For a full list of Thompson Estate's awards, please click here
The Ian Tyrer Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon was awarded to The Thompson Estate 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon at last week's 2022 Wine Show of Western Australia awards dinner.
It is an incredible achievement to receive the recognition of the Best Cabernet Sauvignon in the states premier wine show, up against many stellar wines.
Along with receiving the trophy, the following medals were also awarded:
GOLD - Thompson Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
GOLD - 'The Specialist' Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
GOLD - 'The Specialist' Chardonnay 2021
We are thrilled with our results in the latest Halliday Wine Companion, once again securing the RED-5 star rating.
"Bright crimson purple; the colour is indicative of the great vintage, but that's just the start. This is a perfect rendition of cabernet sauvignon a la Margaret River, with a full-bodied well of cassis, blackcurrant and tapenade, with powerful but appropriate and not grippy tannins that underwrite the long-term future of this great cabernet".
96 POINTS - ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2020
95 POINTS - ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019
93 POINTS - THE SPECIALIST CHARDONNAY 2020
90 POINTS - ESTATE SEMILLON SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021
90 POINTS - FOUR CHAMBERS CHARDONNAY 2021
90 POINTS - FOUR CHAMBERS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021
Decanter World Wine Awards 2022
Now in its 19th year, Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) is the world's largest and most influential wine competition, with unrivalled global reach. Judged by top wine experts from around the globe, DWWA is trusted internationally for its rigorous judging process.
Thompson Estate received a swag of awards as part of the recent 2022 results:
"A fresh nose of cassis, hints of ironstone and a rocky complexity give a sense of place. The mid palate is fresh and vibrant, with savoury and herbacious notes, cloves and spices, mocha and smoke. The palate continues, with black fruit flavours opening up with a sense of mineral soil and complexity. A fascinating wine".
SILVER - The Specialist Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
SILVER - The Specialist Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
SILVER - Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
SILVER - The Specialist Chardonnay 2020
BRONZE - Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
BRONZE - Estate Chardonnay 2021
Winestate Magazine - Wine of the Year Special Edition
Very youthful with attractive honeyed toffee characters to the varietal fruit nose. Light, crunchy and flavoursome palate with balancing oak.
Thompson Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 - 98 points (5 stars)
A very seductive mulberry nose with lovely warming spicy characters. Good complexity and concentration of red fruit flavours with cedary oak and elegant tannins.
Thompson Estate 'The Specialist' Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 - 98 points (5 stars)
Thompson Estate Chardonnay 2019 - 97 points (4 1/2 stars)
The James Halliday Australian Chardonnay and Cabernet Challenge is a celebration of the world’s most popular two varieties and Australia’s outstanding regional diversity.
We are thrilled to have our Thompson Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 included amongst the top cabernets in Australia by being awarded a GOLD medal (96 points).
The Specialist Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 also received a Silver medal in the Challenge.
The full list of results can be viewed here.
Melbourne Royal Wine Awards 2021
 |
Thompson Estate ‘The Specialist’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Trophy | Best Cabernet Sauvignon
Gold | Class 39. Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 class
Nominated for the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy
Thompson Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Gold | Class 39. Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 class
|
 |
Ray Jordan's TOP 100 Whites 2021
We were delighted that Ray Jordan included two of our wines in his Top 100 Whites (24th November 2021)
He was particularly complimentary about the SSB.
Margaret River SSB is a classic favourite for those who like a little more body in their white wine but want an alternative to the complexities of chardonnay.
He was also complimentary about our lighter style Four Chambers Chardonnay.
Different wines, different styles but both beautiful.
Both are ideal to celebrate the coming warm weather.
The West Australian Wine Guide 2022 by Ray Jordan
97pts | Thompson Estate ‘The Specialist’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
An elegantly structured and presented wine that reflects this cooler vintage in Margaret River. It’s more in the medium-bodied zone, but there is all that power and intensity that comes from careful fruit selection from specific rows. Bright red and black fruits with a light dusting of oak and a profound chalky tannin influence. It all hangs together so well. Cellar 20 years.
96pts | Thompson Estate ‘The Specialist’ Chardonnay 2019
The basis for this chardonnay is fruit selection from what are considered the best rows of the vineyard. It is a finer and slightly leaner style than previous years, but there is still the power that drives with compelling intensity to a very long finish. Meal, grapefruit, and nectarine merge with the richer brioche and subtle savoury, minerally notes. Complex and engaging. Cellar 12 years.
96pts | Thompson Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
A thoroughly beautiful cabernet from this great Margaret River vintage. Has all the power and fruit richness you expect from these old vines, but then the vintage impact of 2018 brings another dimension. Waves of blackcurrant and leafy black olive invade the senses. Into the palate and deep fruit builds with compelling intensity to a long finish with firm, chalky tannins and a decent hit of oak in support. A dry, slightly savoury ironstone finish completes a masterful wine. Cellar 18 years.
95pts | Thompson Estate Chardonnay 2020
Has been one of the premier chardonnays from Margaret River for some time now. I like the fine structure in this one. It's tight and almost lean but there is a deep fruit intensity of citrus and nectarine with a faint hint of mealy richness. Like the minerality and slightly savoury finish to complete a classy wine. Cellar 10 years.
94pts | Thompson Estate Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2020
[Runner-up ‘Best of the West – Blended Whites category]
This has been a super style from Thompson and this vintage has produced another cracking good wine. The feature is the clever use of barrel fermentation, which brings a beautiful, augmented aromatic and a richness to the palate texture. The intensity of the primary semillon and sauvignon blanc is undiminished, but the creamy vanillin oak brings another dimension. Good now but cellaring will see other things happen. Cellar 9 years.
90pts | Four Chambers Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
This is a mighty impressive entry level cabernet into the wines of Thompson Estate. Bright and aromatic opening with leafy red fruits dominant on the nose. The palate is medium bodied with a balanced combination of tannin and oak. Has a dry slightly chalky feel. Cellar 7 years.
Langton's Margaret River Regional Wine Show 2021
Halliday 2022 Wine Companion
Rated 5 Red Star Winery
|
|
95 POINTS - THE SPECIALIST 2017 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
‘Aromas of ripe cassis, black cherry and anise are set against a backdrop of glazed ham, pomegranate and toasted, spicy oak. The palate is densely flavoured, with fruits on the red spectrum rather than purple. An absolute mouthful of concentrated flavour. For a cool vintage like '17, there is impressive weight and density here.'
95 POINTS - ESTATE 2018 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
94 POINTS - THE SPECIALIST 2019 CHARDONNAY
93 POINTS - ESTATE 2020 SEMILLON SAUVIGNON BLANC
93 POINTS - FOUR CHAMBERS 2019 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
92 POINTS - ESTATE 2019 CHARDONNAY
|
GOLD RIBBON WINES FOR 2020 WITH BOB CAMPBELL MW
See how the Thompson Estate 'The Specialist' Chardonnay 2017 stacked up against other gold ribbon awarded wines by Bob Campbell from The Real Review - 25th November 2020
(wine shown at 20:30)
MARGARET RIVER REGIONAL WINE SHOW 2020
GOLD - 'The Specialist' Chardonnay 2019
SILVER - 'The Specialist' Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION 2021
5 RED STAR RATING
"Now this is something. I sometimes describe cabernet (and its tannins) as autocratic. This is the chardonnay counterpart, with its mouthwatering charge of grapefruit, white peach and white nectarine putting maturation in 30% new French oak into observer status".
"Hand-picked from selected rows and conventionally vinified in the context of high quality Margaret River chardonnay. The result is impressive. The wine has conviction and drive thanks to its acidity and low pH. Grapefruit is the leader of the flavour pack, but white stone fruit, cashew and melon all contribute".
"This moves up and away from the Estate Sauvignon Blanc, with a 60/40% split, putting semillon in the driver's seat, but we don't know if two wild-fermented barrels were semillon or sauvignon blanc. Whichever, it's a complex assembly of tastes and textures, Thompson Estate suggesting a 10+-year cellaring potential."
"An altogether serious wine that includes 5% each of malbec and cabernet franc plus 2% merlot. Despite suggestions of tenderly doing this or that in the vinification, this is Wilyabrup's answer to Bordeaux. While there are some delicious red/cassis/purple flavours, the stern mouthfeel makes you stand up and salute. It is still in its first flush of youth".
"An 80/20% blend made in the traditional method, 9 years on tirage with no sugar added with the dosage wine. There's a trade off, but I think it's a winner".
"Includes 2% each of malbec and cabernet franc. The minimal extract during vinification fully justified given the full-bodied, powerful wine that emerged. As it is, will develop slowly and with certainty. 11 months in used oak also a plus factor".
Thompson Estate 'The Specialist' Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 - 93 points
"The Specialist is none other than cardiologist Peter Thompson. This is built for the long haul, blackcurrant, redcurrant, tannins and oak all on parade, yet to arrive at the point where they are fused together as a single identity".
Thompson Estate Cabernet Merlot 2018 - 93 points
"56% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot, plus scraps of malbec and cabernet franc. This is a substantial wine by any standards, with dark fruits doing battle with their red counterparts, tannins with oak - the wine spent 15 months in used French oak".
"A chardonnay that reinforces the understanding that Margaret River has four or five districts running from the warm north down to the cool southern area of Karridale. And then there's the centre of Wilyabrup with so many long-established wineries. It's a great address for a $25 chardonnay with the sotto voce class of this wine".
"The wine is in fact 87% sauvignon blanc/13% semillon. It would seem the semillon is contract-grown, but it's not important one way or the other. It's a pretty wine with immediate appeal, partly from the 3-month maturation of a small portion adding texture and structure".
CH'NG POH TIONG AND THE ASIAN PERSPECTIVE ON THOMPSON ESTATE
Ch’ng Poh Tiong is Singapore based and the most influential wine writer in the Asian region. He is a great supporter of Margaret River. We were delighted when he chose the Thompson Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and Thompson Estate Chardonnay as his wines of the week recently.
The video gives a very flattering perspective of Thompson Estate and our Asian and international profile. Poh Tiong’s video is a must view:
RAY JORDAN WINE GUIDE 2020
"Delivers with more power and opulence than the standard Chardonnay, while retaining the essential elegance and finesse that is part of the Thompson Estate style. Roast cashew and butterscotch characters fill the palate after a beautiful aromatic opening. Rich palate of fig and citrus with such intensity".
"A vibrant and elegant example of Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon. Sourced from the best rows of the estate vineyard, which has enabled it to be worked with high quality, silky fine oak to achieve this balanced and supremely poised Cabernet. The powdery tannins settle seamlessly within the palate, providing all the support for lengthy cellaring. Outstanding.".
JAMES HALLIDAY 2020 WINE COMPANION
5 red star rating for the 10th year
"A flaxen yellow, this boasts all the bells and whistles: extended lees work and maturation in sexy French oak, imparting a delicious marrow of curd, nougat, cashew and truffle. I appreciate, too, the phenolic rails that mitigate the need for acid as the sole driver. After all, the craftsman is Bob Cartwright. Ex-Leeuwin. Plenty of stone fruit mustering generosity, too. Delicious".
Thompson Estate Cabernet Merlot 2017 - 93 points
"A superlative vintage, but what sets Thompson Estate's wines apart is their understated confidence. The fruit, a jubilant chorus of cabernet's choir, singing currant, graphite and bay leaf. Merlot provides some juicy fill and malbec (7%) and franc (6%) some aromatic high tones. The oak, older French, serves as a signpost rather than a stop sign".
Ray Jordan ~ 2019 The West Australian Wine Guide
This range was introduced a few years ago as a signal that these mature vines are starting to really turn out some mighty good fruit, perfect for turning into something special. Tighter and more elegant, but equally powerful compared to the 2014. Love the mineral savoury edges that sit comfortably in the intense and concentrated Chardonnay fruit. Lovely white-peach and cashew characters, with a lift of vanilla bean and savouriness.
Score: 97/100 Cellar: 12 years
