2004 MadFish Gold Turtle Shiraz Reviews

“I reckon this is an absolute beauty and at this price, hard to beat in value for money. It has wonderful savoury spiciness on the nose with deep underlying plum and blackcurrant. The palate is rich and warm with palate coating density.”

93 Points
Ray Jordan, Guide to West Australian Wine 2006/2007 - 19-02-2008
Full Review

“Bright blackcurrant aromas with hints of tobacco and prunes and a splash of cold tea-like characters. Big, tannic palate with good fruit weight in the middle.”

Winestate Annual 2008, Winestate Magazine - 01-01-2008
Full Review

“Medium purple-red; fragrant, supple and elegant; the touch of viognier may be small in percentage terms, but it infuses the palate; delicious spice and apricot nuances. Drink 2007-2015.”

94 Points
James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2008 - 01-07-2007
Full Review

“I reckon this is an absolute beauty and at this price hard to beat in value for money. It has wonderful savoury spiciness on the nose with deep underlying plum and blackcurrant. The palate is rich and warm with palate-coating density. A must.”

Ray Jordan, Perth Vita Magazine - 01-12-2006
Full Review

“There is no question that when it comes to shiraz in Western Australia, Frankland River is the pre-eminent area. Yes, you can get some pretty fair wines from Mount Barker, the Ferguson Valley and even Margaret River but it is Frankland where the warm, fleshy plumpness of this variety really shines. The recently released MadFish Gold Turtle is a classic example. The wine is 100% Frankland and comes off vines that are starting to realise their full potential as a result of great maturity. The vintage was warm to hot and resulted in good colour, fruit intensity and ripe tannin structure. The oak treatment interested me because it was a combination of new and one to three-year-old French, which has meant the wine is not dominated by wood. It also has resulted in more elegance and refinement. This is a mighty fine wine that will be excellent drinking over the next few years and would work a treat with a nice lamb roast on a cold Sunday afternoon.”

Ray Jordan, The West Australian - 22-07-2006
Full Review

“Gold Turtle is one of those brand diversions that come about when winemakers can?t bear to blend away a wine close to their heart. It?s a shiraz entirely from the Frankland River which contains a smidgin of viognier and some cleverly applied older French oak. Smart shiraz for a smart steak.”

Greg Duncan Powell, The Sydney Morning Herald - 19-06-2006
Full Review

“Shiraz Viognier blends are taking off, giving consumers an insight into one of the Rhone Valley?s most favoured varietal partnerships. A smidgin of viognier blended with shiraz certainly makes the wine more approachable at a early age, gives it a colour lift?2004 MadFish ?Gold Turtle? Shiraz: A fruit selection shift from Margaret River/Great Southern to Frankland River has not in any way diminished this racy red?s elegant appeal.”

John Fordham, Sunday Herald Sun - 18-06-2006
Full Review

“?this wine is MAD in the sense that the kiddies think things are MAD, as in really good. Spicy, cool-climate and thoroughly finish-the-bottle stuff from Frankland River.”

Stuart Gregor, Don't Buy Wine Without Me 2006/2007 - 01-06-2006
Full Review

“This is the first release of a MadFish shiraz specifically from Frankland River, and it?s very good. Flushed with blueberries and cherries and cedary spice, it?s the embodiment of everything that is good about the region as a grower of fine shiraz. It?s in the savoury style and yet it?s deadest ripe. The tannins are fine and the flavours like a fan, every segment different. If you like spicy shiraz, you?ll love this.Drink 2006-2011.”

91 Points
Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front - 01-05-2006
Full Review