Australia — wine

Great Southern

Western Australia's largest and most diverse wine region in the state's far south, encompassing five distinct sub-regions: Albany (maritime Pinot Noir), Denmark (maritime Chardonnay), Frankland River (Riesling and Cabernet), Mount Barker (Riesling and Shiraz), and Porongurup (Riesling on granite). The region's extreme isolation, ancient soils, and cool Southern Ocean influence create wines of uncommon mineral intensity and Australian uniqueness — some of the world's finest Riesling outside Germany.

Year Rating Notes
2022 Outstanding Great Southern vintage; Mount Barker Riesling of extraordinary mineral precision; Frankland River Cabernet of great structure.
2021 Classic vintage; the Southern Ocean's influence produced wines of excellent freshness; Porongurup Riesling from granite particularly fine.
2020 Benchmark year; Forest Hill and Howard Park produced Great Southern wines of exceptional quality across all sub-regions.
2019 Outstanding vintage; Mount Barker Riesling achieved its highest critical scores yet; Albany Pinot Noir showed Burgundian elegance.
2018 Solid vintage; the Great Southern's isolation from eastern Australian weather produced wines of characteristic purity and mineral freshness.