Description
Murdoch Hill vineyard is in the undulating hills of Oakbank in the Adelaide Hills. Planted by the Downer family in ’98 but the excitement began in 2012 when Michael (family’s youngest) took over the reins after working at esteemed wineries: Vietti in Piedmont; Bests in Great Western (initiated his Pinot Meunier fascination) & Shaw & Smith. He brought winemaking in house to have absolute control (previously outsourced to neighbouring winery) and adopted minimal intervention including wild yeasts, whole bunch ferments, extended skin contact, older wood maturation, no fining, filtration and minimal sulphur. He introduced the Artisan range of single parcel high altitude offerings sourcing fruit from vines in Lobethal, Basket Range and Uraidla high in the Piccadilly Valley …. juicy, vibrant wines that highlight the detail and freshness of each site.
Downer was a Young Guns of Wine finalist in 2014, joint winner of the ‘Winemaker’s Choice’ in 2015, finalist again in 2016 and winner in 2017! In the same year he was awarded Young Winemaker of the Year by Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine! Very compelling getting vote of approval from his peers!
“Murdoch Hill is a serious ultra-quality player in Australian wine. Take note.” Campbell Mattinson, Halliday Wine Companion Top 100 Wineries 2023
“Michael really knows what he’s doing both in the cellar and in the vineyard. He has proven his credentials over and over again…” Halliday Wine Companion, Winemaker of the Year Finalists 2024
Orion represents the cream of Murdoch Hill’s Syrah crop, comprising the best fruit from the Landau block (the lion’s share is from the apex of the vineyard) and further classified in barrel post-fermentation. This year, barrels were selected from just two parcels kept separate until the final blending decisions were made. The site is 400 metres above sea level, predominately east-facing on shallow red loam with varying levels of schist and ironstone. The vines were planted in 1998.
The fruit was picked over two days in late March and early April. It fermented with 15% bunches in a two-tonne open vat and then moved to 500-litre Stockinger puncheons (20% new), where it rested for 10 months. It was never going to be easy surpass last year’s triumphant release, which took out the trophy for Best South Australian Shiraz at the 2022 Melbourne Royal Wine Awards, but Downer has found a way.
98 points, Campbell Mattinson, Top Rated: Halliday Wine Companion 2025“It’s not often that such a detailed, delicate wine also comes with such depth. Indeed, this is a wine of gravitas. It’s tight, smoky, ripped with mescal-like notes, peppery and just generally savoury, but there’s also a gorgeous purr of berried fruit, ripe and settled. Along with all those spicy treble notes there’s a good pound of mid-range bass. We’re in classic beauty territory, balanced and complete. Give this wine some air; it needs it. And prepare to be mesmerised.”
95 points, Ned Goodwin, jamessuckling.com“This is exceptional cool climate syrah, reeling off kelp, black cherries, tapenade, cloves and violets across a long line of flavor, measured intensity and sumptuous tannins, almost sooty and rock-face mineral of feel. Mid-weighted and savory, albeit, with plenty of power. A clench of reduction at the finish to give it just a little more tension. A wine for Northern Rhone lovers seeking a different form of transcendence.”
94 points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front “I’ve seen the wine prior and admired it greatly. For this tasting, on day one I saw a sweetness, maltiness and ripeness that didn’t quite figure with my assumption of the wine, that can happen, though today on the bench, day two, it’s much more settled into its groove with white pepper, herbal elements and game meat qualities soaring through. It’s even, supple, shaped with lithe tannins, red cherry, rose hip tea amongst those previously mentioned savoury elements. You get the sense of liquid spice overall, a slip of green stemmy character well judged underlying. Beautiful wine, though it sits in a more opulent tone.”
RRP $102 Our Special Price $81.99 when you buy 6 or more
