2025 Pokolbin Vintners Pokolbin Mountain Light Dry Red

96 pts
A new discovery! Old-vine Hunter Shiraz reviving the classic Hunter River Burgundy style, a fresh, lighter red with plenty of substance.

Price:
Sale price$39.00
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In stock, ready to ship
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Description

Now this is a bloody exciting new discovery from the Hunter Valley and young producer Pokolbin Vintners.

Winemaker Brendan “Kaz” Kaczorowski works with a single plot of 50-year-old vines on Ian Tinkler’s Pokolbin Mountain vineyard. With Tyrrell’s Stevens Vineyard and Mount Pleasant nearby, it’s a good neighbourhood for a project built around classic Hunter character.  "Magic dirt up there!" as Brendan puts it.

This is Hunter Valley Shiraz made for lovers of lighter reds, with plenty of flavour and no need for extra weight. The winemaking keeps things fresh, using stainless steel and mostly older barrels, with just a little new oak. A portion of whole bunches adds gentle grip and savoury detail.

It's very floral, with cherry and raspberry notes, pepper and a little earthy, dried-herb character. It’s supple and refreshing, with fine tannins that build through the finish, giving this light red more substance than its colour suggests. It looks both classic and contemporary all at once.

A modern take on Hunter River Burgundy, with old vines and a light touch making a strong case for this historic and much-loved style of Shiraz. A great find and superb value!

96 points
"An Italianate bent to the wine, one could say. It’s such a fine, cool, refreshing red wine. Brilliant."
- Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)

96 points - "This is a singular and distinct project from winemaker Brendan “Kaz” Kaczorowski – a single plot of vines from Ian Tinkler’s vineyard that sits on Pokolbin Mountain. It’s set up alongside Tyrrell’s Stevens Vineyard and Mount Pleasant, so we’re in rare turf as a start. The aim is explained simply, ‘make some Hunter River Burgundy’, so says the press release in bold font. Winemaking keeps it cool, a smidge of new oak each year, some of the juice goes in stainless steel, the rest in older barrels. Just shiraz employed here.

This is the one. It’s super fine, fresh feeling, lightweight and slippery with a gentle, building web of silty tannin for structure and a sense of seriousness. All the perfume here; wild raspberry, tart cherry, rose water, dried rose petal and alpine herbs. The palate finds a gentle red fruited sweetness but the tumble of earth, truffle and dried herbs delivers x-factor over it. An Italianate bent to the wine, one could say. It’s such a fine, cool, refreshing red wine. Brilliant. 96 points, 2026-2031+." - Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)

94 points - "There’s a style of red wine that feels like it’s been “painted in water colours” and when it’s done well – as it is here – it makes the most positive of impressions. This wine is grapey and cherried with peppercorn and potpourri characters running deliciously throughout. It’s a fine wine. It’s elegant. It lilts and lifts its way through your mouth, rather than acting with brute force. It’s a pleasure to drink, as a result." - Campbell Mattinson (CampbellMattinson.com)

94 points - "Sourced from a single vineyard also supplying fruit to Tyrrell’s and Mount Pleasant, these 50-year-old vines have delivered an exquisite medium-bodied Shiraz.

Drunken cherries, sour cherries and sarsaparilla kick things off, followed by plums, dark and red cherries, red apple skin and dried herbs. There’s a touch more density than the 2024, with 20% whole bunches adding a little extra grip and savoury detail. Green tea and cocoa-like tannins dry out gently across the palate, while the acidity is a touch more prominent on opening. Give it time in the glass and everything settles beautifully into neat groove. Medium-bodied, finely detailed and wonderfully balanced, this is Shiraz with shape rather than muscle. Super drinking." - Steve Leszczynski (Q Wine Reviews)

Everything old is new again. This is a modern interpretation of the classic “Hunter River Burgundy” style—light, vibrant, and unmistakably Hunter Valley. Showing a beautiful light purple hue in the glass, it is medium-bodied at most but with incredible depth and flavour in the glass.

Price Bracket $31 to $40
Type Red
Body Medium Bodied
Variety Shiraz
Country Australia
Region Hunter Valley
Australian State NSW
Reviewed By The Wine Front
Critic Score 96
Alcohol 13.5%
Size 750ml
Vintage 2025
Closure DIAM Cork

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