The list of wines was not exhaustive, but it really showed how brilliant older vintages of Australian wines can be. I was especially astonished by the 1966 McWilliam’s Philip Hermitage as it has never been on my radar, even though it was well regarded at the time. I have heard the expression ‘Nostalgia is not a strategy’ (coined recently by the Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney) a few times over the past weeks within Australian wine industry circles. With a decline in consumption and some serious problems to resolve, it is timely to remember that looking back through history can create inspiration and cause reflection. It was a reminder that we have unique landscapes and a wonderful track record of ambition and great winemaking. The Hunter Valley and Coonawarra featured greatly in this line-up. While not as fashionable as they once were, this line-up of old vintages showed that both regions can produce wonderful and exciting age-worthy medium-bodied red wines. Andrew Caillard MW March 2026
Hong Kong, March 2026
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