THE WINE FRONT – Campbell Mattinson, May 2002
Complex mix of savoury blackberries with an attractive lift of sweet, musky, boisterous cherry. For a Barossan it's remarkably, and impressively, restrained with platoons of deep, black cherry and blackberry flavours marching in a tight, orderly fashion from the front to the very back of the palate. Grippy tannins and a sense of "gentleness" throughout – it can be cellared with confidence. Rating: 90 Points
WINE SPECTATOR, Sept. 30, 2002
Australia's iconic red wines, such as Penfolds Grange, Henschke Hill of Grace and Jim Barry The Armagh, routinely score around 95, or classic, on the Wine Spectator 100-point scale. Despite triple-digit price tags, avid collectors snap up these Shiraz-based wines before most of us can get our hands on them.
But what if you could find a Shiraz that delivers as much power, grace and depth of flavour as some of these blockbuster reds ... Turkey Flat Barossa Shiraz 1999, for $36, rated 93 points, and has just as much plump generosity and subtlety as the top collectibles
THE AGE – Ralph Kyte-Powell. July 3, 2001
The heart of this wine comes from Barossa Vines planted in 1847. It has old-vine concentration with rich blackberry and sweet spice aromas dressed up in noticeable vanilla-coconut oak. The deep-flavoured palate is intense and long with a silky texture. Not quite as concentrated as the ’98, but excellent nonetheless. Rating: First-class, a wine of distinction not far below the top rating. Food Ideas: Roast Beef.
THE AUSTRALIAN – James Halliday’s Wine of the month - August 3, 2001
"The eagle eye of controversial wine critic Robert Parker somehow missed the 1999 Turkey Flat Shiraz, letting it stay the bargain price of $43 a bottle for a wine produced from 140-year-old vines. The bouquet is spotlessly clean, with red berry fruit and touches of earth and vanilla. The palate is constructed around the red berry at its core, amplified by hints of dark chocolate, and soft fluffy tannins. It should evolve superbly over the next 15 years."
QANTAS 'THE AUSTRALIAN WAY', Jeremy Oliver August 2001
Even better is the 1999 Shiraz, also made from the original plantings. It's supple, smooth and willowy, with a restrained but pristine expression of spicy dark cherries, blackberries, dark chocolate and lightly toasty oak. Like the other Turkey Flat wines, it's almost too accessible now to stand much chance of living up to its full potential in around eight years' time.
THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN, James Halliday. 1 - 2 December, 2001
From a vineyard first planted in 1847; the spotlessly clean, scented bouquet offers an array of cherry, spice, earth and vanilla; the particularly harmonious balance and extract of the palate is constructed around the red berry fruit at its core, amplified by spice, chocolate and soft tannins. A bargain. Drink: 2004-2020 With: Braised Beef. Rating: 94 Points.