Frankland Estate
Isolation Ridge Vineyard Shiraz
Western Australia, Australia
A youthful Ruby red with a purple tinge. Black pepper, dried plum and other savoury dark fruits. A wonderful rendition of a Northern Rhone Syrah - not dissimilar to a good Saint Joseph. Still young in its drinking window with a long future into the 2030s. Winner of the Trevor Mast Trophy for best Shiraz at Royal Melbourne in 2019. The first of 6 bottles. Great value for only $38. It’s not often I taste the same wine only 4 weeks apart but I had a 2nd on 4th December 2022. Just a terrific Shiraz by any measure. I can see why it won the awards that it did. Black pepper and spice.
A youthful Ruby red with a purple tinge. Black pepper, dried plum and other savoury dark fruits. A wonderful rendition of a Northern Rhone Syrah - not dissimilar to a good Saint Joseph. Still young in its drinking window with a long future into the 2030s. Winner of the Trevor Mast Trophy for best Shiraz at Royal Melbourne in 2019. The first of 6 bottles. Great value for only $38. It’s not often I taste the same wine only 4 weeks apart but I had a 2nd on 4th December 2022. Just a terrific Shiraz by any measure. I can see why it won the awards that it did. Black pepper and spice.
Nov 3rd, 2022Peppery, slightly inky Shiraz w nice acid balance. Couple of years in cellar have helped it, too.
Peppery, slightly inky Shiraz w nice acid balance. Couple of years in cellar have helped it, too.
Jan 28th, 2015
Bright, fragrant, mineral. Sweet, red plum and raspberry fruit in a fluid, lifted and gorgeously framed medium-bodied palate, that poise and weight being its most remarkable feature. Long, and wears 14.5% alcohol very lightly.
Bright, fragrant, mineral. Sweet, red plum and raspberry fruit in a fluid, lifted and gorgeously framed medium-bodied palate, that poise and weight being its most remarkable feature. Long, and wears 14.5% alcohol very lightly.
Sep 27th, 2014
upon opening, rather precocious melange of fragrances, from floral to animal some mineral in between, teasing my nose with a game of twenty questions. After several minutes the playfulness wained with traces of seasoned bridle leather, sage, violets and fire-grilled plum slowly beating my olfactory drum. This was followed by a palate that teased & pleased as well- flavors bound to smell. the sum structure & beauty fleshed out with sinewy tannins & lip licking acidity rolled into a gratifying finish that begs for repeated sips so as to relive the juxtaposition of savoury fruit. With its clean acidity and well knit tannins, definitely feel this wine has yet to hit its prime. To fully reveal itself will require patience and time, but the rewards of putting a few bottles back to taste in years to come will be sublime
upon opening, rather precocious melange of fragrances, from floral to animal some mineral in between, teasing my nose with a game of twenty questions. After several minutes the playfulness wained with traces of seasoned bridle leather, sage, violets and fire-grilled plum slowly beating my olfactory drum. This was followed by a palate that teased & pleased as well- flavors bound to smell. the sum structure & beauty fleshed out with sinewy tannins & lip licking acidity rolled into a gratifying finish that begs for repeated sips so as to relive the juxtaposition of savoury fruit. With its clean acidity and well knit tannins, definitely feel this wine has yet to hit its prime. To fully reveal itself will require patience and time, but the rewards of putting a few bottles back to taste in years to come will be sublime
Sep 8th, 2014
Perfectly judged and obviously well made. Very clean and precise expression. Pepper, spice, and dark bramble fruit with strong violet notes enveloped in a shroud of dusty tannin. Medium bodied but super long and grippy. Strong buy
Perfectly judged and obviously well made. Very clean and precise expression. Pepper, spice, and dark bramble fruit with strong violet notes enveloped in a shroud of dusty tannin. Medium bodied but super long and grippy. Strong buy
May 14th, 2022Very pure expression. Syrah in style and weight. Sweet plum, and undertow of black pepper. Still needs to unfurl. +2pts in 5 yrs.
Very pure expression. Syrah in style and weight. Sweet plum, and undertow of black pepper. Still needs to unfurl. +2pts in 5 yrs.
May 15th, 2021Enjoyed this bottle. It’s even better than I anticipated.
Enjoyed this bottle. It’s even better than I anticipated.
Aug 3rd, 2020
Off the map for me but completely enjoyable with local filet mignon.
Off the map for me but completely enjoyable with local filet mignon.
Jun 9th, 2020
Another example of excellent Shiraz from Western Australia, spicy and vibrant, so well balanced, lovely finish.
Another example of excellent Shiraz from Western Australia, spicy and vibrant, so well balanced, lovely finish.
Dec 22nd, 2019
Dark, fruity nose with black pepper and a touch of barnyard, and a luscious cherry red color. A light red with snappy tannins with cherry and a lasting finish. Opened for one hour and could open for a bit longer. At $23 it's not a bad price, and it's light and drinkable.
Dark, fruity nose with black pepper and a touch of barnyard, and a luscious cherry red color. A light red with snappy tannins with cherry and a lasting finish. Opened for one hour and could open for a bit longer. At $23 it's not a bad price, and it's light and drinkable.
Dec 7th, 2018