2024 Jasper Hill Georgia's Paddock Shiraz Magnum 1.5L, Heathcote

Here is a first-rate lesson on soils and what they contribute to wine. Georgia hails from red, iron-oxide–rich, ancient Cambrian soils that have brought the most astonishing natural balance in '24. The boldness we associate with Georgia is there, but so too a well-delivered fineness of expression that seems to belie the 15.5% abv. The fruit is black and ripe, the spices soar, the oak is well integrated and a ferrous minerality adds a brightness and spark to everything. The tannins are firm but still welcoming, and it just gels so beautifully, so resoundingly. Drink by 2042.

97 points Jeni Port winecompanion.com.au

This is a great bottling of this famed central Victorian icon. Layers of black and blue fruits intertwine with a mineral-edged undertone, showing aromas of graphite, ferric earth, spices, violets, blackberries and licorice. The palate is seamlessly integrated, with a fine backbone of acidity and almost silken tannins. An excellent wine that balances fruit, earth and vineyard character, all pulled together with a high level of polish. Excellent. Drink or hold.

99 points jamessuckling.com

Jasper Hill Georgia’s Paddock Shiraz is one of Australia’s most iconic and collectible Shiraz wines, celebrated for its purity, power, and unadulterated expression of Heathcote terroir. Founded by Ron and Elva Laughton in 1975, Jasper Hill has remained a family-run estate, with daughter Emily now deeply involved in the winemaking. From the beginning, the philosophy has been fiercely minimalist: dry farming, no irrigation, no chemical inputs, and traditional winemaking in open-top fermenters with natural yeasts. Georgia’s Paddock, planted in 1975 and named after Ron and Elva’s eldest daughter, sits on Heathcote’s legendary ancient Cambrian soils and has become synonymous with intensity and ageworthiness.

The vineyard lies on deep, red, iron-rich Cambrian earth over clay and greenstone, soils over 500 million years old that provide exceptional drainage while encouraging the vines to root deeply. Combined with Heathcote’s warm, continental climate and cool nights, this terroir produces Shiraz grapes with incredible concentration, natural balance, and a distinctive mineral character. The fruit is hand harvested and fermented with indigenous yeasts in open concrete fermenters. The wine is then matured in predominantly older French oak barriques to preserve the vineyard’s expression, with minimal intervention and no fining or filtration.

In the glass, Georgia’s Paddock Shiraz is a deep, vibrant crimson. The nose bursts with aromas of blackberry, plum, violets, exotic spice, and crushed rock, underpinned by savoury notes of iron and earth that are hallmarks of Heathcote. The palate is full bodied yet incredibly balanced, with concentrated dark fruit, fine natural acidity, and beautifully integrated tannins. There’s a sense of both power and restraint, with a long, mineral-driven finish that lingers elegantly. This is a wine that speaks clearly of its place, crafted with authenticity and confidence.

Georgia’s Paddock Shiraz pairs beautifully with roast lamb with rosemary, slow-braised beef cheeks, venison, or chargrilled mushrooms. It’s equally compelling alongside aged cheddar or hard cheeses. While approachable in its youth for its vivid fruit, it truly shines with cellaring, evolving complex savoury and spice-driven layers over 20 years or more.