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!
About this wine from the winemaker: “The 2023 vintage in the Adelaide Hills began with excellent subsoil moisture following a wet winter. Regular spring rainfall supported healthy growth, Rainfall of 42.5mm in January provided a welcome boost, followed by cool, mild conditions in February and March.
“With 80% fruit from Lenswood and 20% from Piccadilly. The Tilbury has tight and precise acidity, compact structure, and some bold length. It has scents of fresh lime, white flowers, with an oyster shell minerality followed by citrus flavours and a subtle chariness due to seeing 40% new French and Austrian oak. The style of fruit from Lenswood provides a beautiful contrast to the tight and linear nature of the fruit from Piccadilly.
95 Points, Ned Goodwin MW, Decanter “A crushed rock flintiness to oyster shell brininess, melding with verdant hints of mint and other garden herbs, smattered amid orchard fruits and citrus. Demur, youthful, tightly coiled and in need of time. Yet the acidity is juicy rather than hard. The finish, compelling…”
95 Points, Katrina Butler, Halliday Wine Companion 2026 “A very cool and wet vintage for the Hills would’ve brought with it many challenges, not that you’d sense it here. The wine saw full mlf to combat the austerity of acids, and while it is still extremely tight and coiled in its youth, this will relax with bottle-age into something remarkable. Citrus, both lemon and lime, with some grapefruit pith and curry leaf, a thread of salinity flush with white stone fruit and crushed rock. It’s tantalising, electric and bound to reward patience.”
RRP $59 Our Special Price $47.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine.
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