Kasia Sobiesiak

The Wine Front 95 Points

Great follow up from the 2023. Tasted blind at the Orange Wine Show in September and it was a no-blinking, no-brainer moment. 95 points. Boom. I retrieved my original note from the day of judgment. Here is. Chaotic—wine show style.

Nougat, milk powder, oatmeal, custard powder, apple, lemon, zesty, zingy palate, a bit salty in the finish. Driving. Beautiful composition, mouthwatering. Absolutely delicious, effortless, graceful drinking.

Nick Ryan

The Weekend Australian 95 Points

You could imply it’s the Nova Scotian blood in his veins that drew Jeff Byrne from the Hunter Valley to the relative refrigeration of Orange, but I’d say the opportunity to make wines like this motivated him even more. Delicate white peach and grapefruit, some Granny Smith crunch too. A quartz crunch through the finish. There’s a palpable energy at play here, a dynamism that suggests Byrne has found his happy place.

Shanteh Wale

Halliday Wine Companion 95 Points

Another release, the fifth from Jeff Byrne, is another wine of tension and purity. He understands the assignment to make the most of Orange’s distinct soils and altitude. Pomelo pulp, lemon sorbet and white peach. Crisp orchard apples and freesia. This is dripping in fruit richness and oak plays second fiddle to the citrus heart. This is chardonnay after all and it's fleshed out in the sides and round curves where it should be. Acidity pushes the wine forward and up a steady incline without being sour or discordant. Some white pepper, nutmeg and sour dough on the finish. This is extreme value for money and the kind of chardonnay that modern day fanatics of the variety are coveting.