REVIEWS

Wine writer's comment about Thompson Estate...

Jeremy Oliver. Thompson Estate is a very different wine business, whose owner Peter Thompson has been able to persuade some of the best winemakers around to assisit with the making of their own specialty varieties” . Fine elegant and beautifully integrated chardonnay The Australian Wine Annual 200

Tim White. “A few of the new producers who are making seriously good wine and adding complexity to what has become an increasingly corporation-dominated winescape.” Thompson Estate Cabernet Merlot 2002 93 /100. Australian Financial Review May 2005

Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide 2005/2006. “ Dr Peter Thompson...has made an impressive start with his first couple of vintages.” SSB 2004 “A superior version of this classic Margaret River Style. 41/2/5 Cabernet merlot 2002 “generous rich fruit on the mid palate a good wine indeed” 41/2/

Peter Forrestal. “ Very impressive Margaret River estate of Peter and Jane Thompson making outstanding chardonnay, exemplary cabernet sauvignon, better than average semillon sauvignon blanc and surprisingly good pinot noir.” Perth Sunday Times May 2005

Ray Jordan. “Winemakers to Watch” 2004 in The West Australian January 2004 “One of the new and up-and coming chardonnays in Margaret River”. Guide to West Australian Wine 2004/05 “ One of the really exciting new producers in Margaret River is Thompson Estate I have no doubt that this name is going to be one to watch in the future” Guide to West Australian Wine 2005/06 All Thompson estate wines in the “over 90” club

John Jens. “Wow! this could be our most highly pointed Semillon Sauvignon Blanc for 2004” Newsletter April 2005

Ralph Kyte-Powell. “New names are appearing all the time in Australian wine, fortunately, some of them make really good stuff from the outset. Thompson Estate is one of them” Epicure Melbourne Age May 2004

Ralph Kyte-Powell. “A new Margaret River name with a quality direction like Thompson Estate is always welcome.” Melbourne Age August 2004

Huon Hooke. “Conventional wisdom says Margaret River is no place to grow pinot noir, but this newcomer challenges the notion” 4 stars Uncorked Sydney Morning Herald November 2004

James Halliday. Thompson Estate 4 stars Thompson SSB 2004 Crisp, firm, tight 91/100 Companion to Australian Wine 2006

Halliday’s ratings of Margaret River Chardonnay 2002.

Newwine. April 2005 website “Owners Jane and Peter Thompson have put the Thompson Estate winery and vineyard together with great attention to detail, and have taken the approach of getting specialists for each variety they produce.” www.newwine.com.au (ReviewersJames Halliday, Chris Barnes, Ben Edwards & Kate McIntyre)

Mike Zekulich. “An exciting new label” Winestate Magazine 2005

Winestate magazine. Cabernet sauvignon 2002 Top of Australian releases of 2004. Cabernet merlot top of WA releases of 2004.

Sun Herald Magazine Sydney. “Thompson Estate’s meticulous approach to vineyard and winery management pays dividends in the bottle.” Uncorked 80 best wines for summer October 2005

James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2006: “Complex funky/oaky bouquet; melon, fig, nuts and cream on the palate, with lots happenihg; slightly elevated alcohol”90/100

Ray Jordan's Guide to Wine 2005-2006: Deep, penetrating and complex, with cereal, grapefruit, and subdued cashew and spice on the nose. It’s a compelling opening that leads to a superb palate. Has escellent complexity and poise. A compelling wine 93/100.

Ray Jordan: The West Australian November 2005 “one of the really exciting new producers in Margaret River is Thompson Estate, which made an immediate impact a few years ago with a super first up chardonnay release. The Thompson Estate chardonnay 2003 ($35) is a beauty.

Newwine April 2005 website: www.newwine.com.au (Reviewers, James Halliday, Chris Barnes, Ben Edwards and Kate McIntyre) “Owners Jane and Peter Thompson have put the Thompson Estate winery and vineyard together with great attention to detail, and have taken the approach of getting specialists for each variety they produce. The 2003 Chardonnay was made by Mike Peterkin and has all the hallmarks of a wine that has been made with no expense spared. The Chardonnay exhibits layers of rich fruit, fine oak and mineral complexity. The medium bodied palate is crammed full of flavour, and while there is plenty of oak evident, the abundance of fruit simply swallows it up and leaves a very long, very fresh harmonious finish. This wine should enjoy a healthy life until 2011.”

Huon Hooke Sydney Morning Herald February 2005 “Put to the Test” 6 Top Drops Best Aussie White Thompson Estate Chardonnay 2003.

Peter Forrestal Sunday Times December 2004 ”The 2003 chardonnay has powerful, densely flavoured grapefruit and honey dew melon flavours with some yeasty lees characters. It has elegant creamy texture and great depth and length of flavour”.

Wine Review: Chardonnay 2004

James Halliday Companion to Australian Wine 2007: Light bodied, fresh melon and citrus flavour; almost delicate; interestingly, 8 months in french oak does not overwelhm the fruit 90/100

Perth Royal Wine Show 2006: Gold Medal

Stephen Tanzer (US) International Wine Cellar Pale gold. Fresh, bright and suave on the nose, with lively aromas of Meyer lemon, ruby-red grapefruit, jasmine, brown butter and honey. Crisp but nicely filled in, showing a deft mix of ripe orchard and citrus flavors and subtle oak spices. The persistent finishing flavors of white peach, ripe pear and cinnamon are nicely lifted by brightening acidity. 89 points

Jeremy Oliver The Australian Wine Annual 2006 “Fine, elegant and beautifully integrated chardonnay, whose delicate aromas of grapefruit, peach and suggestions of tropical fruit are accompanied by fresh creamy oak and undertones of grilled nuts. Its juicy, elegant palate delivers a delightfully fluffy expression of fresh and citrusy fruit shaped by clean and refreshing acids, finishing with nuances of minerals and a persistent and finely integrated core of fruit and oak” 94/100

Ralph Kyte-Powell Epicure, Melbourne Age. March 2006 “Thompson Estate, in the high-quality Wilyabrup disitrict, is one of the most promising new names in Margaret River. The ’04 chardonnay is deliciously stylish. Aromas of fig jam, crème brulee, nuts and earth are wonderfully complex and the elegant, sustained, creamy textured palate has a fine, long, lip-smacking finish. Outstanding” . 5 stars* *( 5 star rating : A superb example, a near perfect wine, of great character, worthy of the big occasion and the best company)

Winestate magazine March/April 2006 new releases. Appealing complexity to the bouquet, with vibrant fruit supported by malolactic and barrel-ferment notes. An elegant wine on the palate, with pretty lemon fruit flavours in the company of cedary wood and cashew nuts. 4 stars

Scoop Magazine Summer 2005 Perhaps a touch young and closed at the time of tasting, but this superb quality wine shows classically structured chardonnay fruit of real length and viscosity Silver 17.5

Winestate Magazine March/April regional tasting. Nice floral edge to the hot, citrusy nose. Excellent oak. Tightly structured palate- great length and intensity of peach flavours that soak up the oak. 4 stars

Wine Review: Chardonnay 2005

James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2008. Fresh and clean; tight and elegant but intense nectarine and melon fruit; oak background scenery; very good length. 94/100; 5 stars

James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2006 Crisp, firm and tight, the 60% semillon at work; lemon rind, asparagus, and gooseberry flavours; minerally acidity ,small percentage barrel fermented. Screwcap 91/100

Huon Hooke and Ralph Kyte Powell Penguin Guide to Wine 2005. A very good, typical SSB, with a subtle trace of oak that is barely discenible, and lots of crunchy cucumber, sugar snap peas and flavours. The palate has good intensity and persistence, without sacrificing delicacy or balance. It’s a superior version of this classic Margaret River Style. Serve with blue eye cod. 4.5/5

Newwine April 2005 website www.newwine.com.au (Reviewers; James Halliday, Chris Barnes, Ben Edwards and Kate McIntyre) Margaret River is the home of this blend which we used to call Classic Dry White. The Thompson Estate version of SSB is made by Janice McDonald at the Flying Fish Winery. It is a wine with a lifted nose that shows intense herbaceous and gooseberry fruit much more than many SSB's from other regions. Typically we see Margaret River producing highly aromatic Semillon, and this is no exception. The grassy and gooseberry characters flow freshly through onto the palate which has a lovely kick of fresh acid. The finish is quite dry and has another hit of citrus like acidity, but the fruit flavours carry on and on. A refreshing straight-forward wine that is typical of why the blend is so popular across the country.

Peter Forrestal Sunday Times December 2004: The 2004 Thompson Estate Semillon Sauvignon Blanc ($25) is delicate and subtle with gentle passionfruit flavours and a fine dry finish.

Ray Jordan’s Wine Guide 2005-2006: Cracking good wine this. It’s a blend of 60% grassy honeyed perfumed Semillon with some subtly herbaceous sauvignon blanc. It comes together in a neat, delicate and finely balanced package that’s sustained beautifully 91/100.

John Jens Western Suburbs Weekly December 2004: A number of Margaret River’s progressive winemakers, including Mike Peterkin at Pierro are attempting to make more serious wines in this style by adding both wooded and lees contact components and greater proportions of the longer ageing Semillon variety-which may make the wines less appealing when very young. This wine however, is excellent. It is lean and dry with a superb texture and lingering flavours of quality fruit. The appealing middle palate has gained more complexity from the barrel ferment material and this adds a lovely “mealy’ complexity. The wine has a dry finish. It is of the leaner style and can be consumed either on its own or can be totally at home with seafoods and salads. Wow! this could be our most highly pointed Semillon Sauvignon Blanc for 2004 17.9 points.

Wine Review: Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2005

James Halliday Companion to Australian wine 2007: Clean, bright, fresh apple, grass, lemon and gooseberry flavours, the small percentage of barrel ferment adding to the texture; a clean and powerful finish 93/100

Peter Forrestal Quaff 2007: Great value wine over $15. Peter and Jane Thompson have been involved in the wine industry in Margaret River for many years but their Wilyabrup vineyard has only recently been established. I'm impressed by their wines and the value offered by this semillon sauvignon blanc. It is pristine, fresh and fine and has powerful lemon citrus and herbal flavours, and a pleasant, complex mouth feel.

Ray Jordan's Wine Guide 2006-2007: This is a mighty impressive follow up to the previous vintage. It's had a small amount of barrel fermentation which adds  significantly to the final mix. Beautiful structure and mouthfeel. A complex wine of real style. 92/100

Winestate magazine march/April 2006: Nice floral characters on the nose. Long, tight green palate bordering on acid. Tart green finish. 3 stars

Scoop magazine Summer 2005: This is a fresh youngster with tangy, light aromas of herbs, fruit salad grass and lemon. There is a slight honeyed note on the nose as well. The palate is light yet reasonalbly intense, with pleasant dry flavours that give the wine intensity Silver 17/20

Wine Review: Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2006

James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2008: Fragrant grass, herb, citrus and apple aromas; light to medium bodied palate follows the bouquet, but not with quite the intensity, falling away slightly on the finish 89/100;

4 stars

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar. 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon 90 points. (85% cabernet sauvignon, 10% merlot and 5% cabernet franc) Ruby-red. Precise, spicy aromas of redcurrant, cherry and pomegranate molasses complicated by tobacco, mint and cedar. Fleshy but not at all heavy, with musky, meaty cherry and sweeter cassis and vanillin oak flavors developing through the finish. A concentrated, youthful wine with the balance and depth to repay cellaring. In a distinctly Old World style.

James Halliday Companion to Australian Wine 2005. Fresh, lively cassis berry offset by touches of earth and olive. Typical Margaret River structure. Needs time to soften. 90/100

Winestate magazine March 2004 Lifted, leafy characters in the company of spice and vanilla-accented oak. Fine flavour intensity and richness on the palate, with harmonious integration of fruit and wood. ‘Needs a bit of time, commented one judge’ 41⁄2stars

Ray Jordan Guide to Wine 2004/2005 Deep dark colour. Smells of classic Margaret River with mint and blackcurrant aromas, plus those distinctive black olive characters of this region. The palate is dense and deeply concentrated but with a poised stylishness about it. High class wine from a maker to watch 90/100

Ralph Kyte-Powell Melbourne Age August 2004. A new Margaret River name with a quality direction like Thompson Estate is always welcome. Its ‘02 chardonnay was great and now the cabernet has arrived. It has herby, blackcurrant fruit with a slightly mulchy touch. The oak is subtle. The palate is firm and long–flavoured with medium body and balanced tannins. 4 stars.

Winestate Magazine February 2005 Top wines of 2004 releases Cabernet Sauvignon style tasting

Newwine April 2005 website www.newwine.com.au (Reviewers;James Halliday, Chris Barnes, Ben Edwards and Kate McIntyre). Jane and Peter Thompson's long involvement in the region and part ownership of Pierro, must have informed their decision to produce wine from their own estate. This is a wine much in keeping with the class of Margaret River Cabernet - deep in colour, with a fairly closed, intense savoury nose of red currants, roast meat and a hint of capsicum. Classy on the palate with good concentration of dark savoury fruit, fine grained intense tannins, moderate acid and alcohol. The wine is tightly bound at present but has the structure,length and intensity to suggest it will age extremely well for at least a decade.

Ray Jordan Guide to Wine 2005-2006. This is emerging as a classy wine of deep dark colour. Smells of classic Margaret River mint and blackcurrant aromas plus those distinctive black olive characters of this region. The palate is dense and deeply concentrated but with a poised stylishness about it. High class wine from a maker to watch 93/100.

Winestate Magazine March/April 2006 Regional Tasting. Lifted dark berry bouquet with some violets thrown in. Similar characters on finely structured palate.

Wine Review: Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2008. Excellent colour; flooded with cassis and blackcurrant supported by quality oak and ripe tannins. 94/100; 5 stars

Wine Review: Cabernet Merlot 2002

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar. 2002 Cabernet Merlot 88 points. A blend of 80% cabernet sauvignon, 15% merlot and 5% cabernet franc. Deep red. Red fruits and sexy oak spices on the nose, along with notes of vanilla, bitter chocolate, espresso and cigar box. Flavors of dark cherry and plum are sweetened by the wine's oak element. On the finish, dusty tannins provide an elegant framework for the tangy cherry and herb flavors. This is ready to go now.

Ray Jordan Guide to Wine 2004/2005.Beautiful perfumed aromas of red berry and gentle smoky oak. There’s a delightful effortless focus about this with the fine stylish palate structure and lingering medium-weight flavour. It builds in the mouth to release plenty of flavour 89/100

James Halliday Companion to Australian Wine 2005. Plush, cassis/currant fruit, oak and tannins in restraint; still very youthful, will build. 88/100

Winestate magazine March 2004. A vibrant youthful wine with great colour. Big, oaky and ripe raspberry nose has that classic cabernet character. Great palate structure with nice charry/burnt oak flavours 41⁄2Stars

Winestate magazine February 2005 Top Wines of 2004 releases Cabernet blends Western Australian wines

Newwine April 2005 website www.newwine.com.au (Reviewers; James Halliday, Chris Barnes, Ben Edwards and Kate McIntyre) Margaret River Cabernet Merlot blends are often referred to as 'Bordeaux style' especially when they have a small amount of Cabernet Franc in the mix as well, as in the case with this Thompson Estate wine. The wine has excellent vibrancy of colour as you'd expect in a ripe Cabernet. The nose is fresh and herbal with a hint of cherry berry sweetness. On the palate the wine opens up and shows good complexity for a young blend and nice integration of oak. The mid palate shows the beginning of tobacco and cedar which works well with the savoury herbal Cabernet characters. Its here the influence of the Cabernet Franc becomes apparent. The tannins are long and strong and this wine should cellar happily for a few years.

Tim White Australian Financial Review May 2005 We’d like to devote a little space to a few of the new producers who are making seriously good wine and adding complexity to what has become an increasingly corporation-dominated winescape. Thompson Estate Cabernet Merlot 2002. Smells of currants, mulberries and blueberries; really fragrant, fruit-packed cabernet 93/100

Huon Hooke and Ralph Kyte Powell Penguin Guide to Wine 2005. Smoky, high char oak is the first thing you smell, followed by blackberry, black olive and other savoury complexities. There’s plenty of tannin grip and the wine has the structure to go with hearty foods and to age well. There’s generous rich fruit on the mid palate; a good wine indeed. It suits spiced, marinated lamb fillets off the barbecue. 4.5 /5

Sunday Life Sun Herald Magazine Sydney. One of the newer names in Margaret River, Thompson estate’s meticulous approach to vineyard and winery management pays dividends in the bottle. This is a dense, glass staining red with floral and cassislikefruit supported by a touch of spicy oak. Uncorked 80 best wines for summer October 2005.

Ray Jordan Guide to Wine 2004/2005. One of the better cabernet merlots I have tasted at this price. Loaded with ripe sappy blackcurrant and rich plum pudding characters. The palate is fleshy and soft with a delicious sweet plump fruit character and just a little cedary oak complexity. Nice drinking. 90/100

Winestate Magazine Best wines of 2005 New Releases. Lovely, sweet, fresh, black currant fruit and excellent use of toasty oak makethis a stylish wine that will improve further with some time. Easy on the palate 4 stars.

Scoop Magazine Summer 2005. Clean and fragrant with pure cabernet fruit aromas and lovely fresh blackcurrant cassis vibrant flavours. A medium bodied wine of class.
Silver 17/20

> Winestate magazine March/April 2006 Regional tasting. Push past the toasty oak and the nose projects delightful aromas of plums and prunes. Lingering chocolaty palate with tight, chewy tannins. A rich but very refined style of cabernet. 5 stars

Perth Sunday Times Winter 100. With vines planted in 1997, this is a relatively new Margaret River producer. Vibrant, juicy and bursting with flavour-brambles, blackcurrant, dark plums. Fairly priced.

James Halliday Companion to Australian Wine 2005: Smooth and ripe black cherry and plum fruit ; shows Margaret River is not impossible for the variety but it is more a red wine than pinot. 87/100.

Huon Hooke Uncorked Sydney Morning Herald November 2004: Conventional wisdom says Margaret River is no place to grow pinot noir, but this newcomer challenges the notion. 4 stars.

Ray Jordan Guide to Wine 2004/2005: This is a classy follow up to the ‘02, which I thought a very good example of quality pinot noir from Margaret River. I like the tight bony structure and subtle supple flesh wrapped around it. The tannins are fine but strong, while the fruit has admirable intensity. Lovely French oak and slightly earthy characters in there. 87/100

Newwine April 2005 website www.newwine.com.au: (Reviewers; James Halliday, Chris Barnes, Ben Edwards and Kate McIntyre). The Thompson family vineyard had its first vintage in 2001. Each variety is handled by a different Margaret River winemaker, in this case Mike Peterkin has the responsibility. This Pinot has medium weight colour density with pale red edges. On the nose there is a heady mix of toast, redcurrant fruit and a briary pinot noir aroma. The palate shows lots of juicy sweet fruit in the middle and a good lift of acid which adds to an overall impression of ripe but fresh fruit. There is a little bit of stalky tannin at the end which carries the fruit flavours through for a long finish. This is a deceptively light but still powerful Pinot Noir.

Wine Review: Pinot Noir 2006

Ray Jordan Guide to Wine 2008: There are some nice pinot characters in this light to medium bodied wine. Cherry and smokey oak aromas with some nice touchesof spice. Seamless silky smooth palate with fine finish tannins 86/100

Wine Review: Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2002

James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2008. Fine, elegant and balanced; good mouse; gentle citrus and nectarine fruit; fine acidity and length 90/100; 4 stars

Bruce Stephen Vancouver Lifestyle Magazine May 2007: The wine making region of Western Australia consistently has produced wine of a high quality for years and is recognised internationally as one of the great wine producing regionsof Austaralia. The 2002 Thompson Estate Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir is a fresh food friendly style sparkling, perfectly paired wiyh beef carpaccio, "Wonderful bubble"

Wine Review: Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2003

James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2008: Fine, elegantand balanced; good mousse; gentle citrus and nectarine Rating 90/100 4 stars

Ray Jordan's Wine Guide 2007-2008: Continues to evolveto the point of being right up there with any of the bubbles produced in Western Australia. Creamy with excellent autolysis characters of yeast and grapefruit. has power and finesse with very good weight through the mid palate. Very Good 92/100

Ray Jordan's Wine Guide 2006-2007:One of the better Western Australian sparklers I have tasted. It has some real champagne-like autolysis character with the meaty pinot adding complexity and the chardonnay that fine lifted lenghth

Qantas WA Wine Show 2006: Silver Medal