- Winery: Gibson Wines
- Wine Region: Barossa Valley, South Australia
- Variety: Shiraz, Montepulciano
- Vintage: 2023
- Price: $40
- Find it: From the winery direct and select bottle stores
- Alcohol content: 13.9%
- You’ll like this if: You want to explore something different from the Barossa
- Body: Medium
- Mouthfeel: Lively
- Taste: Vibrant, grippy, structured
- Flavours: Mulberry, Cherry, Spice
- Enjoy it with: Autumn foods
- Food pairings: Ragu, BBQ, Roast beef
Wine review: Gibson The Prospect Shiraz Montepulciano 2023
If you’re looking for a red that says something meaningful about where Australian wine is heading, the Gibson The Prospect Shiraz Montepulciano 2023 is well worth your attention. This is a Barossa blend with a purpose. Winemaker Rob Gibson has been asking a genuinely important question: how do you keep producing balanced, elegant Barossa wines as the region continues to warm? His answer is Montepulciano, and it’s a compelling one. It brings freshness and structure alongside Shiraz’s depth, keeping everything composed and grounded. The 2023 vintage had ideal conditions on its side too, with a mild, slow-ripening season that let the fruit flavours really shine. If you think the Barossa is only about Jammy, heavy Shiraz, this wine will make you think twice!
In the glass, the Gibson The Prospect Shiraz Montepulciano 2023 is vibrant and immediately inviting with lifted florals, wild herbs, mulberry and black cherry, all threaded through with subtle spice. On the palate, it opens with a solid core of dark fruit, black cherry front and centre, wrapped in a lovely spice detail that keeps things interesting sip after sip. The tannins give a gentle grip and real structure without ever crowding out the fruit. It’s a wine that rewards those who take their time with it, and whether you’re opening it tonight or tucking a few bottles away, The Prospect is the kind of find that will surprise and delight you!
About Gibson Wines
Gibson Wines is a true Barossa family story, and one that starts well before the winery was established in 1996. Founder Rob Gibson spent his formative years as a geologist, and that spirit of prospecting, of digging deeper and looking beyond the obvious, has shaped everything Gibson does. Rob is a rare triple threat too, bringing together expertise as a viticulturist, geologist and winemaker, with over 50 years of experience to draw on. This is a winery that knows the land intimately, and it shows in every bottle.
What makes Gibson Wines really special is that it’s a family affair in the truest sense. Rob and wife Anne have been joined by son Adam, with a second generation now carrying the torch and keeping that keen-eyed search for something hidden and waiting to be revealed very much alive. They call their wines Dirtborn, a nod to Rob’s geological roots and a deep connection to the Barossa that goes far beyond the surface. If you love wines that come from a place of genuine curiosity and passion, Gibson is a winery worth getting to know.
You can learn more on their website.
Note: This wine was sent as a sample. I was under no obligation to post about it.