2025 Halliday Wine Companion | The results are in!

Every year we await the announcement of the latest Halliday Wine Companion with high anticipation; some of the biggest awards in the Australian wine industry are contained in the covers of this prestigious hardback. This year was no exception, with icon wineries around Australia winning the lucrative awards including 'Winemaker of the Year' going to none other than Liz Silkman, Winemaker at First Creek and Silkman Wines right here in the Hunter Valley.

This year, we are very proud to see our consistent efforts into vineyard development and dedicated winemaking pay off. Ten Briar Ridge wines have been published in this year's Companion - all rated over 92 points with four rated over 95 points. Toni Paterson MW tasted all of our wines for the Wine Companion this year and clearly enjoyed them immensely.

The Reviews.

"This single-vineyard wine is sourced from the well-drained Dairy Hill block, located in the Mount View region of the valley. The '19 vintage produced some very fine semillon indeed, and this beautiful example is at a lovely stage of development, with the palate expanding and entering the citrus curd sphere, though still with beautiful lemony freshness on the palate. It will, of course, continue to develop in the future, but it is looking rather delicious now, so why wait?"

   - 96 points, Toni Paterson MW | 2025 Halliday Wine Companion

"A classical semillon with youthful restraint poised for cellaring. Hand-picked, sorted fruit was whole-bunch pressed with the free run fermented in stainless using neutral yeast and bottled shortly after. Pure lemon-juice aromas. The palate has excellent clarity and citrus flavours, pleasing weight and softness. Although it is lovely now, it will benefit from time in bottle."

  - 95 points, Toni Paterson MW  |  2025 Halliday Wine Companion

"A unique, captivating blend creates a beautifully aromatic and flowing red wine. Heady and exotic with dark chocolate, Turkish delight, mulberry, rhubarb and pink guava. Fragrant crushed herb accents add freshness and lift. The grapes are sourced from estate vineyards in Wrattonbully. Each variety is fermented separately and blended prior to maturation. It is drinking beautifully now, though will reward mid-term cellaring."

  -  95 points, Toni Paterson | 2025 Wine Companion

"This is a beautifully bright wine with star fruit, ripe green apple and fresh pear flavours. The mid-palate has a lovely texture from extended lees ageing, and the acidity is perfectly integrated. There is a hint of savouriness and pleasing length."

  - 95 points, Toni Paterson MW | 2025 Halliday Wine Companion

"This Orange pinot region has a distinctive aromatic personality with wild strawberry, fresh sage and vibrant raspberry notes. The light-to-medium-weight palate is similarly expressive, underpinned by a strong scaffold of acidity. Cranberry and lilting herb accents persist on the finish. It is quite a tensioned, unique wine with character. It comes alive with food and air, where its sheer pure-fruited intensity comes into the fore."

  - 93 points, Toni Paterson MW  |  2025 Halliday Wine Companion

"A super-interesting, small-volume saignée style made from whole-bunch pressed Hunter Valley shiraz and Orange pinot noir. It was matured in glass wine globes, an inert material allowing winemakers to see the wine as it ages. The sulphides are slightly dominant on pouring, though a double-decant helps them dissipate. Dusty rose hues, pleasing texture from lees ageing and a good mix of sweet, spice and savoury tones."

  - 93 points, Toni Paterson MW  |  2025 Halliday Wine Companion

"It is a deliciously intense, characterful museum release that has texture and flow. Juicy red plums with hints of tamarillo, crushed leaves and cloud-like nutty oak. The sweet red fruit has a mouth-watering quality, which persists well into the finish. Decanting is recommended. Drinking well now."

  - 93 points, Toni Paterson MW  |  2025 Halliday Wine Companion

"Hand-picked, whole-bunch-pressed fruit from the Briar Hill vineyard is fermented in French oak, where it ages for 11 months. The result is a sweet-fruited, intense, limey wine with a generous mid-palate accented by faint smoky oak and spiced oatmeal notes. Some grapefruit pith-like phenolics on the close add a touch of structural grit and warmth."

  - 93 points, Toni Paterson MW  |  2025 Halliday Wine Companion

The complete list of reviews can be viewed in the 2025 Halliday Wine Companion or at winecompanion.com.au

A limited time offer.

To celebrate the occasion, we have also put together a tasting pack of 6 wines featured in this year's Companion. We hope you share the pride that we have and get to enjoy one of these fantastic wines soon.

 

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