“A fine repository for excess Chardonnay fruit, The Postmistress offers only slight yeastiness, but ample citrus fruit and a soft, elegant mousse. Gingery and toasty on the finish. Drink now.”
Joe Czerwinski
“A solid,
potent example of Shiraz, this 2008 doesn’t show any ill effects of the
vintage-time heatwave, offering fresh, clean flavors of blueberry, vanilla and
tobacco. Tannins are firm and slightly dusty in style, making this
a solid choice with steak or roasts. Drink now – 2015.”
Joe Czerwinski
1001 Wines under $20 - noted as one of the best value wines in Australia!
88 Points
The wine is named after the 19th-century mail coach service that
ran through the pastoral property in Padthaway on which the large vineyard is
situated. Other evocative brand names are Parson's Flat, The Trial of John
Montford, Dead Letter Office, Morse Code and The Postmistress. The other thing
they have in common is value for money. Light to medium purple-red, this is a
shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and merlot blend with a supple display of
blackberry, blackcurrant and plum fruit on the light- to medium-bodied palate.
It's an attractive, drink-now pizza or pasta style.
Top of Class - Silver Medal - Henry's Drive Reserve 2008 Shiraz
Top of Class - Silver Medal - Morse Code 2010 Chardonnay
Silver Medal -Henry's Drive 2008 Shiraz
Silver Medal - Dead Letter Office 2008 Shiraz
Silver Medal - The Postmistress 2010 Blanc de Blanc
Silver Medal - The Scarlet Letter NV Sparkling Shiraz
Silver Medal - Pillar Box Reserve 2009 Shiraz
Bronze Medal - Parson's Flat 2008 Shiraz/ Cabernet
Bronze Medal - Pillar Box Reserve 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon
Bronze Medal - Pillar Box Red 2009
Bronze Medal - Morse Code 2009 Shiraz
2011 Royal Adelaide Wine Show
Gold Medal - Henry's Drive Reserve 2008 Shiraz
Silver Medal - Henry's Drive 2008 Shiraz
Silver Medal - The Scarlet Letter NV Sparkling Shiraz
Bronze Medal - Pillar Box Reserve 2008 Shiraz
Bronze Medal - The Postmistress 2010 Blanc de Blanc
Parson’s Flat 2008 Shiraz/Cabernet 90 points
Medium red-purple; the varieties have provided the synergy expected of the blend,
aided to a degree by oak; the bouquet and medium-bodied palate offer a smooth
blend of blackberry, blackcurrant, plum cake and a dash of chocolate, the tannins
full and soft. Drink to 2020
Dead Letter Office 2008 Shiraz 91 points
Deep, dense purple-crimson; a blend of Padthaway/McLaren Vale shiraz; the components come together well, Padthaway providing fragrance and red berry fruits, McLaren Vale black fruits and its seemingly inevitable bitter chocolate. Drink to 2018
Pillar Box Reserve 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon 91 points
Healthy crimson-red; ticks all the boxes for a medium bodied cool-grown cabernet; aromatic red and blackcurrant fruit, soft tannins and well integrated oak; overall mouthfeel is very good. Padthaway/Mount Benson. Drink to 2018
Morse Code 2009 Shiraz 90 points - Top ten red wines $10 & under
Strong crimson-purple; my, my, the colour does not send the wrong signal; this has really attractive juicy red berry/cherry fruit flavours and a supple texture; tailor-made for consumption anywhere, any time over the next year. Outstanding bargain. Drink 2012
This (is a) stunner; a wild ride of ripe blackberry, licorice, coffee and spice flavours that gains momentum with every sip!
2008 Henry’s Drive Reserve Shiraz 93 points Sourced from a single vineyard of 14 year old vines on a hillside site at the base of the hill edged by eucalyptus trees. It was aged for 18-20 months in 75% French oak / 25% American, 55% being new. Very deep purple-black colored, it reveals intense blackberry, black cherry and spiced blueberry notes with some lavender, cinnamon, cloves and anise and just a touch of dark chocolate. Quite full and rich in the mouth with very crisp acid, it has well integrated oak, medium-firm finely grained tannins and a very long, slightly warming finish. Though it’s still youthful and primary in fruit character, it’s very approachable now and should remain delicious to 2018.
2008 Henry’s Drive Shiraz 92 points Sourced from 4 to 5 vineyard sites mainly consisting of terra rossa soils, the 2008 Shiraz finished fermentation in oak; 60% American, 40% French oak, 30% new. Very deep purple-black colored, it begins with earthy notes of loam and truffles over ripe blackberries, crushed blueberries, warm black cherries and Mediterranean herbs with hints of mint, mocha and violets. Full-bodied with a medium to firm level of silt-like tannins, refreshingly high acid and good amount of fleshy fruit, it finishes long and savory. It delicious now though should open further with another year in bottle and drink to 2017
2007 Parson’s Flat Shiraz / Cabernet 91 points A blend of 57% Shiraz and 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2007 Parson’s Flat was aged for 15 to 16 months in 60% American oak and 40% French, 40% of which was new. Very deep garnet colored, it has intense black cherry, black-berry and minted cassis aromas with nuances of tobacco, tree bark, earth and some licorice. Full-bodied with medium-firm silky tannins and high acid struc-turing the generous fruit, it has very good persistence. Just beginning to evolve and enter its drinking window, it should continue to cellar to 2016.
2008 Dead Letter Office Shiraz 90 points Usually a McLaren Vale dominate blend, though for the 2008 vintage, the fruit was harvested after the heat-wave was not used and therefore the propor-tions are 62% Padthaway and 38% McLaren Vale. Very deep purple-black in colour, it gives intense ripe plum, blackberry and kirsch aromas with some pencil shavings and chocolate plus whiffs of mint and undergrowth. Very con-centrated and rich, this full-bodied Shiraz is well structured with crisp acid and medium-firm fine grained tannins. There’s still a suggestion of oak apparent in the long finish. Approachable now, it should continue to drink to 2016+.