Kiss Shiraz is a cheeky name for a serious wine. It is an individual vineyard Hunter Valley Shiraz, grown on the tough clay/loam soils of the Pokolbin Estate vineyard (planted 1969). These naturally low-cropping vines consistently produce fruit with exceptional depth and concentration. This is the benchmark Shiraz for Thomas Wines, expressing the very best qualities of each vintage. The first vintage of Kiss Shiraz was in 2001, and since that time this label has received countless wine show awards and accolades.

2021 Kiss Shiraz

Winemaker's Comments

2021 was a challenging vintage in the Hunter Valley, with some early and mid-season rainfall delaying the ripening process, however our crop thinning at Veraison has certainly paid dividends once again with this vineyard. Realising that we needed to reduce the crop to absolute minimum levels, we removed approximately 40% of the fruit in the first week of January. This certainly enabled the vines to fully ripen the fruit was picked in excellent condition.

The 2021 Kiss Shiraz was hand-picked on the 22nd of February, cold-soaked for 48 hours, and then fermented on skins for a further nine days. The wine was then matured for 16 months exclusively in premium French oak (300L) Hogsheads, 22% of which were new barrels. After bottling, the wine rested in the cellar for ten months prior to being released on 13th of May 2023.

The 2021 vintage has produced some fantastic red wines across our entire range, and the 2021 Kiss Shiraz sits at the very top of that tree. Whilst this wine is certainly enjoyable in its youth, it is destined to be regarded as a classic in years to come.

97 Points - James Halliday
"Lovely hue and depth, the bouquet full of plum and blackberry verging on outright perfume, the palate taking no prisoners with its power and purity, the aftertaste long-lasting. Sheer class, and not afraid to flaunt its wares."

Gold Medal 2023 NSW Wine Awards
Gold Medal 2023 Hunter Valley Wine Show
Gold Medal 2023 Hunter Valley Boutique Wine Show
Gold Medal 2022 NSW Wine Awards
Gold Medal 2022 NSW Small Winemakers Show

Tasting Notes

A benchmark Hunter Shiraz, displaying a delightfully deep and vibrant purple hue. The 2021 vintage has a slightly 'gentler' feel than the last few hot and dry vintages, but sits nicely in the middle of the medium-bodied spectrum.

Brilliant deep purple colour. A pretty and intriguing nose of fresh ripe dark berries and fruits; there’s couverture chocolate, red petals, Dutch licorice and exotic spice just to name a few.

2017 Kiss Shiraz

Winemaker's Comments

2017 is widely regarded as an outstanding vintage in the Hunter Valley, particularly for Shiraz. The vintage produced fantastic red wines across our entire range, and our 2017 Kiss Shiraz sits at the very top of that tree. Whilst this wine is certainly enjoyable in its youth, it is destined to be regarded as a classic in years to come.

The 2017 Kiss Shiraz was hand-picked on the 15th of February, cold soaked for 48 hours and then fermented on skins for a further nine days. The wine was then matured for 16 months exclusively in premium French oak (300L) Hogsheads. After bottling, the wine rested in the cellar for ten months prior to being released 4th May, 2019.
We held back a small quantity in our climate-controlled cellars for re-release October 2022.

​Gold Medal - 2019 Australia and New Zealand Boutique Wine Awards
Gold Medal - 2018 Royal Melbourne Wine Awards
Gold Medal - 2018 Winewise Small Vigneron Awards
Gold Medal - 2018 Hunter Valley Boutique Wine Show

Tasting Notes

A benchmark Hunter Shiraz from an outstanding vintage, displaying a delightfully deep and vibrant purple hue. Definitely in the fuller end of the medium-bodied spectrum and flush with concentrated dark blue fruits, savoury spice and a long, satiny tannin structure which encapsulates the wine in its entirety. The French oak maturation is still evident in its youth but also provides the additional structural complexity that the primary fruit intensity demands. Deliciously bright and intense as a youngster, this wine is also a belter for the cellar.