McLaren Vale
4.5 Star Rated Winery – By James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion
TOP 10 BEST VALUE WINERIES – James Halliday Wine Companion 2020
David Paxton has been one of McLaren Vale’s most successful and well respected viticulturalists,
spanning 40 years. He started with a successful growing business in the late 1970’s which has
evolved into the premium wine business and renown 200 acres of vineyard sites that he has today.
There are seven vineyards in the family holdings: the Thomas Block with 125 year old vines (28ha),
the Jones Block (22ha), Quandong Farm (19ha), Landcross Farm (2ha) and Maslin Vineyard
(3.5ha) and the 19th Hole and Gateway vineyards. All are certified biodynamic with conversion of
the entire estate from 2004, making Paxton one of the largest biodynamic producers in Australia.
Our winemaking style is simply described as ‘minimal intervention’ to allow the fruit do the
talking. Our wines are more restrained and elegant in approach with pronounced sumptuous fruit
on the palate. Not overly extracted or over-the-top in overall flavour and body weight. More of a
classic Rhone-style approach to Shiraz and Grenache and slightly lower in alcohol.
We are 100% estate grown fruit, from the seven single vineyard sites across our 200 acre estate,
we use a balance of new and used American & French oak. We practice minimal intervention
in our winemaking and use wild yeasts in our SVS range and some natural fining as well. We use
minimal sulphites, half the industry average and practice natural wine making principles across
the board.
Paxton Vineyards was named the AUSTRALIAN BIODYNAMIC WINERY OF THE YEAR at the 2017 Berlin International Wine Competition
Certified Organic, Biodynamic and Vegan
Visit their website here
2023/2024 Paxton Grenache
94 Points – Wine Orbit
93 Points – Wine Showcase Magazine
92 Points – The Real Review
2022 Paxton Cabernet Sauvignon
2023 Paxton AAA Shiraz Grenache
93 Points – Wine Orbit
Top Value – James Halliday
2022/2023 Paxton MV Shiraz
93 Points – Wine Pilot
91 Points – Wine Showcase Magazine
#33 BEST SHIRAZ IN AUSTRALIA – The Real Review
2024 NOW Shiraz ‘Natural Organic Wine’ – Preservative Free
2023 Paxton Tempranillo
93 Points – Wine Showcase Magazine
92 Points – Wine Orbit
#6 TEMPRANILLO IN AUSTRALIA – The Real Review
2022 Paxton Graciano
95 Points – Australian Alternative Varieties Show
93 Points – Ned Goodwin, Halliday Wine Companion 2023
2020 Jones Block
95 Points – James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion 2023
2020 EJ Shiraz
95 Points – James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion 2023