Local wines in South Australia

The Mount Benson Estate wines are produced in limited quantities using grapes grown on the Grapes By The Sea vineyard or nearby vineyards. Our vineyard is the oldest in Mount Benson,  just 2 kms from the ocean, it combines the deep Terra Rosa soils underlain by limestone of an earlier seafloor with the gentle sea breezes that moderate summer temperature extremes. Our wines are handmade with minimal intervention using traditional methods by winemakers local to the Mount Benson Wine Region. Almost all of our wines are single vineyard and vegan friendly.

MOUNT BENSON ESTATE 2018 Sauvignon Blanc

This Sauvignon Blanc wine was produced from quite ripe Sauvignon Blanc grapes, chilled after harvest prior to gently pressing to extract the full flavours that only ripe fruit can present. Further chilling, racking and a cold ferment followed.

This luscious full flavoured Sauvignon Blanc has flavours of tropical fruits, honey dew melon, even a hint of basil. It is best served chilled, being a fantastic match for a range of canapes, mains of seafood (barramundi, lobster, and abalone) and platters of meat, nuts and cheese. Enjoy today.

Awarded Gold Medal at the 2019 Melbourne International Wine Competition

2020 Halliday 88 Points – No frills; a slight phenolic back palate/finish

MOUNT BENSON ESTATE 2019 Chardonnay

Our Chardonnay was barrel fermented in new French Oak hogshead barrels. The juice on pressing and settling tasted of rich honey and mead, during ferment grapefruit and citrus flavours predominated.

New French Oak barrels and their judicious use complement this wine with pleasant hints of nougaty oak, white peach, nashi pear and honey dew melon. On completion of ferment this wine rested in barrel on lees for over two months. Serve chilled with a mains of seafood (barramundi, crayfish, abalone, or scallop), Asian dishes, canapes, or platters of soft cheeses, quince paste, dried fruit and nuts. Enjoy today or will reward careful cellaring.

Awarded Bronze Medal at the 2020 Australian & New Zealand Boutique Wine Show

MOUNT BENSON ESTATE 2021 Reserve Chardonnay (Barrel Fermented) (Release September 21)

Block B Chardonnay picked a little later, destemmed, settled, and fermented using specialist yeasts in French Oak. The juice on pressing and settling tasted of rich honey and mead, during ferment grapefruit and citrus flavours predominated.

French Oak barrel (30% new) ferment, their judicious use, and resting on lees, have complement this wine with pleasant flavours of white peach, nashi pear, honey dew melon with a clear crisp acid line and some lime. Serve chilled with a mains of seafood (barramundi, crayfish, abalone, or scallop), Asian dishes, canapes, or platters of soft cheeses, quince paste, dried fruit and nuts. Enjoy today or cellar for even greater pleasure as this wine fills out

MOUNT BENSON ESTATE 2017 Rose Of Syrah

This Rose Of Syrah is produced using the “Vin Gris” method whereby our Syrah grapes were gently pressed on arrival at the winery, minimising the time juice spent in contact with the skins. The juice was chilled and racked before fermentation in small batches. The wine has remnant Syrah grape sugars.

This luscious ruby rose has flavours of summer fruits including peach, watermelon and cantaloupe, best served chilled with canapes though it is a masterful match for any dish, especially pizza, smoked salmon, lobster, and platters of meat and cheese. This wine is ready to be enjoyed

 2020 Halliday 89 Points – Vivid Lipstick red; a dry wine for relaxation and antipasto 

MOUNT BENSON ESTATE 2018 Rose Of Syrah

This Rose Of Syrah is produced using the “Vin Gris” method whereby our Syrah grapes were gently crushed on arrival at the winery and then left in contact with the skins for the weekend before pressing. The juice was chilled and racked before fermentation.

This luscious ruby rose has flavours of summer fruits including Morello cherry and rhubarb, and a hint of savoury, best served chilled with canapes though it is a broad food match, especially pizza, smoked salmon, lobster, and meat and cheese platters. This wine is ready to be enjoyed now.

Awarded Bronze Medal at the 2018 New Zealand International Wine Show

Awarded Bronze Medal at the 2018 Limestone Coast Wineshow

Awarded Bronze Medal at the 2019 International Cool Climate Wine Show

2020 Halliday 91 Points - 48 hours skin contact post crushing is responsible for the colour. It is full of red cherry fruit, with no need for residual sugar JH

MOUNT BENSON ESTATE 2019 Rose of Syrnon

Our 2019 Rose of Syrnon (Syrah – Cabernet Sauvignon) is a blend of Shiraz (55%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (45%) where the grapes were harvested and rested in bins before gentle pressing and fermenting separately. The “Vin Gris” process has ensured the rich colour and flavour of the foundation grapes transcends into the finished wine. On completion of ferment and racking the wine were joined and rested.

The luscious ruby hue opens on the palette showing off the rich heritage of Mount Benson’s premium Red Grapes and delivering an uncommon generosity of fresh fruit flavours with cherry and raspberry predominating. Serve chilled with a broad range of canapes, smoked salmon, meat and cheese platters, or pizza.

2020 Halliday 90 Points – 55% shiraz and 45% cabernet sauvignon, vinified separately, resting in picking bins before fermentation, thus creating the full, bright crimson-purple hue. The bouquet and palate are pure cherry sarsaparilla, the potential for excess weight dealt with by the wine’s crisp acidity. JH 13.6% alc.

MOUNT BENSON ESTATE 2021 Bubbling Rose of Syrah

Our 2021 Bubbling Rose is made from Shiraz (95%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (5%). The grapes were harvested and rested in bins, destemmed and put to tank for three days before gentle pressing and fermenting with specialist Rose yeast. This approach produced a wine with the rich colour and flavour of the shiraz grape that transcends into the finished wine. The wine was carbonated at bottling.

The luscious ruby hue opens on the palette delivering generous nuances of fresh maraschino cherry, mulberries, and raspberry. We suggest that you serve this wine chilled though with a broad range of canapes such as smoked salmon, cured meats and cheese platters. We’ve made this for you to enjoy today, but be aware of the cork and the vibrant fizz.

MOUNT BENSON ESTATE 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon

The grapes were whole berry fermented in small batches, occasionally plunged by hand, and after extended skin contact, the wine gently separated via basket press and then decanted into French Oak barrels (10% new) to develop the complexity and richness that Cabernet Sauvignon is renowned for.

Our 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon abounds in the rich dark fruit characters with hints of mulberry, blackberry and black currant entwined with the soft tannins which carry through to the palate. The vibrancy of this youthful wine allows enjoyable early drinking, but the structure and balance will reward careful cellaring.  Food matches include: red meat, games (consider venison and kangaroo), chocolate and berry deserts, and blue cheeses.

Awarded Bronze Medal at the 2020 Australian & New Zealand Boutique Wine Show

2020 Halliday 89 Points – “Clear varietal expression that takes in some herbal /grassy /minty notes on the finish and aftertaste.” JH

MOUNT BENSON ESTATE 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon

This wine was produced from a select parcel of full flavoured Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. It was whole berry fermented with extended skins contact in small batches, gently pressed, and then rested in French Oak barrels for 12 months.

Our 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits balanced tannins, rich dark flavours of mulberry and black currant, and a hint of cigar smoke. This wine matches fabulously well with red meats, game, dark chocolate and berry desserts, and blue cheese. Enjoy today or carefully cellar for 10 years or more for greater reward.

Awarded Silver Medal at the 2018 New Zealand International Wine Show

Awarded Silver Medal at the 2020 Australian & New Zealand Boutique Wine Show

Awarded Bronze Medal at the 2018 Limestone Coast Wine Show

Awarded 94 Points (Silver) James Halliday 2020 Wine Companion - “Whole berry fermented plus extended maceration on skins, 12 months in French oak. Excellent colour; rich, flooded with cassis and regional mulberry. All hangs together very well.” JH

MOUNT BENSON ESTATE 2016 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

This wine was produced from a select parcel of full flavoured Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. It was whole berry fermented with extended skins contact in small batches, plunged by hand and gently pressed before being rested in French Oak barrels (15% new) for 12 months.

Our 2016 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits well balanced tannins whilst brimming with rich dark fruit flavours of ripe plum, blackberry, and black currant. The wine is a fabulous match for red meats, game, dark chocolate and berry desserts, and blue cheese. Enjoy today or carefully cellar for 10 years or more for greater reward.

Awarded Silver Medal at the 2020 Australian & New Zealand Boutique Wine Show

Awarded Bronze Medal at the 2017 Limestone Coast Wineshow

Awarded Bronze Medal at the 2018 Limestone Coast Wineshow

Awarded Bronze Medal at the 2019 International Cool Climate Wine Show

Awarded Bronze Medal at the 2019 Melbourne International Wine Competition

Awarded Bronze Medal at the 2019 Royal Melbourne Wine Show

Awarded Bronze Medal at the 2019 Limestone Coast Wine Show

Awarded 95 points James Halliday 2020 Wine Companion - “Small batch making, whole berry, fermented with extended maceration on skins, matured in French oak (15% new) for 12 months. A vibrant wine, with pure cassis and redcurrant fruit and fine-spun tannins. Deserved more wine show success.” JH

MOUNT BENSON ESTATE 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon

Our 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon comes from our preferred Block 5 with a few rows of Block 4. The yields in the vineyard were reduced following much higher than usual temperatures during January which reduced the yield by 70%. High acid was a feature of this vintage which typically provides longevity and cellaring potential. The grapes were picked quite ripe this vintage to enhance the rich plum and all spice flavours of the grape. A soft crush leaving mainly whole berries, destemming and co-fermentation (with Malolactic commenced after 3 days), left on skins for close to 5 weeks, before gentle pressing, tank settling and racking / decanting to French Oak Barrels (~50% new). Barrel tasting in November 2019, June and October 2020, witnesses the gradual progression of the development of this wine over the 18 months in barrel.

This Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits balanced but grippy tannins, with flavours of choc malt, savoury liquorice, cherry, mulberry preserve and red currant. It has bright acid and plenty of spice. This wine is a fabulous match with red meats, game, dark chocolate, berry desserts, and blue cheese. Enjoy today or carefully cellar for 10 years or more.  After almost a year post bottling resting in our Cellar, time to be released and enjoyed.

MOUNT BENSON ESTATE 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot

Our 2018 Vintage should prove to be exceptional. Following an early budburst and warm dry conditions throughout, sugars developed ahead of flavours. In the end they peaked together and we harvested four weeks earlier. The fruit flavours in the vineyard were fantastic. The Cabernet and Merlot grapes were field blended before being lightly crushed, destemmed and small bin fermented. Each bin received a mix of hand plunging and gentle pump overs, before being rested to French Oak barrels for almost 18 months. The wine in barrel showed exceptional flavour development and will develop further. Decanted from barrels in November 2019 for bottling.

Our 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot is typically cool climate, exhibiting balanced tannins, dark rich fruit flavours of plum, black currant, a hint of mocka with floral aromas. This wine matches fabulously well with red meats, herbed chicken parcels, dark chocolate and berry desserts, and blue cheese. Enjoy today or carefully cellar for 10 years or more for greater reward.

Awarded Bronze Medal at the 2020 Australian & New Zealand Boutique Wine Show

MOUNT BENSON ESTATE 2019 Syrah Cabernet Sauvignon

This wine is a blend produced from our 2019 Syrah (2/3^rd) and Cabernet Sauvignon (1/3^rd) grapes, vinified separately, both whole berry fermented with extended skins contact, gently pressed, and then rested in French Oak (~36% new) barrels for 18 months.

Our 2019 Syrah Cabernet Sauvignon is typically cool climate, vibrant plum, lifted mint, cherry and dark chocolate, firm but dusty tannins, with long palette weight. A rich balanced wine that matches fabulously well with red meats, game, herbed chicken parcels, black forest cake, and blue cheese. After almost a year post bottling resting in our Cellar, time to be released and enjoyed.  Enjoy today or carefully cellar for 10 years or more for greater reward. 

MOUNT BENSON ESTATE 2016 Syrah

The Syrah grapes were whole berry fermented with extended skins contact in small batches, plunged by hand, gently pressed, and decanted to French Oak barrels (15% new) for 12 months.

Our Syrah abounds with flavours of mocha, vanilla, all spice & full berry fruits. It has a smooth full mouthfeel & extended palette. Food matches include all red meats, cheese and cold meat platters and berry deserts. This is an excellent wine for current drinking and careful cellaring will only improve this wonderful Syrah.

Awarded a Gold Medal, 96 Points, at the 2017 Limestone Coast Wineshow

Awarded a Gold Medal, at the 2018 Winewise Small Vigneron Award, and Runnerup to the trophy for Gold Medal Winning wine for 2016 Shiraz / Syrah at the Winewise Small Vignerons Gold Medal Taste Off 2018

Awarded Gold Medal at the 2018 Limestone Coast Wineshow

Awarded Gold Medal (Top Gold for Syrah / Shiraz, 96 Points) at the 2019 International Cool Climate Wine Show  

Awarded Silver Medal at the 2017 Winewise Small Vigneron Awards

Awarded Bronze Medal at the 2019 Limestone Coast Wine Show

Awarded Bronze Medal at the 2019 Royal Melbourne Wine Awards

Awarded Bronze Medal at the 2020 New Zealand International Wine Show

Awarded Bronze Medal at the 2020 Australian & New Zealand Boutique Wine Show

2020 Halliday 90 Points – Whole berry fermented, extended skins contact, matured in French Oak (15% new) for 12 months. Light to medium bodied, it has a spicy shaft of flavour, part from cool-grown shiraz and partly oak

MOUNT BENSON ESTATE 2017 Syrah

The Syrah grapes were whole berry fermented with extended skins contact in small batches, gently pressed, and decanted to French Oak barrels for 12 months.

Our Syrah abounds with flavours of plum and blueberry, cinnamon and all spice, with a petite violet fragrance and balanced tannins. It has a smooth full mouthfeel & extended palette. Food matches include all red meats, cheese and cold meat platters and berry deserts. This is an excellent wine for current drinking and careful cellaring will only improve this wonderful Syrah. 

Awarded Gold Medal at the 2018 Limestone Coast Wineshow

Awarded Silver Medal at the 2019 Melbourne International Wine Competition

Awarded Bronze Medal at the 2020 New Zealand International Wine Show

Awarded Bronze Medal at the 2020 Australian & New Zealand Boutique Wine Show

Awarded 95 Points (Gold) James Halliday 2019 Wine Companion - “Machine harvested, destemmed, light crush, 3 weeks on skins, matured in used barrels for 14 months. Deep colour; medium to full-bodied; very good varietal (and regional) expression with black cherry and blackberry fruits. Fully deserved its gold medal at the Limestone Coast Wine Show '18.” JH

MOUNT BENSON ESTATE 2018 Syrah

Our 2018 vintage for shiraz was typical, a bit like 2016, though our flavours in the vineyard were much better. The fruit at harvest had really great flavours at a slightly lower sugar level. Harvest was around two weeks earlier than usual, with warm dry conditions meaning the fruit entered the winery in tiptop condition. The shiraz grapes were fermented in small batches with a mix of hand plunging and pump overs. On completion of fermentation it was moved to French oak barrels for almost 18 months. The flavours of the wine in barrel showed much promise. A tasting of all barrels in July 2019 deemed that some additional time in barrel would be beneficial. The barrels were decanted in November and the wine bottled.

Our 2018 Syrah abounds with flavours of cranberry, red currant, with a hint of all spice, and a petite violet fragrance. Balanced tannin lead a smooth full mouthfeel & extended palette. Food matches include all red meats, cheese and cold meat platters and berry deserts. This is an excellent wine for current drinking and careful cellaring will only improve this wonderful Syrah.

Awarded Silver Medal at the 2020 Australian & New Zealand Boutique Wine Show

MOUNT BENSON ESTATE 2019 Syrah ( Release November 21)

Our 2019 Syrah has seemed quite special, great flavour intensity at the point of harvest in the vineyard, the depth of colour and flavour enduring as the grapes transitioned to wine through the winery before being rested to French Oak Barrels (~28% new) for 18 Months. The Syrah grapes were whole berry fermented, with the ferment progressing evenly generating mild warmth and co-inoculated with malolactic bacteria on day three. Following ferment and resting on skins for over 4 weeks, the wine received gentle pressing to avoid over extraction, tank settling before racking and decanting to barrel. Barrel tasting of this wine was a pleasure throughout while the flavours maintain the trueness to the Mount Benson terroir.

Our Syrah abounds with flavours of Szechwan pepper, five spice, star anise, with hints of juicy fruit, stewed blueberry and a petite violet fragrance. Firm tannins give a smooth full mouthfeel & extended palette. Food matches include all red meats, cheese and cold meat platters, and berry deserts. This is an excellent wine for drinking now but careful cellaring will improve this wonderful Syrah. After almost a year post bottling resting in our Cellar,  time to be released and enjoyed.

MOUNT BENSON ESTATE 2019 Syrah Release Late 22

Our Reserve Syrah is taken from a selection of the best Syrah barrels from the 2019 vintage.

Our 2019 Syrah grapes from Block 8 seemed quite special, great flavour intensity at the point of harvest in the vineyard, the depth of colour and flavour enduring as the grapes transitioned to wine through the winery. The Syrah grapes were whole berry fermented with extended skins contact, gently pressed, and decanted to French Oak barrels (~32% new) for 18 months. Three separate barrel tasting by our panel picked the same 4 barrels as standouts for our Reserve each time.

Our Syrah abounds with flavours of clove, peppermint, and red currant, with a hint of all spice, all well integrated and balanced with creamy vanilla oak. Luscious soft tannins give a smooth but full mouthfeel & extended palette. Food matches include all red meats, cheese and cold meat platters and berry deserts. Now back in our Cellar post bottling, we will give it time to rest in bottle before release in late 2022. This is an excellent Syrah, careful cellaring will only improve 

MOUNT BENSON ESTATE 12 Year Old FORTY

This, our first 'FORTY', is made from Shiraz and Merlot grapes from North East Victoria. It is a blend of individual fortified wines dating back to the 2004 vintage, each having rested peacefully cellared in French Oak Barrels. Time and patience has seen these wines mellow, developing the richness and complexity that warm climate, extra ripe grapes impart.

The luscious full bodied Shiraz combined with Merlot from the 2004 vintage require quiet contemplation as you explore the flavours. Prepare to be enticed

Future Releases

MOUNT BENSON ESTATE 2021 Syrah (Release late 2023)

Our Block 10 cane pruned Shiraz gives as some different flavours on the vine and in the wine. At the end of ferment  the wine demonstrated additional floral character, a slight sweetness and dark fruit nuances. We will wait and see with great interest how a rest in older oak will impact a typical cool climate Syrah.

MOUNT BENSON ESTATE 2021 Reserve Syrah(Release 2025)

From our reknown Block 8 Shiraz, two years in French Oak, pick a little later than planned due to a harvester breakdown, so entering the winery very full flavoured and ripe, we expect the flavour to be on the bigger end for cool climate shiraz in what was a very mild year. We are planning a full two years in barrel before we decide what we do with this wine but we are excited about its potential. So more new oak plus plenty of second and third use barrels should see the wine build more structure and complexity as it matures.

MOUNT BENSON ESTATE MOUNT BENSON FORTY (Release in around 2027)

It will consist of a blend of our fortified Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Fortified’ wine from Mount Benson only. The amounts of each won’t be decided until late in 2026.

MOUNT BENSON ESTATE 2016 Fortified Cabernet

This fortified Cabernet from our fantastic 2016 vintage has spent 5 years mellowing in French Oak to date. We are exploring the capacity of our full flavoured fruit to display the distinctive flavours of our rich terroir in a fortified wine. Tastings of the barrel in October 2018, mid 2019, and November 2020 indicates that it is developing well. Our initial plan was to release it individually with 3 years in barrel, however, we now see it as the start of a Mount Benson fruit only, ’Fortified’, where we will fortify a few barrels most years which in time will provide the base wine for our local ‘Mount Benson Estate Forty’ fortified. Our recent tasting observed that the flavours have started to open up, displaying lush cabernet characters. The journey continues with possibly another eight years in barrel being considered advantageous.

MOUNT BENSON ESTATE 2019 Fortified Syrah

Our rich, ripe, shiraz grapes fermented with our vineyard Block 10 yeasts (native), fortified before dry, then decanted to French Oak to mellow and develop. Tastes wonderful now, and expect those deeper chocolate flavours to open up over the next four or more years. Biggest challenge will be to stop over sampling the barrels!

MOUNT BENSON ESTATE 2021 Fortified Syrah

Our rich, ripe, shiraz grapes (from our vineyard Block 8), fermented in small batches, fortified before dry, then decanted to French Oak to mellow and develop. Tastes wonderful now, and expect those deeper chocolate flavours to open up over the next four or more years. Biggest challenge will be to stop over sampling the barrels.