Five wines. Five different expressions of what we do.
The Barossa Wine Guide 2026 from The Vintage Journal has landed, and five Gibson wines have been reviewed and scored between 91 and 95 points.
We’re always pleased to see our wines recognised, but these results carry particular meaning.
The Barossa section of the guide was reviewed by Andrew Caillard MW, Jeni Port and Tony Love, bringing together decades of experience tasting, writing about and documenting Australian wine. More broadly, The Vintage Journal describes its South Australian Wine Guide as something that goes beyond scores, placing wine in the context of the land, people and history behind it.
That feels particularly relevant in the Barossa.
And when we looked at the five Gibson wines reviewed, we realised they tell a pretty good story of their own.
Old vines and new ideas. Barossa Valley and Eden Valley. Shiraz, Grenache and Montepulciano.
Five wines. Five different expressions of what we do.
Why The Vintage Journal Matters
Behind The Vintage Journal are some formidable names in Australian wine, including founder and publisher Angus Hughson and Andrew Caillard MW.
Andrew's relationship with Australian fine wine spans more than four decades. A graduate of Roseworthy Agricultural College, he became a Master of Wine in 1993, winning the Madame Lily Bollinger Medal for excellence in wine tasting. He was a co founding director of Langton's Fine Wine Auctions and played a pivotal role in developing the Langton's Classification of Australian Wine, which became an important reference point for Australia's fine and collectible wines.
He is also the author of numerous Australian wine books, including multiple editions of Penfolds The Rewards of Patience and the monumental The Australian Ark, his history of Australian wine. His connection to our own region is longstanding too, recognised through his appointment as a Baron of Barossa.
For us, that's what gives these reviews their significance.
They come from experienced voices within Australian wine who understand not only what's in the glass, but the vineyards, vintages and history that sit behind it.
2023 Reserve Shiraz | 95 Points
Leading the Gibson results is the 2023 Reserve Shiraz with 95 points.
The review found black cherry, dark plum and ripe dark berry fruit, alongside cola, amaro and roasted chestnut characters. Smooth and velvety on the palate, fine chalky tannins provide structure and length.
With a drinking window extending through to 2038, there's plenty of life ahead for this classic expression of Gibson Shiraz.
2022 Burkes Hill Eden Valley Shiraz | 94 Points
Same grape. Different place.
The 2022 Burkes Hill Eden Valley Shiraz received 94 points, taking us from the Barossa Valley into the higher country of Eden Valley.
Blackberry, pepper and bay leaf feature in the review, alongside firm chalky texture, generous mid palate volume and fresh mineral acidity.
The review sums up the wine particularly well:
“A cool expression.”
Three simple words that speak to why we love working with Shiraz across different parts of the Barossa region. Same variety, very different expression.
2021 Barossa Australian Old Vines Shiraz | 93 Points (Yet to be released)
Then there are the old vines.
Our 2021 Barossa Australian Old Vines Shiraz received 93 points, showing blackberry, marzipan and earthy characters alongside liquorice and espresso, with chalky texture and long, fresh acidity.
Old vineyards have always held a special place in the Gibson story.
They connect us with the generations of growers who came before us and with the remarkable viticultural history that makes the Barossa what it is today.
This wine represents another side of Barossa Shiraz altogether.
2023 The Prospect | 92 Points
Not everything we do is about looking backwards.
Sometimes curiosity takes us somewhere new.
The 2023 Prospect received 92 points, bringing Shiraz and Montepulciano together in a distinctly different expression of the Barossa.
The review highlights lifted black cherry, plum and blackberry, with liquorice, pepper, earthiness and spice. Soft, supple tannins surround youthful, plush fruit.
The verdict?
“Good drinking right now.”
The Prospect represents a newer chapter for Gibson and our continued curiosity about the varieties and blends that have a role to play in the future of the Barossa.
2024 The Duke Grenache | 91 Points
And finally, something different again.
Our 2024 The Duke Grenache received 91 points, with fresh strawberry, red cherry and cranberry alongside cola and Turkish Delight characters.
The review particularly highlights the purity of the fruit and its fine, lacy tannins.
Bright, expressive and unmistakably Grenache, The Duke brings another variety, style and personality into the Gibson story.
One Gibson Story
Perhaps that's what we're most pleased about when we look at these five reviews together.
There isn't one wine that defines Gibson.
Reserve Shiraz speaks to our longstanding relationship with Barossa Shiraz.
Burkes Hill shows what happens when that same variety finds itself in the cooler country of Eden Valley.
The Barossa Australian Old Vines Shiraz celebrates vineyards with history beneath their feet.
The Prospect represents curiosity and a willingness to keep exploring.
And The Duke shows a brighter, more playful expression through Grenache.
Different vineyards. Different varieties. Different ideas.
But behind each is the same approach that has shaped Gibson over the past 30 years: understanding where our fruit comes from, respecting the vineyards we work with and remaining curious about what comes next.
Five wines. Five different expressions of what we do.