Campbell Mattinson

The Wine Front 93 Points

This wine got me a bit excited. The 2024 vintage was Julian Grounds’ first vintage at the helm but you’d never know; he just seems to understand the place. The wine: it’s lifted and poised and it has layers. It’s a wild, exuberant, berried red wine, light and generous at once, you pick this up and think, This is Stonier pinot. It scratches the pinot itch and it scratches the Stonier itch. This isn’t the highest-pointed wine in the range, but it’s the most exciting. Think undergrowth with spiced strawberries and black cherries rippling throughout. It flows, it seduces and it refreshes.

Shanteh Wale

Wine Pilot 94 Points

A blend of the grower vineyards, a mix of clones. Approximately 20% whole bunch on the sites that sit on volcanic soils, with everything else destemmed. Aged in 500L puncheons of which 8% was new oak. A fragrant celebration of Mornington Peninsula luminous charm, it’s impossible not to be swept away with the gleaming fruit, compact flavour and middle palate pulp and flesh. Cherry compote, plummy goodness and some Gala apple skin. Clove, nigella seed and dewy potting soil. Tannins are sandy and prop up the fruit, before a wash of fresh acidity. It’s immediately satisfying and a delightful drink without food or if you are after a suggestion may I offer the idea of lamb shanks swimming in butter mash. Drink now or will cellar well for 2-4 years.

Jane Faulkner

Halliday Wine Companion 94 Points

Stonier’s bread and butter range and a good ‘un this vintage. Fruit off grower vineyards but all managed in-house, which gives a level of quality control. This pops and crackles with vitality, good fruit and varietal flavour. Heady aromas are punctuated by red cherries and blood orange doused in exotic spices and fresh herbs. The palate is on the light side of medium bodied with fine tannins and refreshing acidity throughout. A lovely drink.