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Description
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.
Here you get to taste three of his senstional 2023 reds at a very sharp price.
- 2023 Thomas Wines Sweetwater Ridge Shiraz
- 2023 Thomas Wines The Dam Block Shiraz
- 2023 Thomas Wines The Cote Shiraz
2023 Thomas Wines Sweetwater Ridge Shiraz
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.
96 points
"If you love shiraz, you will adore this wine. Absolutely extraordinary value."
- Toni Paterson MW (Halliday Wine Companion)
2023 Thomas Wines The Dam Block Shiraz
Sitting just across the water from the iconic Kiss Shiraz vines, this tiny 0.8-hectare parcel is proof that great things often come in small packages. The soils and aspect are nearly identical to its famous neighbour, so it’s no surprise the Dam Block shows the same dark-fruited depth and savoury edge - only here it’s delivered with a little more lift and a slightly looser tie.
Hand-picked late in February 2023 after a long, steady ripening, the fruit was fermented as whole berries to coax out vibrant perfume and supple texture, then matured for 14 months in French hogsheads. The result is a wine that bursts with blue and black fruits, laced with spice, and finished with the al-dente tannins that mark this patch of Pokolbin.
Think of it as the Kiss’s younger sibling: less brooding, more exuberant, but with the same pedigree and balance that makes Thomas Shiraz so sought after. For those who can’t quite snag the flagship, the Dam Block is a brilliant introduction – bright, juicy, and deeply satisfying.
96 points
"Powerful yet graceful and utterly delicious."
- Toni Paterson MW (Halliday Wine Companion)
2023 Thomas Wines The Cote Shiraz
The Cote d’Or vineyard in central Pokolbin has roots stretching back to 1866, when the pioneering Wilkinson family first planted vines on its steep, fossil-studded ridge. Those original vines are long gone, but the 1971 replanting has proven just as storied, producing Shiraz of poise, fragrance, and effortless mid-weight Hunter charm.
The 2023 vintage looked shaky early on after a nasty hailstorm, but patience and persistence paid off. By March, pockets of pristine fruit revealed themselves, and selective handpicking gave Andrew Thomas what he now calls the best Cote since 2019.
In the glass, it’s everything you want from Hunter Shiraz: medium-bodied yet layered, with dark cherry, mulberry, and blackberry lifted by spice, dried herbs and a faint pink peppercorn note. French oak plays only a supporting role, letting the vineyard’s floral perfume and silky tannin structure lead the way.
It’s approachable now - supple, elegant, and a joy to drink - but has the balance to develop beautifully over the next decade. A wine that speaks both to the resilience of the Hunter and Thomas’s knack for coaxing the best from its great sites.
96 points
"A brightly fruited wine, modern in style, with fabulous aromatics."
- Toni Paterson MW (Halliday Wine Companion)
| 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 |
| Size | 750ml |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Closure | Screw Cap |
Thomas Wines
The Thomas Wines Braemore Vineyard Hunter Valley, NSW Thomas Wines
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