When Hilde and Ian (Duke) Ranson sold their clothing manufacturing business in 1998, they were able to fulfil a long-held dream of establishing a vineyard in the Porongurup subregion of Great Southern with the acquisition of a 65ha farm at the foot of the Porongurup Range. They planted shiraz and cabernet sauvignon and riesling. Hilde, a successful artist, designed the beautiful, scalloped, glasswalled cellar door sales area, with its mountain blue cladding. The appointment of Rob Diletti as winemaker will, if it were possible, increase the quality of the wines.

Superb colour; hand-picked fruit from the highest and most central point of the vineyard, yet has the lowest alcohol of the three shirazes. This is a magnificent shiraz, with seemingly endless layers of black berries, plums fresh and stewed, and rounded, plush tannins. Date: Aug 2023; Drink to: 2046; Price: $46.00; Alcohol: 14%; Rating: 97 Points; James Halliday; The Weekend Australian Magazine

Ripe and generous with opulent rich fruit. It certainly is a step up from the very good Single Vineyard Shiraz loaded with ripe juicy plummy fruit underpinned by a chalky tannin precision. The sweet fruit is given a little boost with the sprinkle of spices and dried herbs, while the French oak management is right on the money. The smooth and seamless palate is a joy. Date: June 2023; Price: $46.00; Drink: 2023-2031; Rating: 95 Points; Ray Jordan; WinePilot