CHARDONNAY CHAMP: Ballabourneen 2003 The Stuart Chardonnay

A beauty — well crafted with generous fruit and oak ... Worth seeking out to see how good young Hunter chardonnay can be! READ FULL STORY

Stuart Gregor
Sunday Magazine [Sydney & Melbourne], October 10, 2004

SHARE IN THE SPOILS: Ballabourneen 2003 The Stuart Chardonnay

There's good news for wine lovers from last month's 2004 Hunter Valley Wine Show at Singleton — wines that won 17 of the 21 trophies and 42 of the 68 gold medals can be found now in regional bottle shops and cellar door outlets. READ FULL STORY

John Lewis
The Herald [Newcastle], September 15, 2004

WINE: Ballabourneen 2003 Shiraz

There are plenty of interesting wines around these days, at sensible prices. Among them ... Ballabourneen 2003 Shiraz is a fair dinkum Hunter shiraz, estate grown in the Lovedale sector ... full of flavour and not fiercely alcoholic. READ FULL STORY

David Bray
The Independent [Brisbane] September 2, 2004

WINE: Ballabourneen 2003 Shiraz

Warwick Randall
Progress Leader [Melbourne] July 12, 2004

HUNTER HAPPINESS: Ballabourneen 2003 The Stuart Chardonnay

The wine rocks with peaches and passionfruit aromas and mouth-filling flavours that finish long and zesty. READ FULL STORY

Dorian Wild
Supplement in Wentworth Courier and Sydney Weekly Courier, June, 2004

TASTE: Ballabourneen 2003 Shiraz

Crafted by Andrew Thomas, it's a typical, gutsy Hunter red with spicy fruit flavours and nicely structured tannins. Drink it now with beef stir-fry, or it will improve with time in the bottle. READ FULL STORY

Kerry Skinner
Illawarra Mercury [Wollongong] June 16, 2004

RED ADDS TO PORTFOLIO: Ballabourneen 2003 Shiraz

They have added to their portfolio with a shiraz that gladdens my Hunter heart ... It is purple-hued and has fruitcake and tobacco leaf scents. Smooth, generous plum flavour glides over the front of the palate and peppermint chocolate, molasses and anise fruit characters meld with subtle savoury oak on the middle palate. Soft, earthy tannins come into play at the finish. READ FULL STORY

John Lewis
The Herald [Newcastle], June 9, 2004

TOP TIPPLE: Ballabourneen 2003 The Stuart Chardonnay

Lovely intense ripe varietal fruit aromas with a whiff of spicy French oak. Palate detects complexity and intensity with some firmness behind it and deft oak treatment that lifts the flavour. God is not mocked. READ FULL STORY

Rob Ingram
Australian Country Style, May 2004

WINE: Ballabourneen 2003 The Stuart Chardonnay

A touch of class from this Hunter Valley drop, which romps home with touches of lovely citrus and peach, and a generous flavour that really lasts. Bliss in a glass. READ FULL STORY

Dorian Wild
Sydney City, May 14, 2004

CORKSCREW: Ballabourneen 2003 The Stuart Chardonnay

The people there have produced a stunner in the 2003 The Stuart Chardonnay. This has to be one of the best chardonnays I've tasted in months. The colour is vibrant straw yellow. The nose oozes lashings of ripe melon and peaches with strong hints of French oak. The palate is awash with tropical fruit flavours such as pineapple, passionfruit and banana. The French oak is appealing and is nicely handled. The flavour is rich and intense. The wine has loads of charm, a style of wine the Hunter does well if it has the right weather conditions and exceptional parcels of fruit, not to mention the hand of a deft winemaker who knows what he is doing. Ther Ballabourneen The Stuart Chardonnay is one of those wines. SEE CLIPPING

Jim McMahon
Education [Sydney] March 8, 2004

WINE OF THE WEEK: Ballabourneen 2003 The Stuart Chardonnay

Attractive peach/melon flavours supported by spicy oak guarantee tantalising enjoyment. SEE CLIPPING

John Fordham
The Sunday Telegraph [Sydney] March 7, 2004

FIVE STARS: Ballabourneen 2003 The Stuart Chardonnay

The powerful oak aromas are balanced by equally powerful fruit -- nice and fresh. A fine, austere palate with lovely oak handling that lifts the flavour. Good length. warm on the finish. READ FULL STORY

Peter Simic & panel
Winestate March-April, 2004

NEW RELEASES: Ballabourneen 2003 Verdelho

Sweaty, varietal, tropical fruit aromas follow through on to the palate. Some pressings but nicely balanced by the acid. READ FULL STORY

Peter Simic & panel
Winestate March-April, 2004

GOOD WINE: Ballabourneen 2003 The Stuart Chardonnay

This wine exhibits classic Hunter Valley chardonnay characteristics with plenty of peach and rockmelon on the palate and nose. It has been allowed to mature in French oak barriques which has added texture and a subtle spicy complexity to the wine. This is a truly mouthfilling style, complete with a long, lingering, clean acid finish. Yes, it will get even better with 4 ot 5 years of cellaring, but it's exceptional drinking now. SEE CLIPPING

Graeme Andrews
Food-Fun-Wine [Internet] February, 2004

TASTE: Ballabourneen 2003 The Stuart Chardonnay

Peaches, rockmelon and passionfruit. together with spicy French oak on the nose and palate. SEE CLIPPING

Kerry Skinner
Illawarra Mercury [Wollongong] January 21, 2004

SERIOUS PURSUITS: Ballabourneen 2003 The Stuart Chardonnay

The Ballabourneen 2003 The Stuart Chardonnay has an intensity that is seldom seen. Ripe aromas of peaches, rockmelon and passionfruit lead to a long, crisp finish. SEE CLIPPING

Warwick Randall
Waverley Leader [Melbourne] January 20, 2004

DRINK NOW: Ballabourneen 2003 Verdelho

Drought conditions produced high-0alcohol fruit in 2003 but in this instance that was countered with a hefty dose of bracing acidity. This has an alluring, highly perfumed nose, tight citrus flavours and a persistent finish. READ FULL STORY

Jeff Collerson
The Daily Telegraph [Sydney] November 19, 2003

FOREIGN FOODS, LOCAL WINES: Ballabourneen 2003 Verdelho

Lebanese: When exploring this interesting and exotic cuisine take along some interesting wines. If you prefer a white, enjoy the fascinating flavours of a verdelho from Ballabourneen. READ FULL STORY

Ian MacTavish
Super Food Ideas, December, 2003

TOP AUSSIE WHITE: Ballabourneen 2003 Verdelho

This screwcapped white is fruity and charming without being sweet, with invitingly fresh nectarine, honeydew melon and tropical aromas. It has good depth of flavour and excellent balance and quality. Drink now. SEE CLIPPING

Huon Hooke
The Sydney Morning Herald, November 11, 2003