2022 Swinney Mourvèdre
Ray Jordan, www.winepilot.com, August 2023
"This is a variety that is finding a safe, comfortable home in Frankland River. Lovely perfumed red fruits on the nose displaying a slightly earthy, dusty raspberry and light plummy character. The palate is soft and supple. It’s medium weight with a fine chalky ironstone thing treading through the palate. The cradle of tannins and fine oak, together with natural fruit energy holds a focused long finish." 95/100
Erin Larkin, www.robertparker.com, January 2024
"I'm such a big fan of this wine. As a variety, Mourvèdre can be a bit of a fickle beast in that it leans easily and readily into big, fleshy, earthy, purple fruited characters. It has the propensity for bolshiness. Yet in Frankland River and in the hands of Rob Mann at Swinney, Mourvèdre feels bright, exciting, fleshy, bloody, mineral, fine ... all the good things. Frankland is just so well suited to the variety, in my opinion. So, to the wine, this 2022 Mourvèdre leads with pink peppercorns, salted licorice, fresh blood and black pudding, mulberry, freshly turned earth and sea salt. The wine is mineral and almost steely, far finer and brighter even than the nose would suggest. This is a really exciting wine here. 14% alcohol, sealed under screw cap." 94/100