Recently well regarded in a major national Cabernet Challenge, this is old school Coonawarra magic that ties together a fulfilling set of regional and varietal highlights, the typical mint, and eucalyptus notes encouragingly subtle. The savoury elements pick up black olive paste to add layers of gastronomic interest, and then the power of the fruit takes over, driven by a sticky tannin feel. – Tony Love (10/01/2017 –THE HERALD SUN – Wine)

The Bowen family recently opened cabernets and shirazes from across their 40 years of operation in Coonawarra. It was great to see some of the older wines drinking so well; their first, a 1975 shiraz cabernet blend simply labelled "Claret", was still deliciously alive; the 1996 Cabernet Sauvignon is just beginning to hit its straps, after 20 years! With that in mind, you could confidently cellar this superb value, refined young 2014 cabernet for just as long – if not longer – Max Allen (01/10/2016 – GOURMET TRAVELLER WINE MAGAZINE – Wines to Cellar)

Coonawarra's reputation is firmly established for Cabernet Sauvignon however producers such as Bowen Estate are equally capable of producing Shiraz that rival some of the best from more renown Shiraz producing regions such as McLaren Vale and Barossa Valley. Still family owned and operated, this small Coonawarra vineyard has been evolving over the past 40+ years and now involves their daughter, Emma who has taken on the winemaking role whilst Doug is looking after the viticultural side of things. The Estate consists of 33 hectares of vines planted on the prized Coonawarra Terra Rosa soils. Established in 1972, the first vintage in 1975 was greeted with considerable enthusiasm. 2014 celebrates the 40th vintage of Bowen Estate wines. Rich and boldly flavoured this is a powerful rendition of Coonawarra Shiraz expertly crafted by the team at Bowen Estate. (01/06/2016 – Nicks Newsletter #784 – 96 Points)

"Doug Bowen tends the vines and daughter Emma makes the wines. Much-love, distinctive reds sit at the burly end of Coonawarra's generally elegant style. In the warm 2013 vintage, that means an inky deep, ripe expression of cabernet. Remarkably, despite the wines power and richness, it retains pure cabernet varietal flavours, reminiscent of cassis, with no sign of porty, over-ripe character. It's saturated with deep, luscious fruit flavour and, despite its 15.5 per cent alcohol content, retains Coonawarra's distinguishing elegant structure." Canberra Times – Chris Shanahan - Top Drops

"The colour is dense purple-red; the bouquet is subtle but clean and ripe with smoky, toasty oak and ripe black-fruit aromas. It's very full-bodied and coats the tongue with tannin. Powerful, concentrated and emphatic, the dark fruits, violet and licorice flavours melded with masses of tannin. Long-term." Huon Hooke - www.huonhooke.com – 93 points – 4.5 stars

"The Bowen family may be considered by some as quaintly old-fashioned. They still use corks, for heaven's sake, on their finely crafted Coonawarra reds. They only make three wines in total while others have range upon range, and their back labels do not contain a single flowery tasting note. What you always get from the Bowens, however, is handcrafted wines full of ripeness, balance and personality – and this new release from a very good vintage is no exception." Sunday Examiner – Tasmania – Winsor Dobbin

"Nose reminiscent of fruit cake with fine floral aromatics with similar characters following through on the palate. Some svelte tannins. Nice acidity and dark chocolate element." Winestate Magazine – Worlds Great Shiraz Challenge Tasting: 5 stars (Equal Top)

"A Bowen Estate cabernet sauvignon to put a smile on your face.
In some ways it's effortless and easy-going - Claret-like - but it's all class through the finish. This is a good look for Bowen cabernet. Seamless, finely tannic, full of sweet redcurrant-like fruit and kissed by cedary, smoky, clovey oak. It's medium-weight and quite perfectly pitched." Campbell Mattinson – Winefront March 2014 94+ points

"Coonawarra shiraz with the throttle open. Generosity is not to be questioned. Sweet redcurrant, red cherry and plum notes, laid on. Alcohol warmth holds the hand of these flavours at all times, as do regional mint and dried herb notes. There’s an aniseedy note to the finish." Campbell Mattinson – Winefront March 2014 91 Points

"Family-owned Coonawarra wine producers Bowen Estate are unashamedly old-school in their approach. Doug Bowen still tends the vines, wife Joy runs the office and daughter Emma makes the wines, which in 2012 are of outstanding quality. The range is tiny, wines are still bottled under cork, the labels contain minimal information and there is little or no promotional push other than the sheer quality of what is in the bottle. In 2012, I thought the shiraz just edged out the cabernet sauvignon - but only by a whisker. It's a big wine at 15% alcohol but it handles it beautifully with inkiness leading on to ripe blackberry/dark plum flavours, dark chocolate, oak and spice notes. Great flavour; good structure." Winsor Dobbin – Winsor's Choice March 2014

"2010 may go down as a stand-out vintage for Bowen Estate reds. The bouquet is complex, savoury and nicely formed with earth, oak, walnut characteristics. Excellent depth of flavour and structure with smooth, well managed tannins." 95 Points – 5 Stars - Huon Hooke - Gourmet Traveller – WINE – June 2012

"The 2010 Bowen Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is about rich, elegant and balanced flavours, the hallmarks of a classic Coonawarra red." John Fordham – On the Grapevine – Sunday Telegraph, Sydney – March 2012

"2010 is a stand out vintage for Bowen Shiraz. Deep, bright colour; lots of berry-fruit aromas and a lick of mint; good density and depth of flavour and smooth, fleshy tannins and succulent fruit. Alcohol, an issue in some recent vintages of this wine, is balance." 93 Points – 5 Stars - Huon Hooke - Gourmet Traveller – WINE, – June 2012

"Elegant peppery nose threaded through with plum and mulberries. Soft and flavoursome palate with plenty of quality fruit in perfect harmony with the other elements." 95 points - Australia Wine Showcase – April 2012

"The 2010 Bowen Estate Shiraz offers ripe, generous spicy flavours that easily support the winemakers high rating of the variety in Coonawarra land." John Fordham – On the Grapevine – Sunday Telegraph, Sydney – March 2012