Paxton
One of the 'Best of the Best' and 5 Stars - James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2011-2012
McLaren Vale, South Australia
paxtonvineyards.com
Paxton is a family owned and run McLaren Vale wine company; founder and owner, David Paxton, is one of Australia’s most highly respected viticulturists; David’s son Michael oversees the winemaking and second son, Ben, manages Cellar Door. Paxton vineyards are managed using biodynamic farming principles – farming without the use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides with a focus on promoting healthy, living soils through natural compost preparations.
YOU CAN BUY PAXTON WINE ONLINE HERE> OR HERE>
Paxton
One of the ‘Best of the Best’ Wineries and 5/5 stars
James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2011-2012
From vintage 2011 Paxton vineyards are NASAA certified “organic/biodynamic”
The first Australian winery member of 1% For The Planet
1% For The Planet is a global network of environmentally conscious companies that give at least 1% of their annual sales to environmental causes.
“David Paxton is one of Australia’s leading practical (as opposed to academic) viticulturists”
“David Paxton is one of Australia’s leading practical (as opposed to academic) viticulturists. He was the first mover in establishing vineyards high in the hills of the Upper Yarra Valley, drawing on the experience he had gained in the 1980s establishing vineyards on steep hillsides for Petaluma. He designed and supervised the establishment of two very large vineyards at Hoddles Creek that were acquired by Hardys (now Constellation) in 1995. Coldstream Hills had been a significant purchaser of grapes from the Hoddles Creek vineyards up to the sale of those vineyards to Hardys. At my request, he identified two properties, one with steep slopes, the other more gentle, thereafter developed (under Paxton’s guidance) as associated ventures with Coldstream Hills. In other words, we go back a long way.
He has always been known for his willingness to enter into spirited discussions with his associates, and could fairly be categorised as a no-bullshit grapegrower, his long term involvement stemming from his continuing ownership of Paxton Vineyards in McLaren Vale. He was not the first person I would have thought of as likely to become involved in biodynamic grapegrowing, but that is exactly what he has done with his own vineyards. Since 2005, they have been farmed using biodynamic practices, and are now certified by NASAA, the nation’s leading organic certifier.”
James Halliday, www.australianwinecompanion.blogspot.com, April 2010
Paxton ‘AAA’ Shiraz Grenache
Gold Medal (2009 vintage)
Decanter World Wine Awards 2011
4/5 stars (2009 vintage)
“Lots of reasonably priced Rhone red blends are arriving from France but quality isn’t always what you hope. Australian variations on the recipe, such as Paxton AAA, are often a better bet. It smells of raspberries, plums, liquorice and spice, with a rustic, earthy edge. Medium-bodied, it has excellent texture, long flavour and a fine, soft finish. (14 per cent alcohol; screw cap.) Ageing? Drink over two years. Food ideas: Steak pie; lamb kofta.”
Ralph Kyte-Powell, The Age, Epicure, February 2011
91/100 points (2009 vintage)
“(…). Raspberry rope, rose oil with a suggestion of choc-licorice. It’s medium-weight with a juicy even tempered appeal – the sandy lightly earthy tannins and flavours neatly offsetting those ample juicy red fruits. It’s a really good drink.”
Gary Walsh, The Wine Front, February 2011
“(…) an instantly alluring proposition. (…).” (2009 vintage)
“Impressive pure red fruits of grenache – raspberry especially; some darker plums too – make this an instantly alluring proposition. Shiraz delivers handy middle palate flesh, and red fruits and plums roll playfully through the finish. Nicely balanced.”
Nick Stock, The Age & The Sydney Morning Herald Good Wine Guide 2011
One of the ‘Best of the Best by variety’ and 94/100 points (2008 vintage)
“… a beautifully modulated and balanced wine with delicious red fruits to the fore, free of any confection characters whatsoever; the structure is outstanding, built on the foundations of silky tannins…”
James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2011
Gold Medal (2008 vintage)
Judges comments: “Lovely ripe berries on nose. Elegant, smooth with a great finish.”
International Wine Challenge 2010, London
“(…) Seriously slurpable…” (2008 vintage)
“(…) Seriously slurpable. Slips down ever so easily. Raspberries and blackberries, earth and spice. Nice lick of fine-grained tannin too. Juicy and lingering. You have to enjoy some bright, red fruit in your wine (because it’s not a dark, inky monster by any stretch) but this is deliciously pure, regional drinking.”
Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front, Nov 2009
91/100 points (2008 vintage)
“This wine is lovely and juicy without being overripe.”
Dan Sims, The Wine Guide, Cheers TV Episode #5, Crikey.com.au, May 2010
Paxton ‘Quandong Farm’ Shiraz
91/100 points “(…) Excellent ripeness and finesse…” (2009 vintage)
“It’s steady as she goes for this fresh-faced shiraz from Paxton. Delivers a good hit of up-front fruit flavour. One of those wines we would have called ‘forward’ in yesteryear; its medium-weight charms are front and centre and ready to enjoy now. It tastes of blackberry and loam, coffeed oak and spice. Fine, unobtrusive tannin completes the picture. Excellent ripeness and finesse on show here.”
Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front, February 2011
One of the ‘Best of the Best by variety’ and 96/100 points (2008 vintage)
James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2011
Paxton Tempranillo
90/100 points (2009 vintage)
“Was surprised to see the alcohol level when I looked at the bottle. Bright raspberry fruit, florals and a little citrus rind. It’s light in weight, but refreshing with appropriate tannic grip for its size and good balance and length. Enjoyable for its breeziness. Drink 2011 – 2015.”
Gary Walsh, The Wine Front, July 2011
90/100 points “(…) full-on delicious…” (2009 vintage)
“They’re doing a lot of things right at Paxton and this modest-alcohol tempranillo from the warm 2009 vintage is one of them. It isn’t hot or big but it is full-on delicious. It has a sweet core of jubey, leathery flavour and an easy-going, even-tempered finish. I love the absence of hot alcohol here. Love the way it keeps dragging you back for more. It doesn’t have a great deal of intensity and some might even find it lacking – personally I find its flavours attractive and its gluggability-factor high.”
Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front, February 2011
