Frankland Estate - Sunday 26 April 2026
13 Frankland Estate Current & New Releases
“Frankland Estate has emerged as one of the great vineyards of Australia.”
- Huon Hooke
“Frankland Estate is one of Australia's greatest wine producers with a thirst for excellence.”
- Mike Bennie
“Frankland Estate is a superb, family-run, ecologically
sensitive estate in a beautiful, extremely isolated location.”
- Jancis Robinson MW
“The Riesling and Syrah are exceptional.”
- Ray Jordan
“One of the great, shining stars of the Great Southern wine region,
and undoubtedly a leader in the Frankland River subregion. … certified organic, …”
- Erin Larkin, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“Frankland Estate are one of the handful of Great Southern wineries that are re-inventing the region’s quality and imagery.
….From what has been a very good region, … they are helping create one of the new world’s most exceptional.”
- John Jens
A rare & serious Frankland Estate line-up.
Hosted by Hunter Smith, second-generation family vigneron
Sunday, April 26th
Lunch:12-3pm,13 wines & 4 Courses $135
Masterclass: 4-6pm, 13 wines & Kate Lamont’s Nibbles $65
Dinner: 6.30-9.30pm,13 wines & 4 Courses $135
Frankland Estate Overview
Frankland Estate is one of those rare producers whose wines feel deeply connected to the place they come from. Founded in 1988 by Barrie Smith and Judi Cullam, after time spent working in Bordeaux and inspired by the early observations of Dr Harold Olmo, the estate has become one of Australia’s great cool-climate wine houses. Set deep in the Frankland River region, it has built its name through organic farming, meticulous vineyard work and a long-held belief that the best wines are those that speak clearly of site.
Today, with Hunter and Elizabeth Smith carrying the family story forward and Brian Kent guiding the winemaking, Frankland Estate continues to produce wines of purity, tension and quiet authority. Whether it is Riesling, Syrah or the brilliant Cabernet Franc-led Olmo’s Reward, this is a line-up that shows exactly why Frankland Estate has become one of the most admired names in Australian wine.
Adapted from Frankland Estate website materials, James Halliday (Halliday Wine Companion) &
Erin Larkin, “Western Australia, Great Southern: Frankland Estate,” (Wine Advocate).
Frankland Estate’s 1997-2019 International Riesling Seminars.
Germany’s Dr. Ernie Loosen (far left) as a panel member at a
Frankland Estate 200 guest International Riesling Seminar.
Judi Cullum’s extraordinary gift to Australia’s Winemakers and riesling lovers. Almost nobody knows of Frankland Estate's Judi Cullum’s tireless and
significant efforts on behalf of Australian riesling.
She wished to promote both riesling and her home Frankland River wine region and so, from an isolated vineyard in the middle of Western Australia's vast Great Southern, she organised a series of the wine world's greatest international winemaker and winery names
to host Australian based riesling tastings.
After much planning and contacting people worldwide (pre reliable internet in the Aussie bush) she hosted the first Frankland Estate International Riesling
Tasting in Melbourne in 1997 (3000 km from her home - which is four hours south of Perth.)
The next events that Judi orchestrated, biennially, in either Sydney or
Melbourne till Covid, typically hosted 200 trade, wine writers and winemakers. Tastings comprised of 25 to 30 international rieslings at each of the two-day seminar’s four sessions - along with Riesling associated meals.
Growing numbers of overseas winemakers and writers began to attend. For the inaugural event, five or six of Germany’s most famous winemakers arrived and, at later events, up to 15 overseas winemakers attended each seminar - from Austria, New York’s Finger Lakes region, Germany, Australia’s wine states ... and from New Zealand.
Many Australian Wine reviewers attended as did overseas critics such as the doyen of Riesling internationally, the UK's Stuart Piggott, Jancis Robinson and Sarah Ahmed MW, Bob Campbell MW from New Zealand and Poh Chiong from Singapore (China’s best known wine writer at the time.)
The winemakers and wineries from overseas included the who’s who of the riesling world - names such as Dr. Ernie Loosen from Germany, the Salomon family from Austria and the Donnhoff, Gunderloch, Robert Weil, Georg Breuer families, and the famous JJ Prum family attended, all from Germany, and Framingham from New Zealand. The wines came from these same regions.
On the consumer level, and with the support of the Jim Barry and Pike riesling families in the Clare valley and with more support from NZ’s Framingham winery, a third day was added to the program. The attending wineries, and others, opened their finest wines, well over 400 of them, for a day of ‘The Celebration of Riesling’ for up to 800 wine lovers – in one venue!
The irrepressible Judi, with husband Barrie, organised and drove these events.
The many Frankland Estate seminars have been the most generous and game changing gifts
ever given to Australia’s riesling lovers.
Thanks Judi and Barrie.
E&OE, … JJ
The Wine List & Menu
First Course
Frankland Estate ‘Estate’ Riesling 2025, Our Price $30
“High-end stuff. Juicy and bright; a zingy citrus core in red apple, tart green pear, gingery notes, mint leaf, chalky minerality and a general sense of tartness. It's very well balanced, composed, controlled and long lived. Finishes with a gentle, palate-staining intensity and residual freshness. Lots of true-to-variety riesling scents and flavours, heaps of joy and general vivacity; just a straight-up banger of a drink.”
94 Points, Mike Bennie, Halliday Wine Companion, Jan 2026.
94 Points, Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot, Feb 2026.
Frankland Estate ‘Isolation Ridge Vineyard’ Riesling 2025, Our Price $53
“Brisk, bright acidity makes for a well-structured wine laying the groundwork for a youthful, concentrated Riesling... The palate is taut but nicely textural, too, with lime zest and juiciness to the fore before finishing on a lemon pastille note, clean and tangy.”
93 Points, Jeni Port, Wine Pilot, Feb 2026.
Frankland Estate ‘SmithCullam’ Riesling 2023, Our Price $63
“From the famous Isolation Ridge vineyard at the Estate, planted in 1988, this wine is only made when the vintage is good enough...”
97 Points, Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot, May 2024.
“An off-dry style, and a portion is usually aged on lees in old oak and the rest in stainless-steel tank. This is lovely...”
96 Points, Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion, Aug 2024.
Shark Bay whiting, tempura, lemon, fennel
Second Course
Frankland Estate ‘Estate’ Chardonnay 2025, (New Release) Our Price $33
Gnocchi, mushrooms, green peppercorn
Third Course
Frankland Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2023, Our Price $33
“What a joy this wine is. Soft and slippery and a touch powdery in texture, a lot of perfume, a juicy, bright and fresh feel to taste. Blueberry, mulberry, sage leaf, sea spray, light clove and cedar notes, subtle choc-licorice, raspberry nougat going on in scents and flavours. Oooh, yeah. Such pleasure-zone stuff here, such a wonderful, easy drink.”
92 Points, Mike Bennie, Halliday Wine Companion, Jan 2026.
92 Points, Jeni Port, Wine Pilot, Feb 2026.
Frankland Estate Small Batch ‘Franc’ Cabernet Franc 2024, Our Price $33
“A riesling bottle for a frisky, energetic red feels pretty apt, and so we have one here. Sheesh, this drinks a treat. Sleek and lighter weight despite the alcohol percentage on the bottle, the cavalcade of alpine herb, maritime greenery, dried seaweed and saline minerality makes for freshness in cranberry, mulberry and blueberry fruitiness. A light juiciness and a shimmer of flint and slate tannin add complexity. This is such a ripper drink, and shows the intent of complexity. By the way, this goes OK with a chill, too.”
95 Points, Mike Bennie, Halliday Wine Companion, Jan 2026.
Frankland Estate ‘Olmo’s Reward’ 2022, Our Price $84
“Wow... after just a few minutes open, the perfume rising from the glass is breathtaking. It's reminiscent of a redcurrant and herb reduction. Showing layers of mulberry, anise and earthy red dust aromas too. On the palate, this is a wine of length, persistence, harmony and panache. It's supple, with long-lasting evolving flavours and a gentle extract that coats the mouth. A rare super-premium example of an Australian 'Bordeaux blend' where cabernet franc (90 per cent) is the dominant variety.”
96 Points, Paul Edwards, The West Australian,Apr 2025.
“…As always, this is smart and stylish. It promises a wave of aromatics and flavour, delivering all in harmony: blood plums, licorice, warm earth, ironstone, Asian salted plums, dried herbs and more besides. The fuller-bodied palate is caressed by textural tannins and fine acidity. Complex and classy. Lovely.”
96 Points, Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion, Jul 2025.
95+ Points, Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate, Nov 2024
Twice cooked lamb, green pea pesto, buttermilk and leafy greens
Fourth Course
Frankland Estate ‘Isolation Ridge Vineyard’ Mourvèdre 2023, Our Price $33
“One of those wines you keep drinking because it’s delicious and, while it’s a fancy wine for a barbecue, it’s a perfect match. Shows off more pepper this vintage while still retaining its spice, earthiness and ferrous characters. There are pops of plums and cherries yet it's distinctly savoury, the tannins textural, pleasingly drying on the finish and with plenty of acidity to keep it buoyant.”
95 Points, Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion, Jul 2025.
Frankland Estate ‘Estate’ Shiraz 2023, Our Price $30
“An impressive red from the wonderful 2023 vintage... This is a spicy, red-fruited gem.”
94 Points, Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot, Feb 2026.
“The thing you get with this is a sense of pure shiraz fruit. An effortless drink, soft and plush, dark cherry, mocha, cola, salted licorice, mint leaf, clove, but in all that a wonderful harmony, a pleasing and raspy grunt of tannin, the core all sloshy and fun. It's so pleasing here, does well for the variety, and the entry fee is very well judged. Right on.”
92 Points, Mike Bennie, Halliday Wine Companion, Jan 2026.
92 Points, Jeni Port, Wine Pilot, Feb 2026.
Frankland Estate ‘Isolation Ridge Vineyard’ Syrah 2023, Our Price $53
“This snaps, crackles and pops with all the right aromas and flavours of a cooler-climate red... Pepper and florals, ironstone and brown spices, the mid-weighted palate well-modulated with textural tannins and such juicy acidity.”
96 Points, Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion, Jul 2025.
“The 2023 Isolation Ridge Syrah is floral, sleek and spicy, with pressed incense, rose petals, petrichor and forest floor/bramble. The lovely 2023 season has imbued this wine with energy and length. The floral character of this wine feels boosted through the lens of the vintage, and the length of flavour is nothing short of phenomenal... …Frankland River is a magnificent cool-climate growing region in Western Australia's Great Southern region, one that boasts terroir capable of supporting effortless tannin structure in the red wines—most notably Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon…
96 Points, Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate, Jun 2025.
Frankland Estate ‘SmithCullam’ Syrah 2023, Our Price $106
Halliday Wine Companion Top 100 Wines 2025
“The 2023 SmithCullam Syrah is a bloody, seamless, grainy, effortless feeling Shiraz wine from Frankland River... …Very young right now, this is already irresistibly fine and succulent. It is saturated in flavour yet contained and lean...”
97 Points, Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate, Jun 2025.
“…Textbook Frankland River Shiraz, with a little tip of the hat to the Northern Rhône, maybe.”
96 Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front.
“…A joy to behold, a joy to drink.”
97 Points, Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion, Jun 2025.
Shadows of Blue, crostini, cumquat
Available to taste on side table throughout the events…
Frankland Estate ‘Small Batch’ Grüner Veltliner 2025, Our Price $33
Frankland Estate ‘Spatburg[down]under’ Pinot Noir 2024, Our Price $33