Best's Great Western Bin 1 Shiraz 2004

Best's Wines is one of Australia's oldest family-owned wineries, with a history dating back more than 150 years. They produce three shiraz, the flagship Best's Thomson Family Shiraz, the iconic Best's Bin 0 Shiraz and the cornerstone Best's Bin 1 Shiraz. 

"This finely crafted and elegant red delivers a pristine and penetrative mouthful of spicy, peppery Great Western fruit backed by fine-grained and slightly drying tannins."  Jeremy Oliver

"Bin No 1 is produced from Great Western Shiraz grown on our youngest vineyard, Salvation Hills situated 11 kilometres south of our historic vineyard, Concongella where the remainder of the fruit is from. Harmonious elegance is the hallmark of this wine with its definite peaks of flavour and good length. Aged in American oak puncheons, the colour is brilliant crimson while the bouquet shows fresh spicy Shiraz fruit and hints of  pepper.  Lighter in structure than its sister Bin 0, it is eminently drinkable now but under good cellaring conditions, she has the attributes to mature in the bottle for a number of years."  Best's Wines

Expert reviews

"Simply one of the most delicious early-drinking Victorian shirazes around, this finely crafted and elegant red delivers a pristine and penetrative mouthful of spicy, peppery Great Western fruit backed by fine-grained and slightly drying tannins. There's a suggestion of cracked pepper about the aromas blackberries and cassis, while the supple, silky palate explodes with brightness and intensity before finishing fine-grained and savoury. Very deft, very drinkable and sensational value. Drink 2009-2012."  Jeremy Oliver - 93 points

"I was pleasantly surprised to find the wine that was rated highest at my last shiraz tasting was one that has been around for ages, Best's Bin No 1 ('04). However, upon looking up past tasting notes I realised I shouldn't have been surprised; Bin No 1 has rated as my equivalent of a four-star wine for each of the past five years.

Typical of many a shiraz from Great Western, this is an elegant wine, but nonetheless one that fills the mouth with luscious, intense berry flavours, a bite of pepper, something I thought was eucalyptus and hints of oak it had been resting in for the past 18 months. The tannins on the back palate and the barely noticeable acidity give strong indications that this, like most of its forebears, will improve in the cellar for some time."  Jeff Gordon, City Weekly

"Blackberry, plum, pepper and spice all in a relatively warm flavour register; 18 months in French and American oak has produced a balanced and long wine. Drink Now-2012."  James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion - 90 points

About the winery

The story 

The story of Best's begins in 1866 when Henry Best purchases 30ha of land in the small town of Great Western. It was a property named Concongella. Henry planted the first vines in 1868. Best's original vineyards are among the oldest and rarest pre-phylloxera plantings in the world. The Nursery Block contains 39 varieties that are thought to be sourced from the Busby collection, Australia's first vines. A number of the vines planted in the Nursery Block have defied identification and are thought to exist nowhere else in the world. 

In the early 20^th century, Henry Best presents his wines throughout Europe and was awarded gold medals in Paris, Bordeaux, Brussels and London. Henry Best dies In 1913, age 81, and is buried in the Great Western Cemetery. 

In 1920 the Thompson Family purchases the Concongella Vineyard from the Best family. The Thompson Family had originally settled in Great Western in 1893 and purchased a winery at Rhymney (13km south of Henry Best). 

In 1961 Viv Thomson joins his family for his first vintage. In 1967 Best's Old Vine Pinot Meunier was first produced. In 1975 Viv decided to appoint the first external winemaker, Trevor Mast. Best's had grown significantly and Viv was needed to manage the company and develop relationships further afield.  

The 1992 vintage of the flagship Thomson Family Shiraz is first released in 1993 to commemorate 100 years since the Thomson family settled in Great Western. In 2000 Best's cornerstone wine, Bin No. 1 Shiraz, is made for the first time. 

In 2008 Viv Thomson hands over the reins of the company to his son Ben. In 2020 the Thomson Family celebrates 100 years as custodians of Best's Wines. 

Notable Awards 

2011 Best's Bin 1 Shiraz wins the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy at the 2012 Royal Melbourne Wine Show.

2014 Best's Thomson Family Shiraz wins the 2017 Halliday Wine of the Year.

Langton's classifies Best's Thomson Family Shiraz as 'Exceptional' and Best's Bin 0 Shiraz as 'Outstanding' in 2018

Best's awarded Best Value Winery of the Year in James Halliday's 2021 Wine Companion.

2021 Foudre Ferment Riesling wins the 2023 Halliday Wine of the Year.