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Buy OnlineWinery notes (2017 Vintage)
"Church Road Grand Reserve wines are produced only in exceptional vintages. The very best low-cropping vineyard blocks are targeted for selective hand-harvesting to yield wines with the greatest possible flavour, depth and concentration. In the winery these wines are made using small batch, traditional winemaking techniques that emphasise texture, structure and subtle complexity, while still letting the fruit shine through.
A core of dark berry fruit, cherry and plum is lifted by top notes of fragrant cassis, subtle spice, violet, rosewood and cedar. A savoury dark earthy complexity brings a more serious, brooding undertone to the wine. On the palate the wine is full bodied with good mid palate flesh, finishing with a long, fine tannin structure that will soften with time and ensure good cellaring potential."
Reviews for previous vintages below…
5 Stars Michael Cooper (2016 Vintage)
"The powerful, yet very approachable, 2016 vintage is a blend of Merlot (74 per cent) and Cabernet Sauvignon (26 per cent), grown in the Gimblett Gravels (mostly) and the Bridge Pa Triangle, and matured for 18 months in French oak barrels (41 per cent new). It has bold, youthful colour, lush, concentrated plum, blackcurrant and spice flavours, impressive complexity, and supple tannins. Best drinking 2023+."
5 Stars Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review, July 2019 (2015 Vintage)
"The Church Road Grande Reserve Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 is a blend of 85% merlot and 15% cabernet sauvignon from the Bridge Pa and Gimblett Gravels subregions. A rich, fleshy and reasonably dense red with a core of sweet plum and dark fruits together with a hint of chocolate/mocha with a savoury edge. A serious red."
95/100 NWWA (2015 Vintage)
"From one of the oldest wineries in the country and developed by winemaking pioneer Tom McDonald, this is a wine to celebrate his vision and persistence in following his dream. As a 19yr old, Tom was left to look after the winery while its owner Bartholomew Steinmetz returned to his native Luxenbourg in the 1920’s. Steinmetz never returned and Tom McDonald subsequently bought the winery and focused on producing red wines of excellence, all by the age of 19 years. In the following 50 years Tom championed the Cabernet Sauvignon variety and one hopes he would be proud of the wines coming from the site of his original vineyard. Dense dark red fruits with notes of blackcurrant jam, rich tannins and smoky oak creates a captivating nose. The palate is rich and opulent with black fruity and a touch of liquorice, a full-bodied wine with length and finesse."
