Fine Wine History with James Halliday and Andrew Caillard MW

James Halliday sharing his knowledge of Australia's fine wine history (Photograph: Peter Hoare)

Sitting in a room where James Halliday was sharing his encyclopaedic knowledge of the history of fine wine in Australia was an absolute privilege.  The significance of yesterday’s tasting was not just the quality – and in many cases, longevity of the wines shown - but that each wine represented a significant milestone in Australia’s fine wine evolution.  Andrew Caillard MW who co-presented the masterclass with James Halliday commented, “These remarkable wines illustrated an extraordinary commonwealth of fine wine making.  The sheer quality and diversity of winemaking philosophy and regional definition illustrate that Australia has made great wine for decades.  This is the unfolding story being told this week.”

The masterclass wines were shown to illustrate the history of Australia’s fine wine with the 50s charting the story of now legendary labels; through the 60s and 70s when region and preferred variety began to find a voice; the 80s saw individual estates emerge as front line producers; the 90s began to set a context for Australian wines place on a global stage; and recent years have seen the frontiers being pushed again with new regions, new labels and new generations.

The full wine list can be found below:

• 1954 Seppelt Great Western Hermitage K72 Shiraz, Great Western, Grampians
• 1955 Penfolds Bin 95 Grange Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon, Multi-region South Australia
• 1955 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Michael Shiraz, Coonawarra
• 1962 Penfolds Bin 60A Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz, Coonawarra / (Kalimna) Barossa Valley
• 1971 Penfolds Grange Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon, Multi-region South Australia
• 1982 Wynns Coonawarra Estate John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra
• 1985 Wendouree Shiraz, Clare Valley
• 1986 Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz, Eden Valley
• 1986 Brokenwood Hermitage Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz, Hunter
• 1990 Mount Mary Vineyard Lilydale Cabernets Quintet, Yarra Valley
• 1995 Cullen Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot, Margaret River
• 1996 Clarendon Hills Astralis Vineyard Shiraz (Syrah), McLaren Vale
• 1996 Penfolds Block 42 Kalimna Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Barossa Valley
• 1996 Best’s Wines Thomson Family Great Western Shiraz, Great Western, Grampians
• 1998 Petaluma Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot
• 1999 Torbreck Run Rig Shiraz Viognier, Barossa Valley
• 2001 Bass Phillip Reserve Pinot Noir, South Gippsland
• 2001 Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier, Canberra District
• 2002 Seppelt St Peters Great Western Shiraz, Great Western, Grampians
• 2004 Balnaves of Coonawarra The Tally Cabernet Sauvignon

When asking Chester Osborn (Chief Winemaker at d’Arenberg) what he thought of the legendary 1962 Bin 60A after the tasing he stated: “Just the colour on this wine is extraordinary – it has all the balance, ripeness and freshness you would hope to find in a 10 year old.  Amazing!”

A very big thank you to all the wineries and individuals who donated wines for this masterclass.

Yukari Iwashiro at todays Historic Perspective masterclass

The first vintage of Grange (1955)