The Thomson Centenary Shiraz was first produced in 1992 and released in 1993 to celebrate the centenary of the Thomson family’s settlement in the Great Western area.

This special single vineyard wine was made from the 15 rows of the original 1868 Shiraz vines, planted by Henry Best, and once referred to as ‘Hermitage’ in Henry’s daily journal. Today, this wine is only made in the very best vintage years and is called Thomson Family Shiraz.

In the past 30 years, only 18 Thomson Family Shiraz wines have been made.

Master of Wine, Andrew Caillard says, “Best’s Thomson Family Shiraz is one of Victoria’s greatest wines and represents a window to Australia’s winemaking past. Like Henschke Hill of Grace and Penfolds Block 42 in the Barossa Valley, the Best’s Concongella Vineyard 1860s plantings at Great Western belong to Australia’s rich heritage of ancient genetic and pre-phylloxera vineyards.”

The 15 rows of original vines produce only very small amounts of fruit. They are cropped at less than two tonnes per acre (four tonnes per hectare) and are meticulously hand-harvested, selected and sorted. A very limited number of cases of our flagship wine are released in our very ‘best’ years. This flagship wine drinks very well now, but its potential is revealed over time, cellared away and brought out to celebrate the good things in life.

The vines are referred to by the CSIRO as the Concongella clone and it is the mother clone of all subsequent Shiraz plantings at Best’s Great Western.

The Thomson Family Shiraz was elevated to the highest and rarest Langton’s Classification of “1^st Classified” in the 2024 Classification VIII

The 2014 Thomson Family Shiraz was awarded the ‘Wine of the Year’ for the 2017 Halliday Wine Companion and the 2017 was awarded 99 points for the 2020 Wine Companion.

TECHNICAL DETAILS:

Region: Great Western, Victoria
Grape Variety: 100% Shiraz
Alcohol: 14%
Winemaker: Justin Purser

HOW DOES THE WINE TASTE?

Lovely pure fruit notes of dark cherry, dark plum and boysenberry fill the front palate. Spicy mid-palate filled with sweet tobacco, clove, and truffle.

WHAT THE WINE CRITICS HAD TO SAY ABOUT 2020 THOMSON FAMILY SHIRAZ:

‘It’s not usual for wine producers to hold back wine after a planned release date to give the wine more time to grow. But the Thomson family recently did it with their flagship Thomson Family Shiraz 2020.

It’s a wine they hold dear, sourced from just 15 rows of 1868 vines, and the extra time will undoubtedly be appreciated by wine drinkers. It’s a real charmer of a wine, elegant and distinguished, with only the kind of quality stamp that old vine Shiraz can bring.

Starts with a flourish of aromatics and fruit, of dark plum, cassis, briar, sweetly spiced oak and earth. There’s an impressive intensity here laid out across a palate wrapped in firm, fine tannins and finishing with focus and length. Terrific and balance and purity of Shiraz expression.’

Wine Pilot Jeni Port June 2025

‘Medium depth of ruby to tile-red colour showing some development; the bouquet also developing mellow secondary characters of terrific complexity: earthy/ terracotta and roasting pan aromas with dried herbs, dried mushrooms and a hint of mint.

The wine is a model of medium bodied elegance. The tannins are soft and mellow, the balance outstanding, with a seamless glide along the palate to a long -lasting finish. Delicious wine.’

Rating 96 points Drink 2025- 2040

The Real Review, Huon Hooke – April 2025

“The oldest vines on this old estate, planted in 1868, are reserved for this wine. It is more than a drink being part of our culture, part museum exhibition and work of art in a glass. Rich and dense aromas, red and black berries from the berry farm, charcuterie meats and gravy from the kitchen and earthy dusty tar notes from the road.

Liquid silk tannins give the palate good length with more higher fruit notes on the palate than normal wrapped in a fine tannin viscosity.

In the mouth, youthful intensity, very full in the middle palate with spice, blackberry, tar and red liquorice. Not heavy and very smart use of subtle oak, more fruity than normal but not big with an intensity and dignity that only old vines can deliver.

It’s going to be interesting to see its age as it is still quite adolescent. With equivalent old-vine Syrah wines selling overseas at 4 and 5 times the current price, I think on an international level, this wine is good value, all things considered.”

Rating 97 points Drink by 2045

Rob Geddes MW

“Oozes class and elegance. Destined for a long and fruitful life, Thomson Family Shiraz embraces blackcurrant, blood plum, bramble, briar, earth and spice. Fine in features, it can be deceiving because there is a strength here, built on old vines and the gentlest of oak which allows the fruit to sing.” GOLD – 95 points

Halliday Wine Companion – Jeni Port, 2022

“Lovely colour, youthful cherry red in the glass. Lifted aromas of blueberry, dark cherry, blackberry, Asian spice, dried herbs, anise, clovey oak and sarsaparilla.

Rich layered and quite seamless on the palate. There’s a core of fleshy blue fruits, along with spice, cedary oak, satsuma plum and an earthy, woodsy lift.

The tannins are really shapely and firm and deliver fabulous structure and presence. The acidity also plays its part nicely, bringing snap and brightness.” Rating: 96 points

The Real Review – Aaron Brasher – June 2024

“There is an effortless assurance and grace to Henry Best’s original 1868 planted Shiraz that has produced seamless and compellingly eloquent wine that takes the dry heat of 2020 in its stride.

Berry fruits and spice find a seamless accord with high cocoa dark chocolate laced together by a web of intricately fine, supple tannins like only old vines can conjure, gently holding a very long finish.

For all its elegance, it lacks nothing in presence or potential.”

Tyson Stelzer, WBM Magazine, September 2024

“The 2020 Thomson Family Shiraz is light, herbal and leafy, with kicked red earth and goji berries, raspberry seed, sweet paprika dolce and reverberating depth and complexity.

There’s not much more to say than that. There is balance, poise, length and most importantly, a mainline into the dirt there in Great Western.” 97 points

Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate, November 2024

Previous vintage tasting notes of Thomson Family Shiraz

2019 | 2017 |