Awards and reviews for current releases

Charles Andreas 2003

Composition: 39% Malbec, 33% Merlot, 17% Cabernet franc and 11% Cabernet sauvignon

Gold Medal Qantas Mount Barker Show 2006

Gold Medal Qantas Wine Show of WA 2005

Silver Medal Qantas Wine Show of WA 2007

Silver Medal Margaret River Wine Show 2004

Gold Medal Royal Perth Wine Show 2006

James Halliday: Superb colour; a very different blend to the '04; medium to full-bodied, intense and long palate, the softness of malbec sustained by the other components without losing suppleness; lovely tannin and oak support. Malbec/Merlot/Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon. Rating 95 Drink 2015 Release Price $36 Date Tasted Mar 06

Ray Jordan: This Bordeaux blend has proved a real winner for Erl Happ. In fact this was the wine that really got me thinking that his venture into Karridale was going to work. This is superb stylish and poised with tremendous depth and a balanced long finish. Chocolate and black currant flavours. A wine of great character. Score: 94/100

Shiraz 2004

Gold Medal Qantas Wine Show of WA 2007

Gold Medal Margaret River Wine Show 2008

Silver Medal Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2005

Silver Medal Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2006

Silver Medal Perth Royal Wine Show 2005

Silver Medal Margaret River Wine Show 2005

James Halliday: Medium to full-bodied; rich, textured blackberry, licorice and bitter chocolate; fine-grained tannins and good oak; excellent mouthfeel and balance. Cork. 14.1% alc. Rating 94. Drink 2014 Release Price $55 Date Tasted Mar 06

Merlot 2007

Silver Medal Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2009

James Halliday: Good colour; strong varietal expression might have been stronger still at more moderate alcohol levels; not clear why picking should have been so delayed; Ribena-like flavours with some black olive notes. Cork. 15.5% alc. Rating 89 Drink 2015 $36 Date Tasted Feb 09

Grenache Shiraz Mataro 2005

Ray Jordan: There is a distinct regional vineyard character in this wine. Lots of leafy fruit but the fruit is ripe and the tannins slightly sinewy. Lean and angular wine of some style. Quite different from the big fleshy GSMs from South Australia. Score: 85/100

Cabernet Franc 2007

Silver Medal Margaret River Wine Show 2009

Good colour and plenty of fragrant red berry fruits, but the tannins are bitter; curate's egg; prayer and time may help. Cork.
14% alc. Rating 87 Drink 2013 $36 Date Tasted Feb 09

Malbec 2008

James Halliday: Vivid crimson-purple; arguably the best of the Three Hills wines simply because it brings out the best features of malbec: glossy red and black cherry and raspberry fruit (usual) and perfect texture and structure (very unusual). Cork. Rating 94 Drink 2016 $36 Date Tasted Jan 10

Sangiovese 2008

James Halliday: Excellent light crimson-purple; has clear-cut varietal character with spicy sour cherry aromas and flavours; Erl Happ was considered a nut case when he planted these varieties in 1994; slightly less graceful than the '07, the tannins more aggressive. Cork. Rating 91 Drink 2018 $36 Date Tasted Jan 10

Eva Marie 2008

Silver Medal Perth Royal Wine Show 2009

Silver Medal Qantas Wine Show of WA 2009

Silver Medal Margaret River Wine Show 2009

James Halliday: A 50/50 blend of Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc, entirely barrel-fermented, with 25% new oak; deliberately made with the accent on complexity of texture rather than the fresh fruit of the unwooded styles. Screwcap. Rating 91 Drink 2012 $27 Date Tasted Jan 10

Chardonnay 2008

Silver Medal Margaret River Wine Show 2010

James Halliday: Bright straw-green; a complex bouquet wit a touch of smoky oak, the palate tighter and more focused than the standard wine, with grapefruit and nectarine flavours; good length and balance. Screwcap. Rating 94 Drink 2015 $27 Date Tasted Jan 10

Ray Jordan: This was a terrific year for Chardonnay especially for these cooler areas. The fruit is richly textured with a tight and intense lemon and grapefruit palate chock full of mealy, nutty light stone fruit complexity. A wine of real poise. Score: 88/100

Semillon 2010

Silver Medal Perth Royal Wine Show 2010

Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Silver Medal Perth Royal Wine Show 2010

Chardonnay 2008

Silver Medal Perth Royal Wine Show 2009

James Halliday: Bright straw-green; has considerable depth of flavour to its nectarine and peach fruit, yet retains elegance courtesy of a line of acidity. Screwcap. Rating 91 Drink 2014 $20 Date Tasted Jan 10

Muscat A Pink 2009

James Halliday: Pale salmon-pink; made from muscat a petit grain, and a real wine, the delicate strawberry/grapey fruit balanced by just the right amount of acidity. Screwcap. 10.5% alc. Rating 89 Drink 2010 $22 Date Tasted Jan 10

Fortis 2008

Gold Medal Perth Royal Wine Show 2010

Gold Medal Perth Royal Wine Show 2009

Gold Medal Sheraton Wine Show of WA 2010
James Halliday: Intense, deep purple; it's been too long since I last tasted one of Happs Vintage Port style wines; this is brilliant, almost dry, yet intense and very well balanced. 500 ml. Cork. 18.5% alc. Rating 94 Drink 2020 $25 Date Tasted Jan 10

Very Special Old Muscat

Gold Medal Perth Royal Wine Show 2010

Silver Medal Qantas Wine Show of WA 2010