5 Stars 2006 Shiraz "Light- to medium-bodied, much lighter (and more elegant) than the usual Sandhurst Ridge blockbuster; has good length and balance with fresh acidity on the finish."  Rating: 94 points. Drink to 2015.

5 Stars 2005 Shiraz. "Clean and rich fruit aromas; a rich layered palate with blackberry, blood plums and dark chocolate; good American and French oak use."  Rating: 94 points  Drink to 2025.

SANDHURST RIDGE WINERY 5 Stars Outstanding winery regularly producing exemplary wines

5 StarsCABERNET SAUVIGNON 2002  Ripe, opulent blackcurrant and cassis; good handling of French oak; ripe tannins, lingering finish.  Rating  94  Drink  2017

5 Stars    RESERVE SHIRAZ 2002   Intense, concentrated blackberry fruit runs through the length of the full-bodied palate; very good tannin and American oak balance and integration.    Rating  94   Drink 2017

4½ Stars   SHIRAZ 2002  Sweet, rich blackberry fruit and integrated vanillan oak; multi-layered flavours; good tannins.   Rating 93    Drink 2015

4 Stars   FRINGE SHIRAZ 2002   Quite savoury and spicy red and black fruits; medium-bodied; well-handled oak and extract. Grapes from neighbouring growers.   Rating 89   Drink 2010

Ratings Explained

5 Stars   94 – 100 points   Outstanding. Wines of the highest quality, usually with a distinguished pedigree.

4½ Stars   90 – 93 points     Highly recommended. Wines of great quality, style and character, worthy of a place in any cellar.

4 Stars   87 – 89 points    Recommended.  Wines of above average quality, fault-free, and with clear varietal expression.

Sandhurst Ridge 2002 Shirazes and Cabernet Sauvignon

Sandhurst Ridge is one of the (relative) newcomers to Bendigo and while its red wines had come up well in the lead-up to 2002, its wines from this vintage are exceptional.

The Reserve Shiraz (94 points) and Shiraz (93 points) are crammed with concentrated, sweet and rich blackberry oak, counterbalanced by ripe tannins and a generous but integrated slice of American oak, the Reserve has just a touch more concentration.

The Cabernet Sauvignon (94 points) has opulent blackcurrant and cassis fruit in similar abundance, the oak in this instance French - as it should be.

James Halliday

Sandhurst Ridge 2001 Reserve Shiraz.

Excellent deep purple-red; powerful black plum, blackberry, spica and oak aromas come through strongly on the concentrated blackberry and bitter chocolate palate; good vanilla oak rounds off an archetypal big-bodied Australian red wine.

Produced from the oldest vines on the property, open fermented, basket pressed, then spending 18 months in American oak.

Best drinking: 2006-2016     Best vintages: ’00, ’01   Drink with Aged venison    Rating: 93

Sandhurst Ridge Reserve Shiraz 2001

Bendigo makes reds of impressive stature. This example has deep colour and powerful stewed berries, mint, spice and toasty vanillin oak characters. The palate is ripe, round and complete with a long finish. Try it with roast beef.