwater Ridge is a perfect example. Planted in 1998 to the classic 1654 Shiraz clone, this block sits on red-brown loam over limestone at the very end of Sweetwater Road in Belford - ground that gives Shiraz its tell-tale violet lift and fine, detailed spice.

Hand-picked early in the 2023 harvest, the fruit was fermented as whole berries for brightness and perfume, then matured for 13 months in a mix of French hogsheads, only the best barrels making the final cut.

The wine is a charmer: floral aromatics spill from the glass, violets and potpourri layered over raspberry, mulberry, and black plum. There’s a core of dark fruit generosity, dusted with pepper and five spice, but what really sets it apart is the line – sleek, floral, and mineral-tinged thanks to its limestone roots. Silky tannins hold everything neatly in place.

Always a favourite among Thomas loyalists, this single-site Hunter Shiraz that punches well above its weight.

"If you love shiraz, you will adore this wine. Absolutely extraordinary value."
- Toni Paterson MW (Halliday Wine Companion)

Campbell Mattinson

Campbell Mattinson

The Wine Front 94 Points

This is a cracking wine. It’s bold, neat, structured and long. It’s ripped with cherry-plum and violet, musk and sweet spice notes, and its earthen characters are dark and ferrous. The real quality ramp comes though on the finish, where it not only bursts forward, but ricochets the tannin out in long expanding chains. Excellent wine. Special wine.

Toni Paterson MW

Toni Paterson MW

Halliday Wine Companion 96 Points

An instantly appealing wine of integrity, with textbook ripeness and glorious richness. Blood plum and ripe mulberry characters dominate, with an uplift and juicy brightness to counterbalance the richness. The mid-palate is beautifully supple and the tannins are ripe, nestling perfectly within the wine's frame. Impeccable winemaking has created a wine that is a pure expression of the vineyard, shaped by deep red loam soils over limestone. If you love shiraz, you will adore this wine. Absolutely extraordinary value.

Customer Reviews

5.0
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
Based on 3 reviews
Total 5 star reviews: 3 Total 4 star reviews: 0 Total 3 star reviews: 0 Total 2 star reviews: 0 Total 1 star reviews: 0
3 reviews
  • JC
    John C.
    Verified Buyer
    6 months ago
    Reviewing
    2022 Thomas Wines Sweetwater Ridge Shiraz
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Highly recommended

    I’d tried the Synergy Shiraz, loved it, and wanted to try a single vineyard Shiraz by Andrew Thomas. This didn’t disappoint, bold, multidimensional and very smooth.

    Was this helpful?
  • JS
    Jane S.
    Verified Buyer
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    4 years ago
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    Reviewing
    2020 Thomas Wines Sweetwater Shiraz
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Enjoyed

    Delicious

    Was this helpful?
  • JB
    John B.
    Verified Buyer
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    4 years ago
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    Reviewing
    2020 Thomas Wines Sweetwater Shiraz
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Hunter jewel

    full bodied in classic hunter style. Drinking well now, but will improve with age.

    Was this helpful?

In the Vineyard
Despite the relatively late vintage in 2023, this vineyard is always one of the earlier blocks to ripen, and was hand-picked on the 21st of February.
Located at the very end of Sweetwater Road, planted in 1998 with the 1654 clone of Shiraz, the red/brown loamy soils over limestone found in this area tends to provide a distinctive floral lift and complexity to Shiraz.

In the Winery
Hand-picked, destemmed, but not crushed, the whole berry fermentation commenced after a 24-hour cold soak. At the end of an eleven-day cool fermentation on skins, the wine was pressed off into a selection of new, one, two and three-year-old premium French oak 300L Hogsheads for maturation. The wine spent 13 months in oak before our final blending decisions, with only the very best barrels going to this wine (and a few to our 2023 Elenay Shiraz blend). Bottled in June 2024 and rested for 11 months prior to release 17th May 2025.

14.5% ABV

Price Bracket $31 to $40
Type Red
Body Full Bodied
Variety Shiraz
Country Australia
Region Hunter Valley
Australian State NSW
Feature High Score
Reviewed By Halliday Wine Companion
The Wine Front
Critic Score 96
94
Alcohol 14.5%
Size 750ml
Vintage 2023
Closure Screw Cap

Thomas Wines

Andrew Thomas is a modern-day legend in the Hunter Valley, crafting some of the region's greatest wines for over three decades. His personal label is regarded as a benchmark winery, with a focus on premium Shiraz and Semillon— the Hunter Valley's hero varieties. Thomas has access to some of the region’s best vineyards, allowing him to create wines that truly capture the essence of the Hunter.

Originally from McLaren Vale, Thommo moved to the Hunter Valley to join the winemaking team at Tyrrell's Wines. After 13 years, he ventured out to develop his own label, making single-vineyard wines that highlight the subtle differences between Hunter’s subregions.

Thomas Wines is known for its classic Hunter Valley Shiraz and Semillon, but it also occasionally explores innovative styles without compromising on value. The white wines are delicate and cellar-worthy, while the reds are full-bodied and classic in the best sense of the word, making them one of the benchmarks for modern Hunter Shiraz.

A mentor to much of the next generation of Hunter producers, if you want to try the essence of the Hunter Valley, Thommo's wines are a must-try.

The Thomas Wines Braemore Vineyard Hunter Valley, NSW Thomas Wines

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