2022 Robert Stein The Kinnear, Mudgee

93/7% cabernet/shiraz, the cabernet from the 1976 old block plantings; matured in 50/50% new French oak hogsheads/older American barriques. For as modern and pioneering as the team at Robert Stein are, they are also dedicated to their history and pay homage to their journey thus far. This wine is an icon – not just a family legacy, but fast becoming a legacy for the region, too. Blackberries, dark cherries and sapote fruit. Crushed sesame seeds, gravel and fig paste. The tannins are minuscule flecks of black glitter, and the wine manages to be rich as well as quite light on its feet. For those that have enjoyed the wines of Mudgee, this will fill you with nostalgia, whilst being able to draw new palates to the region. Drink 2024 to 2034.

Shanteh Wale for Halliday Wine Companion, February 2025

Pretty aromas of dark cherry, blackberry, bramble, ferrous earth, cola and spice. Sweet, fleshy and dark fruited in flavour. There's a lovely suppleness and richness to the fruit and the tannins deliver structure and firmness. Drinking well now, but also has the goods to cellar for some time. Drink 2024 to 2034.

92 points Aaron Brasher for The Real Review, November 2024

Robert Stein is one of Mudgee's most respected family wineries, established in 1976 by Robert and Lorna Stein. The now up to fifty-year-old vineyards produce fruit of natural freshness and regional character and are in the capable hands of Robert and Lorna’s grandson Jacob.

The family’s flagship wine is named after The Kinnear, the ship that brought Johann Stein to Australia in 1838 and marked the starting point of the family’s story on our shores. The Kinnear stands as a symbol of resilience and heritage, as well as a celebration of today.

2022 was a challenging season for Mudgee due to heavy rainfalls, with some vineyards also sustaining hail damage. It was another year where those with good drainage on the slopes around the town fared much better than those on the flat. Despite the low yields, many of the premium wines are of high quality and with good natural acidity.

This vintage of The Kinnear showcases Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented by a small seven percent inclusion of Shiraz. The fruit was handpicked from the 1976 Wallenstein home vineyard and wild fermented in small open vats with 30% whole berries. Two standout barrels were selected after a 15-month maturation in a mix of 50% new French oak hogsheads and 50% well-seasoned American oak barriques. The wine was lightly fined and filtered ahead of bottling.

Highly expressive aromas of blackberries and dark cherries are woven into a background displaying earthy, ferrous notes. Rich and powerful, the harmonious palate picks up the aromas, and coats the mouth with rich fruit, the soft tannins providing texture and structural support alike.

Give the wine some air before enjoying it on a festive occasion. This would be good company for slow cooked Persian style lamb shoulder or panko crumbed eggplant filled with herbs and cheese.

Cellar with confidence over several years.