Our Dairy Hill Semillon is one of the Top 100 Wines in Australia!

#1 Australian Wine of the Year - the Yangarra Grenache McLaren Vale Ovitelli 2021.

At its most rudimentary level, wine sustains us. At the Top 100 level, however, excellence is determined by those wines that announce themselves with a thunderclap of amazement before a lightning strike of such beauty that it is almost ineffable. In essence, these are wines that wow us because they ask us how a seemingly simple sum of place, grape and craft can render such profundity.

Assembling the Top 100 wines is a forensic process. It requires debate, provocation, arguments and fisticuffs, largely with oneself! As much as looking at scores across the last year of tasting – which serve more as a guideline than last word – along with retasting and reshuffling, the process is one of ascertaining which wines are stamped resolutely with that inimitable zip code, or sense of place, that is so crucial when sorting the wheat from the chaff.

No wine culture is more protean than Australia. It is a vast landmass of spellbinding diversity – climatic and geological. Yet it has a relatively small population and has been traditionally reliant on exports as a result. Australia’s isolation also breeds fearless creativity. Certain styles shift in syncopation with international trends, while others stride out fearlessly on their own. The tensile guise of contemporary Australian chardonnay is an example. 15 years ago, too many wines were picked early on acidity and held on lees for too long. They were excessively reductive and anorexic of feel. Today, the envelope has been pulled back to promote restraint, tension, flavor and fealty to place, rather than its obfuscation by excessive meddling.

The list is not intended to be tendentious, but a reflection of the Aussie zeitgeist. Perfect scores are not my thing, but hopefully you read the reviews and get a sense of just why these wines proved so thrilling.

  - Ned Goodwin MW, Senior Editor - James Suckling

Briar Ridge Vineyard
2023 Single Vineyard 'Dairy Hill' Hunter Valley Semillon

Handpicked from dry grown vines. Foot-stomped, with a brief period on skins before an ambient fermentation in a meld of tank and larger format neutral wood. A different handle to the regional standard. Dry grown. Lemon drop and picked Indian lime, with pithy hints of stone fruit, drifting well away from the tighter citric norm. For the better. A broader texture, loaning itself to approachability without any forfeit of intensity. Nicely chewy, too. This is a delicious mid-weighted semillon, setting the regional bar high by virtue of its stridency across the palate and attractive variances. Drink or hold but best in eight years. Screw cap.

96 points - Ned Goodwin MW

Read more about this year's Top 100 Wines of Australia and the rest of the world at www.jamessuckling.com

08/12/2023 at 11:58 AM Permalink

2024 Halliday Wine Companion Awards | We are shortlisted!

The highly anticipated Halliday Wine Companion Awards for 2024 have unveiled the shortlisted wineries, winemakers, and viticulturists, representing the pinnacle of Australian winemaking. The prestigious awards, known for their recognition of excellence in the industry, celebrate the passion, dedication, and expertise that shape the country’s winemaking landscape.

This year, the Halliday Tasting Team, featuring nine panelists including new chief editor Campbell Mattinson, embarked on a year-round process of blind tastings, examinations, and round-table discussions to determine the winners. Each panelist focused on specific regions, ensuring continuity, connection, and specialist expertise. With over 8,500 wines tasted and more than 50 new wineries discovered, the team carefully selected the top-rated Australian wines, winemakers, wineries, and viticulturists.

The Shortlist showcases the diversity and high standards of the Australian wine market, featuring outstanding wineries from Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia, and New South Wales. It highlights the country’s best offerings and serves as a testament to the craftsmanship and innovation within the industry.

In addition to the shortlist announcement, the People’s Choice Award returns for its third year, allowing wine enthusiasts to have their say and recognize Australia’s best winery experience. Public voting is now open giving participants the opportunity to celebrate exceptional cellar doors, remarkable restaurants, friendly staff, picturesque views, and outstanding wines. Voters also have a chance to win a prize pack valued at over $1,400, featuring exceptional wines and wine accessories. The winner of the People’s Choice Award will be unveiled on July 29, 2023.

Vote for us!

Mark your calendars for the prestigious Halliday Wine Companion Awards ceremony, scheduled to take place on August 2nd at the renowned Stokehouse in St Kilda. This esteemed event will showcase the major awards, including Wine of the Year, Winemaker of the Year, Winery of the Year, Viticulturist of the Year, Best Value Winery, Best New Winery, and Dark Horse Winery. Additionally, the top varietal winners will be announced across seventeen categories, such as Red Wine of the Year, White Wine of the Year, Sparkling of the Year, Shiraz of the Year, and Riesling of the Year.

The Halliday Wine Companion Awards serve as a tribute to the remarkable resilience and dedication of the Australian wine industry. They stand as a testament to the passion and expertise that continue to shape the nation’s winemaking landscape. Stay tuned for the release of the 2024 Halliday Wine Companion on August 3rd and raise a glass to the outstanding achievements of the industry’s finest.

Congratulations to our Hunter Valley colleagues who have been shortlisted:

- Winmark Wines for Best New Winery 
- Carillion Wines for Best Value Winery 
- Mount Eyre Vineyards for Dark Horse Winery 
- Liz Riley for Viticulturist of the Year 
- First Creek Wines, Leogate Estate and Pepper Tree Wines for Winery of the Year 
- Jim Chatto, Pepper Tree Wines for Winemaker of the Year 

14/06/2023 at 5:30 PM Permalink

The Real Review Top Wineries of Australia 2023

The Real Review has long been a trusted source for wine enthusiasts in Australia, providing expert reviews and ratings to help consumers make informed decisions about their wine choices. Recently, they announced their Top Wineries of Australia 2023 list, and Briar Ridge Vineyard was included among the prestigious group.

Briar Ridge Vineyard, located in the idyllic Mount View region of Hunter Valley, is known for a classically radical approach to winemaking. Led by award-winning winemaker Alex Beckett, we prioritize tradition while experimenting with alternative varieties and modern technologies to produce exceptional wines.

Several of Briar Ridge's wines were highlighted in reviews by The Real Review, showcasing the breadth and depth of their offerings. The 2022 Single Vineyard Dairy Hill Semillon was described as having "floral and herbal aromas, a trace of lemony confectionery," with a "palate [that] is intense and dry, rich and more generous than some of its fellow young semillons." Meanwhile, the 2022 Limited Release Albariño was praised for its "fresh pear and tropical flower aromas, clean and bright and fragrant" qualities, as well as its "crisp and lively, tense and fresh and dry" finish.

The 2021 Limited Release BDX, an unusual blend, was also lauded for its potential, with reviewers noting its "lavishly fruited, full-bodied" profile and "fine and papery" tannins. And finally, the 2017 Single Vineyard Dairy Hill Shiraz was described as having "finesse, easy flow, and good length of flavour, while soft tannins and fresh acidity frame it all very nicely."

These reviews, along with many others, helped Briar Ridge Vineyard earn a spot on The Real Review Top Wineries of Australia 2023 list. The algorithm used to determine the rankings takes into account both the ratings and recency of reviews, making it a comprehensive and accurate representation of the country's top wineries.

For Briar Ridge Vineyard, this recognition is a testament to our commitment to quality and innovation in winemaking. We are proud to be included among such a prestigious group and look forward to continuing to produce outstanding wines for our loyal customers and new fans alike.

14/04/2023 at 12:40 PM Permalink

Shannon Wins at the Cessnock Business Chamber Awards

The Awards.

The Customer Service Awards are run each year to recognise, showcase and reward exceptional customer service within the Cessnock Local Government Area. It provides an opportunity for community focus over a period culminating in a function to celebrate customer service excellence.

This project also helps to develop networking opportunities with local businesses, the Chamber, and the community in general.

The Gala Dinner was held on the 3rd December 2022 at Cessnock Leagues Club. A night to celebrate the achievements of all locals offering exceptional customer service. Monthly Chamber Awards are awarded each month with the winners becoming finalists in the Chamber Choice Award at the yearly event.

07/12/2022 at 1:34 PM Permalink

2022 Single Vineyard White Release

The Briar Ridge Single Vineyard wines regularly take out some of the most prestigious awards in Australia. The 2021 Single Vineyard 'Briar Hill' Chardonnay recently won the Gold Medal and Trophy for 'Best Hunter Valley Chardonnay' in the 2022 James Halliday Australian Chardonnay Challenge.

The last few years have seen some of the coldest growing seasons with record levels of rainfall which leads to vigorous vineyard growth. According to winemaker Alex Beckett, this often leads to wines of purity and elegance with long cellaring potential.

“The cool seasons always herald my favourite wines,” said Alex. “This year we’ve got some exceptional Semillons and Chardonnays which I am very proud of. I think they are some of the best quality and most interesting wines I have made to date, and which will provide both immediate enjoyment as well as excellent cellaring potential.”

01/12/2022 at 1:56 PM Permalink

'Big Bully' beats the rest in class!

The Big Bully is back!

Our latest release showcases the low yielding yet high quality fruit of the 2020 vintage in Wrattonbully.⁠ ⁠Escaping affect of the east coast bushfires that plagued the vintage, our Wrattonbully vineyard commenced with cool weather during the flowering and fruit set in early Summer. This led to small yields yet fully ripened flavours and sugars which enabled us to harvest excellent fruit to utilise in the Winery.

"Showing good varietal character - despite the generally cool conditions in 2020. Black current and blueberry fruits, charry oak and liquorice spice. Complex with good length and structure."

The 2020 Limited Release 'Big Bully' Cabernet Sauvignon was our maiden submission to the International Cool Climate Wine Show based out of the Mornington Peninsula. A highly successful entry for us, it went through to take out the only award in Class 24 (2 years or younger Cabernet Sauvignon).

95 Points & Top Gold

Alex (our winemaker) aimed to exhibit a classically styled wine that is robust yet still in balance; which he succeeded in doing with this excellent style of Wrattonbully Cabernet Sauvignon.

Concentrated blackcurrent and blackberry fruit flavours, strongly defined tannin build and length all provided by a long mix of fermentation on skins and in a static fermenter. High quality oak character is also provided by 24 months of maturation in one year old French oak casks. 

Have a bottle open and at the ready with your next lamb roast or hide some under the stairs for years to come. ⁠

11/07/2022 at 5:14 PM Permalink

Showstopping Semillon!

After a two year hiatus, the National Wine Show of Australia returned to the calendar in May with the delayed 2021 honours.

There were a total of 880 entrants and only 15.3% of these claimed gold medals. Briar Ridge Vineyard were amongst the very few on show to receive a top gold and point score of 96 for the Museum Release 2013 Stockhausen Semillon which was submitted in Class 10 - 2020 Semillon and older.

But that’s not all, with an invite sent to Winemaker, Alex Beckett, he was soon on his way to attend the awards ceremony being held at the National Press Club of Australia, Canberra. The night proved to be worth the journey in a Jetstream 32 (19 seats) and the Briar Ridge Vineyard walked away from 2021 National Wine Show with the Semillon Trophy for the Museum Release 2013 Stockhausen Semillon. What a reward!

08/06/2022 at 3:07 PM Permalink

Alex Beckett wins Young Achiever of The Year at the Hunter Valley Legends & Wine Industry Awards 2022

In May this year, the Hunter Valley gathered for it’s annual night of nights; The Hunter Valley Legends & Wine Industry Awards. Alex has collected a few accolades in recent years for his outstanding work in winemaking with Briar Ridge Vineyard but this night solidified his efforts. Alex received the trophy for the Riedel 2022 Hunter Valley Young Achiever of the Year.

This award is presented to an individual within the Hunter Valley Wine Industry, under the age of 35, who has most actively and vibrantly contributed to the growth of the region as well as having made considerable efforts in their career and field in the Hunter Valley wine industry. Specifically, Alex has been recognised as a strong advocate for Hunter Valley wine and tourism during his thirteen years (so far) in the industry.

Currently completing his Master of Wine at the Institute of Masters of Wine, we’re very proud and super lucky to have such a skilful, innovative and driven Winemaker.

Keep your eye out, Alex has some very exciting new wines and products in the pipeline. We’re hoping to share some of these with you very soon.

01/06/2022 at 12:14 PM Permalink

A Stunning Performance for our 2021 Dairy Hill Single Vineyard Semillon

Semillon is typically cast as the supporting actor rather than the star of the show. Its natural intensity and energy make it a natural blending partner, but its potential as a varietal wine often goes unnoticed. Here at Briar Ridge, it’s one of our favourite varieties and our winemaker Alex Beckett makes sure to cast Semillon in a leading role. 

So it’s no surprise that we were absolutely over the moon to learn that Ned Goodwin MW awarded our 2021 Dairy Hill Single Vineyard Semillon 97 points in Halliday's Wine Companion (read Ned’s full write-up below). It's the highest score we've received and one of the best wines we've ever made. Our winemaker Alex is “incredibly proud of this wine and excited to see how it evolves in years to come.” This is especially gratifying considering the history and significance of semillon here in the Hunter Valley. 

Originally from the south-west of France, semillon is characterised by bright citrus and tropical flavours and a generous mouthfeel, though in the Hunter it tends to display more zesty citrus and herbaceous characters along with feather-light alcohol. Frequently overlooked in favour of flashier counterparts – sauvignon blanc and chardonnay – semillon can produce wines of outstanding character in a range of styles with seemingly endless cellaring potential.

It’s widely believed that semillon arrived early in Australia’s viticultural history – possibly as early as the first fleet – and quickly found its new home in the Hunter Valley. The region’s warm, humid climate and frequent summer rains cause headaches for growers. Despite these challenging conditions, semillon has proven popular with winegrowers – its vigour, high yields and tendency to ripen early (before the summer rains) made it easy to like. And the ability to morph over time from a zesty, crisp youngster into a deep golden, nutty, honey-scented old-timer makes Hunter semillon one of Australia's truly unique styles. When given centre stage, it can deliver an Oscar-winning performance. 

For semillon to truly capture the Hunter’s unique sense of place, meticulous vineyard management and winemaking are essential. And this is certainly the case for our single vineyard semillon, which is made in limited quantities from our unique ‘Dairy Hill’ block located in Mount View and is only produced in exceptional vintages with the highest quality of fruit. Our vines are cropped relatively low and the grapes are hand-picked to ensure excellent concentration and freshness. The fruit is then gently handled in the winery; chilled and pressed with minimal skin contact before the juice is fermented at 16-18°C in stainless steel. An additional four months on lees provides a soft, textural mouthfeel that complements the semillon’s freshness and lively fruit character. 

The resulting wine beautifully captures semillon’s youthful exuberance. It’s light and fresh, brimming with zesty citrus fruit and lemongrass, bright acidity and great length. Crisp, clean and vibrant, it’s a serious winner on a warm summer’s day and a perfect match for oysters, seafood or antipasti on the deck this Christmas. For patient drinkers, time in the cellar will reward you with the honeyed complexity bottle-aged semillon is known for. You can expect flavours of citrus and tropical fruit to evolve and combine with toast, nuts and honey, while semillon’s bracing natural acidity adds balance and length of flavour. 

Read Ned Goodwin's Review:

"From the southeast-facing Dairy Hill site. Thinned, green harvested, hand picked and rigorously sorted, the result 37% down on usual volumes. Wild-yeast fermented warmer than the regional standard, all radical in these parts. Left on lees for 4 months post-ferment. I adore the sentiment behind this, but the textural build has been pushed radically. Watch the neighbours! But, I love this. A sign of the future rather than the past. A bright one! Scents of tatami, porcini, lanolin, citrus peel, glazed quince and gin and tonic. White pepper, again. Delicious. Rich for the idiom. Palate-staining finish. Thoroughly impressive."

Get your hands on this 97-pointer here.

19/01/2022 at 8:31 AM Permalink