2005 JOURNEYS END VINEYARDS
Footprints on Maslin Chardonnay
Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia

This Chardonnay was grown in the Malpas Road Vineyard, which consists of 5.2ha of Chardonnay planted in 1991/92. The low yielding vines are grown on shallow black cracking clay soils over a calcium base. These relatively infer tile soils produce vines of reduced vigour, resulting in small concentrated Chardonnay berries. The 2005 Journeys End Chardonnay displays melon, citrus and peach aroma. Creamy texture, followed by flavours of melon, citrus and peach.

Alc/Vol: 13.5% BOTTLED WITH STELVIN SEAL.
PACKED IN 12 X 750ML CARTONS

2006 JOURNEYS END VINEYARDS
Building Bridges Sauvignon Blanc
Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia

TASTING NOTE: The 2006 Journeys End Sauvignon Blanc reflects the outstanding vintage conditions.

TASTING NOTE: The wine displays intense grassy, gooseberry flavours over a creamy textured palate and crisp acid finish. A welcome refreshment at the end of any journey! Cellar 2-3 years.

Alc/Vol: 13.5% BOTTLED WITH STELVIN SEAL.
PACKED IN 12 X 750ML CARTONS

2006 Three Brothers Reunited Shiraz
Region: South Eastern Australia

We believe this wine will evolve to be the best Three Brothers Shiraz produced to date and testimony to Ben Riggs' ability to produce great shiraz at any price point. Fruit was predominately sourced from McLaren with some additional components sourced from other regions of South Australia to add complexity.

TASTING NOTE: Deep purple/red colour with crimson hue. The nose is quite perfumed dominated by primary fruit characters – blackberry and dark cherry with nuances of liquorice and confectionary. The palate is where this wine really shines delivering remarkable weight, texture and richness for it’s price point. ‘Joosy’ blackberry, plum, liquorice, spice and pepper with some toasted oak characteristics on the back palate. Excellent depth and length of flavour. A soft tannin structure and voluptuous flavour profile make this wine eminently drinkable now but is also capable of a further 2-3 years cellaring.
Alc/Vol: 14.5% BOTTLED WITH STELVIN SEAL.
PACKED IN 12 X 750ML CARTONS

Praise for the 2003 Three Brothers Reunited Shiraz (SOLD OUT):
The Three Brothers Reunited Shiraz was originally created as an export label. When a small parcel was released for the domestic market, the demand proved overwhelming. With the 2003 release, winemaker Ben Riggs has again excelled himself demonstrating his ability to produce flavour filled wines at any price point. Victorian wine writer, Paddy Kendlar commented: "... This is an unpretentious and uncomplicated dry red clearly made for casual quaffing right now. Plenty of ripe berry fruit, soft tannins, neat structure at a very reasonable price." 14.5% Alc./Vol.

"This is the cheapest wine in the range produced by Ben Riggs for Journeys End Vineyards. The price can drift as low as $10 on special. We think the ’03 Reunited – like the previous vintage – offers extraordinary value for money. 2003 vintage: Fairly straightforward but ripe and ample aromas of plum pits, dried herbs and poached plums. The palate has some extractive astringency and alcohol heat, the volume of flavour and richness more than compensates. The palate flavours suggest plum juice and blackberry jam. More guts than class, it’s a real crowd pleaser and would go well with grilled T-bone steak. 4 glasses for quality 5 stars for value."
- The Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide – Huon Hooke and Ralph Kyte-Powell.

2007 Three Brothers Reunited Semillon Sauvignon Blanc
Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia

The Three Brothers Reunited Semillon Sauvignon Blanc is a companion wine to the highly successful Shiraz and aims to deliver exceptional value for money.

TASTING NOTE: Colour: Bright pale straw colour. Nose: Fresh ripe aromas of melon, stone fruits and confectionary with some herbaceous background notes. Palate: The Semillon component dominates the palate contributing texture and viscosity giving the wine an excellent mouthfeel. Ripe flavours of melon, gooseberry and confectionary with some grassy herbaceous notes in the background. Good palate length with a crisp, clean dry finish. An excellent fresh lively white perfect for everyday drinking. Made for immediate consumption and an excellent accompaniment to many seafood dishes.

Alc/Vol: 13.5% BOTTLED UNDER STELVIN CAP.
PACKED IN 12 X 750ML CARTONS

2006  The Bobby Dazzler Shiraz
Region: South Australia

The term Bobby Dazzler refers to something “striking or excellent” and was a phrase that was commonly used by gents to describe a ‘good sort’ that was attractive to the eye. The impressive 2006 Bobby Dazzler Shiraz is sure to draw similar comments from anyone that tastes it!

TASTING NOTE: Deep purple red colour. The addition of a small amount of Viognier to the blend adds some exotic notes to the aromatics – plum, apricot and liquorice allsorts with overtones of blackberry and spice. The palate is full bodied displaying excellent weight with a plump opulent texture and a flavour profile that delivers well beyond it’s price point. Rich exuberant fruit fills the palate with flavours of plum, blackberry, spice and pepper. The Viognier component provides additional complexity in the form of some exotic apricot characters as well as giving the wine more roundness and a supple texture.
Excellent length with velvet smooth tannins. A real Bobby Dazzler! Made for immediate consumption but will cellar for 2-3 years.
Alc/Vol: 15.0% BOTTLED WITH STELVIN SEAL.
PACKED IN 12 X 750ML CARTONS

Other reviews... The label breaks new ground for Australian wine – it’s a hoot, and while the wine itself is warming and generous by nature. Plenty of ripe berry fruit, a silky, supple texture and a satisfying effect. More than just a novelty, a most enjoyable and versatile dry red made by the prolific Mr Ben Riggs, as he likes to be known.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.  - Paddy Kendler – Wine writer, Herald Sun Newspaper.

...This label inspired by old comic strips is hard to ignore and the wine inside matches its exuberance. It’s a super generous mouthful of South Australian red wine at a reasonable price. Blackberry, licorice strap and spicy aromas show some alcoholic warmth. The palate is full bodied, satisfying and mellow. Ageing? Drink over four years.  Food Ideas: Burgers; Big steaks. Four stars $$$   - Ralph Kyte-Powell – The Age Epicure

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2006 JOURNEYS END VINEYARDS The Return Riesling
Region: Watervale, Clare Valley, South Australia

The 2006 vintage in the Clare Valley produced wonderfully aromatic Rieslings with powerful lemon/lime flavours & perfect acidity.

TASTING NOTE: Pale straw colour. Powerful notes of lime and citrus with fl oral overtones in the background. Intense flavours of lime and citrus with perfectly balanced acidity. Excellent length with clean crisp fi nish. Drinking well now but extended bottle age will result some more complex tertiary fl avours developing.
A perfect match with fresh seafood.
Alc/Vol: 12.5% BOTTLED WITH STELVIN SEAL.
PACKED IN 6 X 750ML CARTONS

Reviews for the 2005 release: "The journey in question was John Macarthur’s odyssey in 1815-16, which took him on a tour of Europe in search of wine lore, knowledge and vine cuttings. On his return he was instrumental in getting Australia going as a wine producer. We should all toast his pioneering work. From a fantastic vintage for Clare-Watervale Riesling, this pale young wine has a minerally, slightly Germanic thread on the nose. The fruit character is reminiscent of lime and spiced apple. The palate has the richly flavoured, smoothly textured qualities of the ’05 Clare vintage, finishing long, dry and meaningful. Serve it with stir-fried prawns and Chinese mustard greens."
Quality: 4.5 glasses     Value: 4 stars    Rating: 92    Cellar: 6+ years
-The 2007 Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide’ by wine writers Ralph Kyte-Powell and Huon Hooke

2005 JOURNEYS END VINEYARDS The Embarkment Shiraz
Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia

The fifth release of this highly sought after Shiraz sees a change of name from Beginning to Embarkment. The labyrinth on the front label symbolises a seemingly endless road that reflects life’s unforeseeable twists and turns. Is it a journey upwards toward heaven or down into the earth? Whichever way you experience it, the bottom of the bottle marks the embarkment of a great shiraz journey.
TASTING NOTE: Colour: Deep rich purple opaque crimson colour. Nose: Very perfumed displaying powerful ripe fruit aromas of blackberry, plum, liquorice and spice with nuances of aniseed and smoky vanilla characters. Palate: Sourced from a variety of different vineyards and Shiraz clones in order to maximise complexity. Full flavoured with excellent weight, the palate displays an abundance of rich ripe fruit characters, whilst still maintaining a sense of elegance – blackberry, liquorice and aniseed with a pronounced blackpepper character. Long liquorice, blackpepper and spice finish perfectly balanced to the fine grained tannins. The addition of some declassified Ascent and Arrival Shiraz barrels has added further depth to the final blend. Whilst drinking very well upon release, this wine is capable of cellaring for another 5-6 years. A good match with most meat dishes.
Alc/Vol: 14.5% BOTTLED WITH CORK SEAL.
PACKED IN 12 X 750ML CARTONS

Reviews for the 2004 release: "Powerful but not heavy or extractive; blackberry, bitter chocolate and oak seamlessly welded together, the alcohol relatively restrained. Exceeds expectations and its station in life". Cork. 14.5% alc. To 2018 Rating: 93
- James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2008 Edition

2004 JOURNEYS END VINEYARDS The Ascent Shiraz
Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia

The 2004 Journeys End Ascent Shiraz is the second wine of the Shiraz trio. McLaren Vale experienced cool ripening conditions in 2004, which prolonged the vintage and resulted in grapes with exceptional flavour profiles being harvested.

TASTING NOTE: "Deep rich purple colour – totally opaque. Perfumed aromas of plum, blackberry and liquorice. A slightly more refi ned version than its 2003 predecessor,
reflective of the different vintage conditions. Full bodied and rich with concentrated ripe fruit flavours of blackberry, plum, liquorice, spice, pepper and cedar and very long peppery blackberry aftertaste. The wine displays wonderful finesse and refi nement whilst still possessing that trademark McLaren Vale juicy character. A wine with excellent structure and balance that will benefit with 4-6 years cellaring."
Alc/Vol: 14.5% BOTTLED WITH CORK SEAL.
PACKED IN 12 X 750ML CARTONS

Further reviews:
"The 2004 Shiraz “Ascent” was aged for 16 months in French and American oak. It exhibits a more brooding nose of smoke, cedar, tar, blueberry, and blackberry. It is bigger, richer, and better balanced. The flavors are mouth-coating and the finish is long and pure. Although it has enough structure to evolve for 2-4 years, it can be enjoyed now". 91 Points - Jay Miller - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate

"The name of this wine refers to Australia’s gradual ascent to winemaking heights, which began with Gregory Blaxland’s first export of Australian wine in 1822. Journeys End winemaker Ben Riggs has a good sense of history, which is a great thing. Deep and dense in appearance, this young shiraz is packed with ripe black-plum fruit, dressed in chocolately notes. Very typically McLaren Vale but without the strong earthiness that marks some of the region’s reds. It’s pure and concentrated with lush texture and long spicy flavours, finishing dry and savoury with very dry, fine-grained tannins. Try it with a navarin of lamb."
Quality: 5 glasses     Value: 4 stars    Rating: 96    Cellar: 1-10 years
-The 2007 Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide’ by wine writers Ralph Kyte-Powell and Huon Hooke

2002 JOURNEYS END VINEYARDS The Ascent Shiraz
Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia

~ SOLD OUT ~

"At $25 to $30 is the 2002 Ascent Shiraz, a lusciously fruited, great-value wine: soft, mellow chocolate, spices and licorice."
-Huon Hooke, from "The Age" newspaper, October 2 2004

Further reviews: "An outstanding Shiraz which is filled with an abundance of ‘joosy’ McLaren Vale flavours. Opaque black crimson colour with deep crimson hue. The nose displays a wonderful sniffing experience with a violet top note followed by spice, confectionary, ripe plum and liquorice all-sorts - the sort of wine that one could spend a significant time just nosing. The palate is filled with an abundance of ripe Shiraz flavours. Mouthfilling spice, blackpepper, ripe plum, vanilla and liquorice fill the mouth and are enhanced by velvet smooth tannins. Perfect balance, followed by a very long aftertaste of spice, liquorice, plum and black & white pepper. Cellar 4-5 years (2008-2009) Alc/Vol: 15% RATING: 95/100" -Vintage Direct, Offer #72 October 2004
Tasting Notes on the 2001 Ascent Shiraz..."A complex medium to full bodied array of red and black fruits; excellent use of French oak; overall supple mouthfeel. RATING 93 DRINK 2016" - James Halliday's 2005 Wine Companion.

2005 JOURNEYS END VINEYARDS The Arrival Shiraz
Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia

...This is the epitome of a generous McLaren Vale Shiraz. Ripe, concentrated blackberry, mocha and spice combine in lush harmony and the sumptuously proportioned palate is velvety and finely balanced with ripe, soft tannins. (14.5% alcohol; cork.) Ageing? Yes, drink over two to 10 years.
Food Ideas: Bulgogi (Korean barbecued beef); braised lamb with crusty potato top.
Five Stars $$   - Ralph Kyte-Powell – The Age Epicure

2004 JOURNEYS END VINEYARDS The Arrival Shiraz
Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia

Total Production: Approx 450 dozen. This is the ‘piece de resistance’ of the Journeys End collection - a high point of viticulture and winemaking with only the finest barrels selected for final bottling under the Arrival label. The 2004 vintage in McLaren Vale was considered to be outstanding and lasted longer than usual due to the cool ripening conditions. Good rainfall in winter and spring ensured healthy canopies and concentrated berries resulting in wines of exceptional flavour.

TASTING NOTE: "A deep purple black opaque colour - glass staining. Very aromatic with notes of liquorice, aniseed, cedar, blackberry and vanilla. The palate is beautifully balanced displaying abundant rich ripe voluptuous fruit without being too heavy or over the top. Concentrated and powerful fl avours of blackberry, plum, liquorice, pepper,
cedar and vanilla fi ll the mouth with a very long blackberry liquorice and pepper aftertaste. The wines silky smooth texture makes this wine very drinkable now, but will improve with another 5-6 years cellaring." Alc/Vol: 14.5%
BOTTLED WITH CORK SEAL. PACKED IN 6 X 750ML CARTONS.

Further reviews:
"The best of the trio is the 2004 Shiraz “Arrival”. Opaque purple-colored, it emits a perfume of wood smoke, toast, tar, licorice, blueberry muffin, and blackberry. Medium to full-bodied, it has layers of spicy black fruit flavors, a soft blanket of ripe tannin, and excellent length. Allow 4-6 years of bottle aging and drink it through 2020".
93 Points - Jay Miller - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate

"Journeys End has a very large range of wines, with nearly all of them based on various permutations of McLaren Vale shiraz. Their avowed aim of over-delivering in terms of value for money is no idle claim; most of the wines are excellent buys. A deliciously concentrated shiraz with aromas of crushed blackberries, dark chocolate and bakery spice. It tastes concentrated and full, but it isn’t so big and powerful that it’s difficult to drink. On the contrary, it gets better with each glass, and its velvety texture dovetails with ripe dry tannins in excellent balance. A long-liver, but you could serve it now with roast beef."
Quality: 5 glasses     Value: 3.5 stars    Rating: 96    Cellar: 2-10+years
-The 2007 Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide’ by wine writers Ralph Kyte-Powell and Huon Hooke

"...Bright red-purple; a medium-bodied but complex mix of chocolate, mocha, blackberry and raspberry; ripe tannins and good length; 5 clones of shiraz incorporated". Cork. 14.5% alc To 2016   Rating: 94
- James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2008 Edition

2002 JOURNEYS END VINEYARDS The Arrival Shiraz
Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia

~ SOLD OUT ~

When James Halliday released his top 100 wines of the year for 2004, he selected the 2002 Journeys End Vineyards Arrival Shiraz. Here's what he had to say:- "Replete with a label looking very much like the famed Woodley Treasure Chest series of the 1940s and '50s, this is the top end (after the Ascent) of another new virtual winery. It has an extra dimension of power, flooded with superb regional fruit and dark chocolate, with lingering but fine tannins. 96 Points. Best Drinking: 2007-17" 
- James Halliday's Top 100, The Australian Newspaper.

Further reviews: "...at $40 to $50 is the flagship Arrival Shiraz: a blockbuster of concentrated plum, blackberry, chocolate and vanilla depths, with higher levels of tannin and oak. [The Journeys End Shiraz wines are] 15 per cent alcohol, but in contrast to several other wines of that strength doing the rounds, they taste balanced. Riggs seems better able than most to achieve balance with high alcohol, and avoid porty and "dead-fruit" flavours."
-Huon Hooke, from "The Age" newspaper, October 2 2004

"This is Ben Riggs at his winemaking best. Totally opaque black, crimson colour with black crimson hue. Superb nose with magnificent lifted notes of violets, confectionary, cedar and spice followed by a liquorice end note. The palate is very classy - it has that rare quality of weight combined with great elegance and refinement. Beautifully layered flavours of black pepper, plum, confectionary, cedar and spice are followed by a liquorice allsorts back palate. Outstanding length and depth. The tannin structure is a touch more assertive than that of the ‘Ascent’, yet remains very fine and in perfect balance. Very long aftertaste of black pepper, liquorice allsorts and spice. Cellar 5-8 years (2009-2012) Alc/Vol: 15% RATING: 97/100"
-Vintage Direct, Offer #72 October 2004