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Wine Region
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Great Western District, Victoria
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Wine Maker
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Viv Thompson, Adam Wadewitz
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Best’s Wines was established in 1866 by the pioneering Henry Best and sold to neighbour and second generation vigneron, Frederick P Thomson in 1920. The property has remained in the hands of the Thomson Family from that day.
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Fourth generation vigneron, Viv Thomson and son Ben continue to combine traditional methods with modern technology to create wines of integrity. One of the secrets behind the success of Best’s Wines is the three vineyards, each producing distinctly different grape characteristics from vines aged between 10 and 140 years.
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Concongella - The grand old vineyard and headquarters of Best’s, this superb property takes its name with the creek that runs alongside it. The vines enjoy a perfect, cool temperate climate in a location considered by many to be one of the best wines growing regions in Australia
The land along the creek flat features a powdery, limey loam overlaying a deep, clay sub-soil while newer plantings are citied on a frost free gravel hill.
Cold to very cold winters and frequently dry, cool summers with occasional bursts of hot weather are the norm.
The vineyard is a blend of old and new plantings. The former being Shiraz, Pinot Meunier, Dolcetto and Rhine Riesling and the later, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
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Salvation Hills - This 22 hectare property, the newest addition to the family vineyards, is also located in Great Western and experiences a slightly cooler climate than Concongella
The newest addition to the Thomson family vineyards, ‘Salvation Hills’ is in the Grampians region with acreage of 41 acres (17 ha), and enjoys a cold, Mediterranean temperate climate with duplex silty soils overlying fine-textured subsoil with or without siltstone at various depths.
Salvation Hills is at low risk from frost and despite the worry of a water shortage; the fruit currently produced is looking extremely promising. There are still an additional 8 hectares available for plantings, offering Best’s the opportunity for further expansion.
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St. Andrews - Further north, near Lake Boga, St. Andrews provides a combination of a warm temperate climate with tough limestone soils.
The more stable and reliable weather conditions at St. Andrews complement the rigorous and diverse conditions at Great Western.
The limestone soils, together with the warm, dry climate produce smooth, fresh, soft wines with above average fruit flavours.
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What the critics have to say!
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Five Star Rating
Thompson Family Great western Shiraz 2005 – 95 points
Bin 1 Great Western Shiraz - 2005 – 94 points
Bin O Great Western Shiraz - 2005 – 93 points
James Halliday – Australian Wine Companion 2007
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