Damsel of the Barossa Merlot Awards

Vintage 2019

  • China Wine & Spirits Awards Best Value 2021 – Gold Medal
  • The Real Review, Stuart Knox – 90 Points
  • Winemaker Challenge International Wine Competition (USA) 2021 –
    Silver Medal, 90 Points

    Deep ruby core. Plums, tobacco leaf and boudin noir aromas. Rich and full palate. Ample tannins to frame the weight though. There’s a pleasing saline savoury note throughout that gives tension and drive. Handles it all with grace and poise. Intense and weighty, but with a well thought-out framework”.  Stuart Knox, The Real Review

Vintage 2018

  • Winemaker Challenge International Wine Competition (USA) 2020 – Platinum, 94 Points
  • James Halliday Australian Wine Companion – 91 Points
  • San Diego International Wine & Spirits Challenge 2020 – Gold Medal, 92 Points
  • China Wine & Spirits Awards Best Value 2020- Gold Medal
  • Critics International Wine Challenge (USA) 2019 – Silver Medal
  • Melbourne International Wine Competition 2020 – Silver Medal

    “Damson plum, five-spice, choco-cherry and some mint slip their way across gently astringent tannins. A solid merlot.” Ned Goodwin

Vintage 2017

  • China Wine & Spirits Best Value Awards 2019 – Gold Medal
  • Winemaker Challenge International Wine Competition (USA) 2019 – Gold, 91 Points
  • Sommelier Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition 2017 – Gold Medal
  • James Halliday Wine Companion 2019 – 91 Points

    “Hand-picked, crushed, wild yeast-open fermented, 10 months maturation in used French barriques. It is a substantial merlot, not far short of full-bodied, and reined in by firm, although not aggressive, tannins. It’s a serious wine, and casual merlot drinkers used to lighter-bodied, slightly sweet, versions may balk at this.”  James Halliday

Vintage 2016

  • San Diego International Wine Challenge 2018 – Gold Medal 92 points
  • International Wine Challenge Tranche 2 2017 – Silver Medal
  • Critics Challenge International Wine Challenge (USA) 2018 – Silver Medal
  • James Halliday Australian Wine Companion – 88 Points  

“Hand-picked from 35yo vines, wild-fermented for 8 days, the fermentation finished in French and American oak, matured for 10 months. A well balanced medium-bodied wine, easy to enjoy without much introspection. Those who like merlot from temperate regions will flock to this.” James Halliday

Vintage 2015

  • Vienna AWC International Wine Challenge 2016 – Gold Medal
  • Critics International Wine Challenge (USA) 2017 – Gold Medal
  • Winemaker Challenge International Winemaker Competition (USA) 2017 – Silver Medal
  • San Diego International Wine & Spirit Competition 2017 – Silver Medal
  • Sommelier Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition 2017 – Silver Medal
  • James Halliday Australian Wine Companion – 90 Points

Vintage 2014

  • China Wine and Spirits Awards 2015 – Gold Medal
  • Vienna AWC International Wine Challenge – Silver Medal
  • Sommelier’s Challenge USA – Silver Medal
  • Sommelier Wine Awards UK – Silver Medal
  • Critics International Wine Challenge (USA) 2016 – Silver Medal – 88 Points
  • China Wine and Spirits Awards Best Value 2016 – Silver Medal
  • James Halliday Australian Wine Companion – 91 Points 

Vintage 2013

  • China Wine and Spirits Awards 2014 – Gold Medal
  • James Halliday Australian Wine Companion – 92 Points 

Vintage 2012

  • AWC Vienna International Wine Challenge (Austria) 2014 – Gold Medal
  • Critics Challenge (USA) 2014 – Gold Medal 92 points
  • San Diego International Wine Competition (USA) 2014 – Gold Medal 90 points
  • New York International Wine Competition (USA) 2014 – Silver Medal
  • San Francisco Wine Competition (USA) 2014 – Silver Medal
  • James Halliday Australian Wine Companion – 91 Points
Damsel of the Barossa Merlot

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