CALABRIA FAMILY WINES RATED 5 STAR WINERY - 2021

Calabria Family Wines Museum Release Three Bridges Reserve Semillon 2012 | 96 POINTS & SPECIAL VALUE
Wow! Why have we been drinking so many sweet semillons from Riverina, when the region is clearly able to also present aged, dry semillons such as this? It’s a simply stunning wine and still with a long road ahead. Brioche, buttered toast notes mingle with honeysuckle, apple blossom and an intense lemon zestiness. Young (yes, 8 years young!), fresh with great balance and vigourous acidity, this is a beauty. Reviewed by Jeni Port

Calabria Family Wines Calabria Private Bin Riverina Montepulciano 2018 | 95 POINTS & SPECIAL VALUE
Bill Calabria and winemaker Emma Norbiato moved into Italian varieties a while back and each year their knowledge and aptitude for these alternative grapes grows impressively. Montepulciano is a case in point. It’s solid and serious red wine at a $15 price tag. Incredible. Deep red-garnet. Blackberry, black cherry, potpourri, earth, dried herbs with a thread of Rocky Road chocolate running loose. Merges beautifully on the palate with black and red cherry intensity, chocolate-coated cranberry and blackstrap licorice. Outstanding value. Reviewed by Jeni Port

Calabria Family Wines Calabria Bros. Eden Valley Riesling 2019 | 95 POINTS & SPECIAL VALUE
Showing all the style of a classic Eden Valley riesling and a joy to drink. Bursts with citrus blossom, jasmine, lantana, lime cordial. Compact and taut with that fine Eden Valley line and length, the juicy riesling fruit is the star. And it’s just starting out. Reviewed by Jeni Port

Calabria Family Wines Francesco Show Reserve Grand Tawny NV | 95 POINTS
So good - in every sense - to have a quality winemaker pursuing a tawny from the Barossa. It is the great fortified of the region and we are seeing less and less produced. Its age (Grand is 11-20yo in average age) is evident immediately in the olive-edged walnut-brown colour. Super-concentrated aromas of raisin, prune, toffee, peanut brittle. Rich, sweet and persistent with spice, licorice, fruitcake and clean spirit, it lingers on and on. Superb. Reviewed by Jeni Port

Calabria Family Wines Saint Petri Barossa Valley Grenache Shiraz Mataro 2018 | 95 POINTS
Named after a local Barossa church, Saint Petri pays homage to the original settlers of the region. It’s a generous and fruit-led wine typical of the Barossa, and made with enviable restraint by Emma Norbiato. Spiced-up aromas of black cherry, raspberry pastille, chocolate, gingerbread with white pepper. Smooth, seamless and almost endless, the pace quickens on the palate and fruit flavours intensify with smooth tannins through to the end. Reviewed by Jeni Port

Calabria Family Wines Three Bridges Barossa Valley Grenache 2018 | 94 POINTS & SPECIAL VALUE
Grenache and Calabria are proving to be a good fit producing some well composed and elegant examples. The question of approachability goes without saying - that is a Calabria hallmark - but winemaker Emma Norbiato resists the temptation to go bold with Barossa fruit and seeks another more temperate road, one made to highlight the grape’s pretty florals, violets, confectionery and fresh, macerated cherries and spice. It is fresh, medium-bodied, laced with savoury tannins, and the right mix of fruit versus oak. Reviewed by Jeni Port

Calabria Family Wines Three Bridges Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 | 94 POINTS & SPECIAL VALUE
Purple-garnet. Nori, black bean sauce, pretty cabernet florals, blackcurrant, sage. It’s a complex start and more follows with the delivery of a gentle power, malleable tannins and expressive black berry, chocolate, spice, Aussie bush flavours. So much to love at such an attractive price point. Reviewed by Jeni Port

Calabria Family Wines Alternato Red Blend Shiraz Durif Nero d’Avola Montepulciano 2017 | 94 POINTS
Co-fermented, 50% whole bunches, a mix of tank (30%) and barrel (70%) maturation. These cocktail blends often fall flat, but not here. It is vibrantly fresh and juicy, red fruits to the fore. Reviewed by James Halliday.

Calabria Family Wines Three Bridges Mourvèdre Barossa Valley 2018 | 94 POINTS
Mourvedre (aka mataro) isn’t seen as a stand alone too often, winemakers tend to focus on it as a blender. It brings solid tannin support and intense blackcurrant fruit flavour and spice to the party, all of which are celebrated here, together with some extra touches. Cassis, blood plums, leafy with floral sweetness. A wildness on the palate of bush berries and herbs, rosemary and thyme are a real feature together with grainy tannins. An individual in its entirety handled with sensitivity. Reviewed by Jeni Port

Calabria Family Wines Pierre D’Amour Syrah 2017 | 93 POINTS & SPECIAL VALUE
The Hilltops region of NSW is establishing serious wine credentials, notably for its syrah/shiraz. Presumably the syrah nomenclature is employed in this instance to indicate a medium-bodied, spice-filled red and all-round elegance. With or without the term, it is accomplished. Florals, musk, 5 spice, red fruits sets the scene. Light on its feet, it shifts effortlessly into a smooth, well-balanced palate. Reviewed by Jeni Port

Calabria Family Wines Three Bridges Riverina Botrytis Semillon 2017 | 93 POINTS & SPECIAL VALUE
Love the generosity and unctuous fluidity of this sweet white from a region that produces some of the best dessert wines in the biz. Dried fig, nougat, fresh mango rise from the glass. Perfect balance is achieved through generous botrytis flavours of pear, baked apple tart and acacia honey running clean and fresh alongside brisk acidity. Chill and enjoy. Reviewed by Jeni Port

Calabria Family Wines Saint Petri Barossa Valley Shiraz Carignan 2018 | 93 POINTS
The carignan grape calls the south of France home but after tasting this blend, it’s safe to say it’s loving its new home away from home. The grape which usually adds colour and acidity to a blend, shines here with raspberry, bramble berry intensity. Shiraz enjoys the joint partnership, doesn’t dominate, and together they sing. Dried herbs, spearmint, red berries and earth with an Aussie bush, garrigue kind of wildness. Supple tannins to the end. Reviewed by Jeni Port

Calabria Family Wines Reserve Three Bridges Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 | 93 POINTS
Includes 10.5% durif, 2% shiraz and 0.5% merlot, crushed and destemmed, 3 days cold soak, 12 days on skins, matured for 13 months in French oak (28% new). Bright colour; a lot of vinification effort here. Full-bodied cassis and blood plum fruit, long finish. Has taken full advantage of the vintage. Reviewed by James Halliday.

Calabria Family Wines Three Bridges Limited Release Durif 2009 | 92 POINTS
No, durif doesn’t necessarily require extended ageing in order to look its best and control its tannins, but it’s a grape that can certainly take time in bottle. Bottled in magnum, this Riverina durif is looking glorious: sweet-fruited, spicy with age bringing balance and smoothing out the edges. Dark chocolate, panforte, black fruits, violets and super spiced-up, it’s ageing a treat. Reviewed by Jeni Port

Calabria Family Wines Three Bridges Chardonnay 2018 | 91 POINTS
Works the sunny side of the grape, where it’s all about the fruit, the brightness, the zip and immediate impact, not to mention drinkability. Tumbarumba fruit provides the energy with baked apple, grilled grapefruit and white peach. It’s hard to see where the oak comes in, such is the plushness of fruit and Tumba cool climate acidity rings throughout. A real charmer. Reviewed by Jeni Port

Calabria Family Wines Three Bridges Durif 2018 | 91 POINTS
Deep purple. A mix of the sweet and savoury of aniseed balls, pomegranate and oyster sauce, nori. It is at once reassuringly durif in its darkness of fruit and intensity, and yet modernised with a floral elegance and savoury touches. And those pesky, bold durif tannins are well and truly under control. Reviewed by Jeni Port

Calabria Family Wines Calabria Private Bin Nero d’Avola 2018 | 90 POINTS & SPECIAL VALUE
Bright purple. Nero d’Avola launches a charm offensive, and provides yet another side to the dark Italian that reveals its incredible potential in this country. A flourish of confection, fairy floss, cherry clafoutis, red berries, plums. Sweet-hearted fruits lead the way forward on the palate with licorice, musk with a red pastille exuberance and intensity. Reviewed by James Halliday.

Calabria Family Wines Pierre D’Amour Rosé 2019 | 90 POINTS & SPECIAL VALUE
A distinctive and attractive bottle does justice to the juicy, pale tea rose contents. A running confection commentary is a sweet point to the wine with its musk, strawberry bonbon sweetness, together with raspberries, strawberry tart and lemon citrus brightness. Reviewed by Jeni Port

Calabria Family Wines Calabria Bros. Eden Valley Riesling 2018 | 90 POINTS & SPECIAL VALUE
Hand-picked from a single vineyard. There’s good quality fruit here, and it’s been well handled. Lime is in the driver’s seat, backed by bright acidity. Good now or in 5 years. Reviewed by James Halliday.

Calabria Family Wines Three Bridges Barossa Valley Grenache 2017 | 90 POINTS
Hand-picked, crushed and destemmed, 10 days on skins, 80% matured for 10 months in French oak (15% new). The flavours have some confection, but the time and money spent in making the wine are impressive. Reviewed by James Halliday.

Calabria Family Wines Calabria Bros. Old Vine Barossa Valley Shiraz 2016 | 90 POINTS
No idea just how old the old vines are but they are definitely contributing some rich and supple properties to the wine. Purple-garnet. Intense blackcurrant, stewed plums, licorice, dark chocolate. Moves with grace and a quiet deliberation, assured, too. Supple tannins star. Reviewed by James Halliday.