Bidgeebong rates

in James Halliday's
Australian Wine Compendium 2008

Bidgeebong has been elevated to a five-star rating by James Halliday, one of Australia's most highly regarded wine critics, in his latest book, Australian Wine Companion 2008.

The rating indicates: "Outstanding winery capable of producing wines of very high quality, and did so this year."

Both of our new Icon Series ultra-premium wines received the maximum five-goblet rating, which indicates a score of 94 or better out of a hundred: "Wines of the highest quality, usually with a distinguished pedigree."

Bidgeebong 2005 Icon Series Chardonnay: A classic marriage and variety: the bouquet is highly aromatic, foretelling the grapefruit flavours, creamy texture and oak seamlessly welded on the palate; long finish. RATING 95 DRINK To 2015

Bidgeebong 2004 Icon Series Shiraz: Red and black cherry fruit, with lots of spice, licorice and cracked pepper but no green characterswhatsoever, but nor does it exhibit any sign of the 15º alcohol; long and silky tannins and quality oak. RATING 95 DRINK To 2020

Another of our wines received four-and-a-half goblets, indicating a score of between 90 and 93 out of a hundred: "Wines of great quality, style and character, worthy of a place in any cellar."

Bidgeebong 2006 Tumbarumba Sauvignon Blanc: A highly aromatic bouquet of passionfruit, kiwifruit and citrus; the palate follows suit, though seems to fade a little on the back-palate and finish. RATING 92 DRINK To 2008

The following note on James Halliday is taken from Australian Wine Companion 2008:

Respected wine critic and vigneron James Halliday has a career that spans over forty years, but he is most widely known for his witty and informative writing about wine. As one of the founders of Brokenwood in the Lower Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, Australia, and thereafter founder of Coldstream Hills in the Yarra Valley, Victoria, Austraha, James is an unmatched authority on every aspect of the wine industry, from the planting and pruning of vines through to the creation and marketing of the fiinshed product. His wineinaking has led him to sojourns in Bordeaux and Burgundy, and he is constantly in demand as a wine judge in Australia and overseas.

James Halliday has contributed to more than 50 books on wine since he began writing in 1979. His books have been translated into Japanese, French, German, Danish and Icelandic, and have been published in the UK, the US, as well as Australia. He is also the author of James Halliday's Wine Atlas of Australia.