Jasper Hill (NSW & SA)

Established in 1975 by Ron and Elva Laughton, Jasper Hill producers some of Australia’s most compelling and sought after wines. Located at Heathcote in Central Victoria on ancient Cambrian soils-deep, red coloured, well drained gravely loams on undulating hillsides. These support low-vigour vine growth without the need for supplementary irrigation.

The wines are produced entirely on the estate using organic and biodynamic principles. Inter row mulching and organic compost are used to improve soil organic matter. This allows greater bio-diversity in micro flora and fauna, supporting large earthworm populations beneficial for natural soil fertility. Following these principles no synthetic chemicals have ever been applied to the soils or vines. Vines are grown on their own roots (ungrafted) and are not irrigated, expressing flavours and characteristics natural to their variety and terroir. Grown at elevations of 1000 feet the vines benefit from warm days but cool nights, imperative for natural acid retention and structure. None of the wines from Jasper Hill vineyards has even been acid adjusted at any stage. These are natural wines of striking purity. With more than 35 vintages to their credit, these wines have a long established record for ageing gracefully with careful cellaring.

Emily's Paddock: three hectares of Shiraz including around five percent Cabernet Franc, yielding about two tonnes per hectare (14hl/ha). Planted in 1975/76.

Georgia's Paddock: 12 hectares of Shiraz yielding about three tonnes per hectare (20hl/ha). Three hectares of Riesling giving about three tonnes per hectare (20hl/ha). Planted in 1975/76 with further small plantings done after the vineyard was ravaged by bushfire in 1987. One hectare each of Semillon planted in 1992 (since grafted over), and Nebbiolo planted in 1993 to numerous different clones of Nebbiolo that were imported into Australia and after quarantine were planted out to give a very diverse selection in the vineyard.

Lo Stesso: this small planting (less than 1 hectare) of Fiano is located very close to the winery at the southern end of Georgia’s Paddock. The wine is made by Emily and Georgia Roberts and in the early years came from another vineyard in Heathcote from purchased fruit, though the portion of purchased fruit has reduced in recent years. Partially fermented in used oak and bottled relatively early (under stelvin) to retain freshness. This shows the signature intensity and texture so typical of fruit that one finds from Georgia’s Paddock.

Current Releases

Another twelve months has rolled by and to say we are excited about this release is putting it mildly. To once again release four Jasper Hill wines is an amazing feeling. We have weathered a rough storm over the past few years, beginning with the extreme dry and heat of 2019/20 and ending with an over abundance of rain during 2022/23, yet together Nick and I have come through with a great portfolio of wines.

You will notice that both Emily’s Paddock Shiraz/Cabernet Franc and Nebbiolo are listed below once more. We harvest both wines in very small quantities but their significance to our label is larger than the small amount we produce. To have them back makes us feel whole once again. We are looking to have the Emily’s Paddock vineyard re-trellised this Winter/Spring as many of the 48 year old posts have rotted at the ground, and will take the opportunity to include a foliage wire to help lift the canopy and reduce the canes damaged by the tractor work in Spring. For those who may visit you will notice a kangaroo wire fence surrounding the vineyard on Emily’s Paddock, which has a self explanatory reason for its installation. Kangaroos were not an issue years ago but word has got around and they love to feed on our new shoots and fruit, so it was a necessary inclusion prior to harvest this year. The fence saved a lot of fruit, so although it’s not the prettiest sight it does the job well.

Nick and I are continuing to apply the Guyot Poussard pruning technique and shoot thinning, feeling positive that it will help in the coming summer as El Niño kicks back in. Reducing our bud numbers on the vines and working with the optimal canopy will assist our unirrigated vineyards as the weather warms. We are looking forward to planting some small patches of vines on American rootstock in preparation for the possibility of phylloxera. We’re here to play a long game, so need to be prepared as our existing vines are susceptible. Emily McNally

2023 Lo Stesso Fiano Screw-cap sealed.
A blend of 50% estate grown fruit and 50% purchased regional fruit, fully de-stemmed, fermented partially in new Austrian and French oak plus stainless steel. Pale green in appearance, aromatic pear with honey toasty oak. Fleshy pears, spice and apple cider on the palate with enough acid to balance the viscous, textured mouthfeel. Screw-cap sealed, 13.5% alcohol. 
Emily McNally
A gently mid-weighted syncopation of honeysuckle, orange verbena, pistachio husk, fennel and a faint waft of jasmine. Some unresolved CO2 melds with saline freshness, towing easygoing length and succulence. Drink or hold. Screw cap. 92 points, Jamessuckling.com, August 2023

2023 Jasper Hill Georgia’s Paddock Riesling
Very light straw colour with hints of pale green. Floral and oyster shell aroma with a palate full of all aspects of lemon, from zest to flesh and finishing highlights of lime and melon. Fabulous length, very moreish, bright and crisp. Great as an aperitif because of it’s fabulous natural acidity. Screw-cap sealed, 13.5% alcohol Emily McNally
I've always liked this wine. Among the very best rieslings in Australia, a land with more of the grape under vine than Alsace. Far away from the monochromatic limey accents that are so ubiquitous on these shores, while as reliant on phenolic rails as it is on obvious freshness. Juicy. Pithy. Granny Smith granita, a faint whiff of jasmine, pink grapefruit, anise and lemon blossom. Mid-weighted, beautifully textured and immensely long. Mercifully, no petroleum. Drinkable now, but best from 2028. Screw cap. 96 points, Jamessuckling.com, August 2023

2022 Jasper Hill Georgia’s Paddock Shiraz
We’re back, this time Georgia’s got no friends. It has everything you want from a typical Georgia’s Paddock Shiraz. Powerful yet elegant, well rounded red and black fruits, fabulous spice with soft subtle tannins that extend through the whole palate. Cellar or drink now, your choice. 1-by-1 branded cork-taint-free cork sealed, 15.5% alcohol. Emily McNally
A pretty and intense nose of blackcurrants, anise and violets. At first, it doesn't give away much, it's very composed and stealthy in its expression. With air, hints of iodine, pepper and bush spices arise. A bomb of flavour explodes on the palate—black olives, violets and sweet spices are framed by powdery tannins. The tannin quality is a stand-out, it's so fine yet long and sleek. This is ripe and full-bodied yet everything is perfectly jigsawed into place, nothing seems forced. In its youth, It's a touch apprehensive to reveal all, but this is a wine meant for aging. Palate staining, formidable stuff. Drink 2023-2035. 96 points, Gabrielle Poy, The Real Review, August 2023.

2022 Jasper Hill Georgia’s Paddock Nebbiolo
Bright crimson colour, powerful floral bouquet of violet and rose, rounded off with a red berry finish. Initial weight on the front palate creeps up on you to end with surprising length. Cherries, aniseed and charred oak. Soft subtle tannins allow this Nebbiolo to be consumed early, it will be exciting to see how it evolves over time. 1-by-1 branded cork-taint-free cork sealed, 15.0% alcohol. Emily McNally
Dark ruby red in the glass. Cherry, cola and crushed violet aromatics. Palate is full with a ripe black fruit note that is bound with motor oil savoury and eucalypt undertones. Good length and prodigious tannins framing it. A big wine that needs time. Drink 2026-2038. Stuart Knox, The Real Review, August 2023.

2022 Jasper Hill Emily’s Paddock Shiraz
Wow! Elva’s pick of the six. A classic, perfumed, Emily’s Paddock. Layers of flavour; flint, spice, mint, toasty oak wrapped up in dark and brooding black and blue fruits. Soft, velvety tannins that coat your palate, great length and with fabulous longevity if you can wait, but equally delicious now. 1 by 1 branded cork-taint-free cork sealed, 15.0% alcohol. Emily McNally
Dark, inky and opaque in the glass. Deep, brooding aromas of graphite, ferrous earth, florals, smoked meats, spice and pepper. Full bodied, rich, mouth-filling and multi-faceted. Very pure and dark fruit driven with real depth, presence and purity. The tannins are firm, textured and deliver shape and savouriness and the acidity has brightness and lift. A compelling shiraz, with power and precision. Drink 2023-2038. 96 points, Aaron Brasher, The Real Review, August 2023.

2022 Occam's Razor Shiraz
Grapes from Colbinabbin, mid-north of the Heathcote region, blended together with a smaller parcel from further south west. Harvested early to capture a great fresh feel. Delicate nose, dark crimson colour, soft tannins, forward bright fruit of rhubarb and red plum. Delicious, enjoy it now. 1-by-1 branded cork-taint-free cork sealed, 15.0% alcohol. Emily McNally
Always a full-bodied wine that feels a bit oaky and well-extracted, sitting at the peripheral of the Jasper Hill stable. Inky. Iodine, dried thyme, mocha and dark fruit allusions, although aromatically rather muted. The grape tannins are nicely wrought. Detailed, firm and beautifully attenuated, finding confluence with some grippy oak filling out the back end. Best after 2026. 93 points, Jamessuckling.com, August 2023

Previous Vintages (small quantities available of some previous vintages)

2021 Jasper Hill Georgia + friends Shiraz rated #18 in James Suckling top 100 wines of Australia 2022
“Georgia’s Paddock grapes once again supplemented with grapes grown by friends within the Heathcote region, this years wine follows on with a fresh indulgent approach to a wine worth savouring. Vibrant magenta colour with a rich dark berry nose. Fabulous hit of fresh red fruits, a spicy luscious mouth feel and great more-ish length. Cellar or drink now, your choice. 1-by-1 branded cork-taint-free cork sealed, 15.0% alcohol” Emily McNally
“What a deep and complex briar and spicy nose this exceptional Heathcote shiraz has! Cloves and crushed slate with gun metal. Very complex fine grained tannins and great mineral freshness drive this over the palate and off into the distance. Excellent ageing potential. Drink or hold.” 97 points, Jamessuckling.com, October 2022

2021 Occam's Razor Shiraz
“Emily’s own label, named after 14th century theologian and philosopher William of Ockham’s views of “less is more” - applicable in wine-making as minimal intervention. A fabulous wine grown on granite based soil, to compare with the basalt derived Jasper Hill wines. Exhibits savoury up-front fruitiness, elegant raspberry, cola and dark chocolate characters. Delicious now and cellarable. Again, the 15.0% alc/vol doesn’t show.” Emily McNally
“An extreme shiraz that somehow manages to marry very dense bleck plum and blackberry fruit with a slew of wild herb freshness. The huge tannic depth and concentrated fruit fit remarkably well together, the finish long and driving. Drink or hold.” 94 points, Jamessuckling.com, October 2022

2019 Jasper Hill Georgia’s Paddock Semillon
“Deep straw colour. A full wine with a rich, creamy, viscous texture showing honey, praline toffee and lanolin characters balanced by a crisp lemon natural acidity on the finish. Well integrated new French oak background is not too dominant. To complement full flavoured dishes. Alcohol 14.5%” Ron Laughton + Emily McNally

2018 Jasper Hill Georgia’s Paddock Semillon
“Complex honey, praline, toast and lanolin aromas and flavours dominate, with a light oak background adding weight and a crisp citrus finish. Only a couple of barrels made each year, so a rarity and little known generally as a Jasper Hill wine from Heathcote. Drink later in the meal, with poultry, cheese or full flavoured vegetable dishes. 13.0% alc/vol.' Ron Laughton + Emily McNally

2019 Jasper Hill Georgia’s Paddock Shiraz - SOLD OUT
“Very typical depth of bright crimson to the edge. Immediate, powerful nose of red and black berry fruits that follow through into the palate, with mixed spice highlights complemented by the usual ripe, sweet dark cherry and plum flavours and a cola / chinotto finish, so typical of Georgia’s Paddock Shiraz. Fabulous tannin / acid balance conferring longevity, but imminently approachable now, particularly with a rare steak. Alcohol 15.5%” Ron Laughton + Emily McNally

2018 Jasper Hill Georgia’s Paddock Shiraz - SOLD OUT
“Vibrant magenta colour typifies this wine as a classic Georgia’s Paddock Shiraz from a great vintage. Always delicious and approachable upon release, backed up by great cellaring ability if you wish. Ripe red raspberry and blackberries, purple plums and very complex spiciness fills the big palate that follows through on to the characteristic, supple yet assertive tannic finish, balanced by impeccable, racy natural acidity. The 15.5% alc/vol is so well balanced it doesn’t show!” Ron Laughton + Emily McNally
“Inky purple. Deep-pitched black and blue fruit and floral scents develop licorice, violet, vanilla and exotic spice nuances. Impressively concentrated yet energetic blackberry, kirsch, singed plum and licorice flavours are supported by an undercurrent of juicy acidity. Finishes extremely long and chewy, with steadily building tannins and reverberating floral and spice notes.”
96 points, Josh Raynolds, Vinous Media, September 2022

2017 Jasper Hill Georgia’s Paddock Shiraz - SOLD OUT
“A fabulous, typical example from this single vineyard that from it’s pristine crimson colour and leading, full aroma, exhibits the characteristic flavours of dark berries, ripe red fruits and  complex exotic spices that lead into a supple tannic palate beautifully balanced with abundant natural acid. Maybe a little more forward than the 2015 and 2016, it will still cellar for a long time if you wish. 15% Alc.” Ron Laughton.

2016 Jasper Hill Georgia’s Paddock Shiraz - SOLD OUT
“Medium deep crimson. Intense elderberry, blackberry aromas with praline, espresso notes and hints of roasted chestnuts. Well concentrated blackberry pastille, praline flavours, fine chocolaty tannins and underlying roasted chestnut, savoury oak complexity. Finishes chocolatey with attractive bitter mineral length. Elemental with some liquorice notes. 15.5% Alc 94 points – 2020-2035” Andrew Caillard MW
“The 2016 Georgia's Paddock Shiraz shows a brighter, fruitier side to this wine, featuring raspberries and blueberries on the nose and palate. It still has those dark underpinnings of black olive and espresso, but it dresses them up this year with brighter, fresher fruit, adding a different layer of interest. It's full-bodied and richly textured, with a long, layered finish that suggests well over a decade of aging potential. It's yet another superlative offering from the Laughton family.” 95 points, Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate, June 2018

2015 Jasper Hill Georgia’s Paddock Shiraz - SOLD OUT
“From another great vintage, with 12 months elevage in French oak barriques, of which 20% were new. Exhibiting the typical characters of mixed red berries and general spiciness to the velvety, viscous, well-balanced and rounded palate. Powerful wine, with fine, supple tannins and a fabulous length. Great longevity again, but regardless, this will immediately appear on wine lists matched to grilled red meats without any detriment. 15.0% alc/vol.” Ron Laughton.
“A big, rich wine, the 2015 Georgia's Paddock Shiraz offers deep, earthy notes of black olive and espresso that complement the blackberry and plum fruit. There's a hint of menthol that helps lift the wine and avoid any undue sense of heaviness—a notable accomplishment in a wine that's labeled at 15% alcohol. Full-bodied and velvety in texture, complex and long, with two decades of aging potential, there's simply nothing to criticize here.” 96 points, Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate, June 2018
“Medium deep crimson. Fresh dark cherry, blackberry herb garden aniseed aromas with espresso notes. Inky textured wine with lovely ripe dark cherry, blackberry fruits, slinky fine chalky tannins, underlying savoury nuances and bitter chinotto-like finish. Elegantly styled wine with lovely aromatic complexity and vigour. 2022-2038. 15% Alc.” 95 points, Andrew Caillard MW, August 2017.

2014 Jasper Hill Georgia’s Paddock Shiraz - SOLD OUT
“Another classic, of deep crimson colour, intense aromas of red berries and mixed spices that follow through on to the palate, balanced with powerful but already supple tannins and fabulous natural acidity. Delicious - drink any time from now over the next twenty years. 15.0% alc/vol” Ron Laughton.
“Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Shiraz Georgia's Paddock gives pronounced black forest cake, prunes and blackberry preserves nose with hints of anise, sandalwood, baking spices and espresso. Packed with full-bodied opulence in the mouth, the tannins are ripe and velvety while the finish is effortlessly harmonious. Love it.” 94+ points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate, October 2016

2013 Jasper Hill Georgia’s Paddock Shiraz - SOLD OUT
“Bright purple in colour to the rim, with its typical flavours of rich mixed spices and sweet, ripe red plummy fruits. Plush, chocolatey mocha characters and fabulous natural acidity paired to powerful, supple tannins confers great longevity, but why wait? 14.5% alc/vol” Ron Laughton.
“Deep purple-black in color, the 2013 Shiraz Georgia's Paddock has a broody nose of crushed blackcurrants, black plums and warm blackberries with hints of star anise, dark chocolate and Szechuan pepper. Rich, voluptuous and full-bodied in the mouth, it is far from "heavy" and offers great freshness to juxtapose the concentrated flavors while the approachable, rounded tannins contribute velvety texture through the long finish.” 93+ points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate, February 2015