Editors notes
The Thomson Family Shiraz is produced from Henry Best’s original 1867 Shiraz plantings, and is only produced in exceptional years with yields typically at less than two tonnes per acre.
Slightly closed then gradually opening to reveal a heady mixture of black fruits, bitter chocolate, dried flowers, white pepper and innumerable secondary aromas including leather, liquorice and tobacco. Ultra-rich tightly structured liquored fruits. The seductive fruit, tannin, acid mix persists longingly in the mouth.
Details
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Wine Type
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Variety
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Light (Light)Full (Full)
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Low Tannin (Low Tannin)Tannic (Tannic)
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Sweet (Sweet)Dry (Dry)
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Low Acidity (Low Acidity)High Acidity (High Acidity)
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Aroma
- Blackberry
- Blueberry
- Pepper
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Palate
- Blackberry
- Fruit Cake
- Tobacco
Food Pairings
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Pork -
Red Meat
Critic Scores & reviews
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Robert Parker
97+"Coming from the original 1867 plantings and casting a very deep garnet-purple color, the 2008 Great Western Thomson Family Shiraz offers a complex array of fragrant floral, earth and berry aromas, with notes of black cherries, mulberries and blueberries over violets, red roses, cinnamon stick, allspice and ground ginger plus whiffs of black truffles and underbrush. Medium to full bodied and very concentrated, the palate is led by a taut structure of firm, tight-grained tannins and crisp acid with layers of flavors going long into the very persistent finish. Consider drinking this monumental effort 2013 to 2025+. 97+ points Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate"
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James Halliday
96"Vivid youthful hue; the bouquet shows elements of fresh blackberry, violets, ironstone minerality and fragrant toasty oak; medium-bodied and full of vibrant fruit, its outstanding character is the seamless and silky texture that unravels at a stately pace to reveal the wine within; patience will be rewarded, but it will be hard to wait, as it is delicious now."
Other vintages
Love this wine? Here's a list of other vintages we have in stock if you'd like to try them as well.
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- Variety Shiraz
- Vintage 2012
- Brand Best's Wines
- Cellaring 15 Plus Years
- Wine Type Red
- Alcohol Percentage 14.5% Alcohol
Best's Great Western Shiraz Thomson Family 2012-
Campbell Mattin96 points
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Huon Hooke96 points
$240.00 -
- Variety Shiraz
- Vintage 1992
- Brand Best's Wines
- Cellaring 15 Plus Years
- Wine Type Red
- Alcohol Percentage 14.0% Alcohol
Best's Great Western Thomson Centenary Shiraz 1992 1.5L-
Gary Walsh95 points
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James Halliday94 points
$500.01 -
- Variety Shiraz
- Vintage 1992
- Brand Best's Wines
- Cellaring 15 Plus Years
- Wine Type Red
- Alcohol Percentage 14.0% Alcohol
Best's Great Western Thomson Centenary Shiraz 1992 1.5L-
Gary Walsh95 points
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James Halliday94 points
$500.01
Current auction
All current auctions for this wine & any different vintages.
Locations
Australia
Australia's wine industry is a thriving part of the country's economy, contributing significantly to employment, production, export, and tourism. In fact, the industry is the fourth-largest wine exporter in the world, shipping out 760 million liters of wine to countries including France, Italy, Spain, and the UK. One of the key factors contributing to Australia's success as a "New World" wine producer is the formal export and marketing of its wines through Wine Australia.
Australia's wine regions are scattered across the south and southeast, with almost every state boasting its own vineyards. Victoria, for example, is home to an impressive 21 wine regions. Some of the most famous wine regions in Australia include Margaret River, Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Eden Valley, Clare Valley, Hunter Valley, Yarra Valley, and local regions to New South Wales such as Cowra, Southern Highlands, and Mudgee.
Australian winemakers are known for producing a diverse range of grape varieties, with Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Noir being among the most popular. They tend to focus on producing wines that are ripe, fruit-forward, and easy to drink, using modern winemaking techniques and equipment such as stainless steel tanks and temperature-controlled fermentation.
With its bold, fruit-driven flavors and reputation for quality and diversity, Australian wine has become a popular choice for wine lovers around the world. And with such a broad range of wine regions and grape varieties, there's something for every palate to enjoy.
Victoria
The wine region of Victoria has the highest number of grapevines than any other state in Australia. It is home to over 600 wineries and well-known regions such as Yarra Valley, Heathcote, and Rutherglen. Victoria is situated in the southeastern corner of Australia where due to the location, the climate has a cool maritime influence and is known for its outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, along with producing Australia’s most famed dessert Muscat and Topaque wines.
There are a number of different terroir levels throughout the wine region of Victoria which leads to the production of different ranges of wines. In the southern region of Victoria, the vines are regulated by the cool winds of the Bass Strait. Central Victoria consists of mostly flat terrain that tends to be drier and warmer than the rest of Victoria, which results in more fruit concentrated wines. It may be surprising to note that Victoria is the third most productive wine region in Australia, seeing as it does not have as many areas suitable for viticulture, which has resulted in the cellar door culture of Victoria being concentrated with smaller, but more personal boutique wineries.
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Pairs Well With
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Frequently Bought With
About the brand Best's Wines
James Halliday calls Best's "among Australia's best-kept secrets". Now in its 5th generation, Best's, founded in 1866 by British brothers Joseph and Henry Best is one of the country's oldest family owned wineries. When the brothers relocated from Melbourne to Ararat to try their luck in the Victorian Gold Rush, they soon noted instead the profit of the wine growers in the area. With a new focus, they planted their first vines in 1865, making them amongst the oldest in Australia.
Best's winemaker Justin Purser, having worked vintages in New Zealand, Central Otago, Piedmont, Italy and most recently, the Cote d'Or in Burgundy crafts his blends using non-interventionist winemaking, with most of the effort focused on producing quality fruit in the vineyard to start with. Though they feature a wide range of interesting varietals including the likes of Dolcetto and Pinot Meunier, Best's fame lies in their many expressions of Shiraz.
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