96 Points - Marcus Ellis
Bondar Wines was declared "A superstar estate, but a down-to-earth one" in the recent Halliday Wine Companion 'Top 100 Wineries of 2025'. Ranked the nations's 29th best winery on this distinguished list, it underlines the big impression Bondar has made since its first vintage back in 2013.
The 2023 Bondar Rayner Vineyard Shiraz is drawn from the two oldest blocks in the Rayner Vineyard, planted in 1950 and 1960. Grapes were hand-picked and wild-yest fermented with two weeks on skins. The wine aged for 12 months in two- and three-year-old French oak before a further six months aging in large, old foudres. As you might expect, the Ryaner is deeper, more structured, and more age-worthy than Bondar’s Violet Hour and Midnight Hours wines. The restrained use of oak and inclusion of 90% whole bunches ensure this wine shows a freshness to complement the old-vine intensity. Another stunning McLaren Vale Shiraz from Bondar that is already attracting plenty of attention.
“96 Points, Andre Bondar is never going to pursue rich styles, but this bottling usually has a little more supple generosity. That’s still true here, with a sultry feel to the dark-fruited nose in blackberry, boysenberry and black cherry, and to the silky, saline palate. There’s also a malty, tarry note, master stock, kelp, violets and iron. The cool year, the third in a row, plays into the house credo, balancing fruit depth and intensity with pep and floral lift. It’s a very good release.”- Marcus Ellis, The Halliday Wine Companion.
