Stoney Goose Ridge annual report FY 2025-6

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Our 2025-26 report has been delayed by the tardiness of our external auditors – they have been reminded our efficient supply of material and will do better – if – their commission is renewed. Of course, a partial fiscal reimbursement was supplied.

While I achieved a substantial bonus, it was not as munificent as previous rounds – times are tough. Happily, for the very first time, two extended team members also reach their bonus thresholds – one from our fantastic legal department, and one of my EA’s. Well done, and of course future KPIs will be enhanced.

I pay tribute to our people –

  1. our incredibly competent and active legal team. We had a number of wins- gathering a “motza,” with many cases winding their way through the judicial pipeline. And their behind-the scenes work on taxation minimisation, and in briefs highlighting personal and corporate malfeasance of our rivals.
  2. the data analytic angels: poring over sales, satisfaction, demographics, and proving me with insights to lead and tweak products.
  3. marketing and sales folks. They are always willing to include my nudges, revisions and rebuilds of their draft campaigns; and take on my feedback on performance improvement.
  4. The “worker bees” that source, and implement my blending mastery into bottles, cans, and alternative packaging.
  5. My lean team of several PAs, stylist, personal trainer, speechwriter, driver, pilots
  6. Everyone else not mentioned, but including HR.

Our company congratulates all current team members who achieved a “satisfactory” rating including some even with a “first and final” warning. There are no regrets for the discards that fell by the wayside. Our standards are high.

Our own sales, margins etc had double-digit growth, with new markets and new products. Our DRC range debuted Chateau d’Kym; then there were our salutes to the greatest Australian sports locations with specialised regional hero wines for the MCG (Mataro, Carignan, Graciano) and SCG (Shiraz, Cabernet, grenache) which hit the mark with venue patrons. Sassy Kaya was another entirely expected sales triumph.

One of our “whales,” an avid purchase of our ultra-premium DRC range, invited me to a tasting of 18 vintages of “La Tache”. I had a schedule clash and could not try these (mostly lesser vintages anyway) but sent a complimentary consolation magnum of Salon as thanks.

Apart from my essential visits to our salesforce across the globe, the conferences, industry steering committees and TED talks, my family had short ski-ing breaks in Vail, Hakuba, Verbier (and Thredbo), plus more extended times in Com Parrot Cay, the Maldives, Biarritz and Broome.

During these difficult times, I reflect that Stoney Goose Ridge is utterly blessed by the calibre of our commercial rivals – CEO personalities like Daleks, appearances suited to radio, the drive and curiosity of browsing bovines, and talented merely at surrounding themselves with sycophants enabling their free-fall in the competitive marketplace. They seem adept at IT (insider trading) while their use – and abuse – of AI is juvenile. Often, I find their trademarks utterly worthless, devoid of credibility and their marketing “strategies” delivering further humiliation.

I am bemused by their obsessive attachments to “power brands,” “focussed private label portfolio,” “premiumisation” and their struggles to explain persistent incompetence, with weasel words, generally followed by fire-sales.

  • Asset divestment, utilisation, elevated inventory levels, and excess supply chain capacity
  • “Footprint in customer expectations,” innovative expertise, meaningful customer relevant in refreshment-led occasions
  • Talent acquisition and staffing adjustment levels

It all means I am deluged with offers of grapes, land, brands, bottled and bulk stocks, equipment, even personnel. Of course, these may be on-boarded if they fit the Stoney Goose Ridge cornucopia, provided they meet my value hurdles. This inevitably means an incredible haircut for the vendors.

But the fanatical loyalty of Stoney Goose Ridge customers – repeatedly demonstrated not just through sales, but through incredibly emotionally intense socials plus the various satisfaction metrics that we gather – means one of my critical ongoing tasks is to keep up with the irresistible demand. When I embark on my regular organoleptic trials, I am humbled by the way the teams (whether winemaking, spirits, beer, RTDs etc) regularly thank me with sustained applause, personal thanks, and amazement at my blending insights.

Mentorship of the executive team, talent procurement, personal development growth and laser focus on costs and opportunities continues relentlessly under my sublime stewardship.

Your most trusted CEO, Hector Lannible

Impressions – 2010 Sauternes (in half bottles) plus an amazing VP

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2010 Ch Guiraud 13.5%
generally 65% semillon, 35% sauvignon blanc; lots of new oak

Half-bottle (a different half-bottle was fatally oxidised). Deep gold colour; marmalade and citrus, apricots and spices, vanilla bean; texture, and persistence, user-friendly, authentic, straightforward, and looks ready.

Drink to 2033; 91 points

2010 Ch Rieussec 14%
92% Sémillon 5% Sauvignon Blanc 3% Muscadelle, 160 g/l rs

Tropical fruits, dark vanilla, spices, texture, some VA/floor polish, and just lacks the class of the wine below – it seems a bit clumsy.
Drink to 2032

2010 Ch Suduiraut 14%
90 semillon, 10% Sauvignon blanc , 145 g/l rs

Greater citrus drive and impact; brighter, supple and superbly poised.
Drink to 2040, 95 points

2017 Taylors Vintage Port 20%
Portugal

Served blind and looked very youthful; vivid, bright and deep purple – I was guessing 2011. And from a terrific producer. It’s no sin to put on a youngster that can continue merrily for decades; the mix of coloured fruits instantly led me to Portugal – dark cherry, blueberry, red plum and violets, plus a melange of assorted spices; the palate is densely, powerfully fruited, but fine tannins, and immaculately judged spirit are present; the wine is superbly fresh but has the stuffing to keep for decades. This is a “wow” wine, and I am lucky to have two bottles tucked away for future pleasure.

Drink to 2046, 96 points

Another De Bortoli Botrytis semillon pair (half-bottles)

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Experience with the style (more than 40 vintages) helps; these are not Sauternes copies; they are typically significantly richer and sweeter – but the usual food matches still work – a simple dessert, or mixed fruits, or a tea cake; or merely an indulgent drink in its own right.

Making this style of wine is full of dramas – watching the weather, testing and tasting as the grapes ripen, hoping to avoid errant (non-noble) moulds; crushing, pressing, fermenting the wine cleanly as yeasts struggle with the high sugar levels; tank and barrel maturation, blending and bottling. There’s a lot of care, and plenty of scope for little decisions that make a lot of difference.

These wines both have amazing results in meaningful wine shows, and the prices are ridiculously, ludicrously affordable for the thrilling quality and enjoyment provided by each glass. It was a terrific, luxurious exercise to try these related wines side-by-side over several evenings.

2021 de Bortoli Deen vat 5 Botrytis semillon 9.5%
Riverina, NSW

A bright gold colour; then apricot, mixed tropical fruits and cumquat; the wine is ultra-refreshing, with mixed spices and a smidge of oak showing. It has a winning, sleek honeyed texture and enough balanced acidity to carry the extraordinary sugar (250 g/l). The taste sensations linger away.  This is the “junior” version of Noble One, but no slouch in its own right. Its pleasure factor is amazing, and the price for a half bottle (under $20) is a steal.

Drink to 2033, and 92 points (I was tempted to add one point for great value)

2021 De Bortoli Noble One botrytis semillon 10%
Riverina, NSW

Again, a bright gold colour, very slightly deeper than the “Deen”; more vanilla shows, with stonefruits, white peach, tangerine, honey and sweet spices. The palate is seriously structured, with more complexity and subtlety than the “Deen”. It has greater citrus drive and persistence, with greater fruit depth and intensity. Brilliantly assembled, the oak has been absorbed by the forceful fruit; sugar (225g/l) matched by high acidity, it absolutely rewards contemplation, and is utterly enjoyable. It’s also a stimulating bargain at around $35 for a half-bottle, and given its freshness, has plenty of time ahead.

Drink to 2038, and 94 points

Catching up -Portuguese fortifieds served (blind) recently

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NV Warres Otima 10 Tawny 20%
Portugal

A bright clear light amber colour, it showed marzipan, citrus peel, some vanilla, caramel and spices. Absolutely typical tawny style, but very fresh and stylish with terrific spirit integration. I think it has some older material embedded and has been beautifully blended. Usually 10 year old Portuguese Tawny ports don’t rock me – this one overdelivered. There is a 20y/o Optima that I will trial at some stage!

Drink now, 93 points

2007 Croft Vintage Port 20%
Portugal

Medium deep ruby – 2000s? Cherry and blueberry, spices, and approachable. Too dry and tannic to be from Oz. Medium weight, cherries and other red fruits, elegant but not the world’s most complex. Maybe an LBVP or a single quinta? Then came the reveal- Crofts is not in the “first 11” of Portuguese producers, but a very reliable maker, and a surprisingly accessible wine.

Drink to 2036, 91 points

2000 Delaforce Vintage Port 21%
Portugal

Decent ruby colour, mocha, blueberry, violets, cinnamon. Good sustain on the palate with dark fruits driving along. Delaforce is another “2nd eleven” producer, but this was a nice little effort that will continue merrily, but perhaps won’t change much

Drink to 2036, 93 points

An overdue update from Stoney Goose Ridge

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Usually, unsolicited presentations from consulting firms go straight in the bin. But sometimes, the concepts are so bizarre and layered in mangled myopic managementese that I am momentarily stunned – then I move on.

Here’s one example “….specialising in reputational management, to establish new communications rhythms, involving comprehensive audit benchmarking against best-practice sector peers, with external expert objective insights. Outcomes include innovative strategic societal progression, sophisticated collaborative leadership approaches, catalysing deep change, via executive transactional support”.

For merely tens of thousands of dollars, I anticipate a bafflingly statistic-laden tome concluding with varied recommendations  especially that the firm involved would “assist implementation” – over (an unspecifed) time-frame with further surveys, tracking, and use of their “express expertise”.

No thank you. What a waste of money! And of course, our dismal rivals will be seduced by this nonsense.  I have much more important, meaningful and measurable tasks.

Stoney Goose Ridge is deeply engaged with charitable works and encourage our workforce to participate, engage and contribute. We do not support sporting teams, as this is a divisive black hole of funding and merely provides an opportunity for executive photo-ops. Furthermore most of our contributions are discretely and deliberately made anonymously.

But here’s one wine that we launched in very early April. This unique blend of Cabernet Franc and Aglianico is a powerful, yet supple multi-regional wine. While engaging (and thrilling) drinking, it has the structural integrity that will amply reward cellaring. Supporting a well-known organisation, the 2024 Stoney Goose Ridge CFA contributes $1 directly for every bottle sold. The back label also includes a QR code directly to that organisation’s website.

Another April release was my pioneering blend of Merlot, Nebbiolo and Durif. The 2024 Stoney Goose Ridge MND similarly donates $1 from each bottle sold; one of our ways to help mitigate that awful disease. It’s a wine of charm, finesse and tactility., and a proud addition to our extra-ordinary range of beers, wines and spirits, that all provide profound memories to the absolutely blessed, committed, devoted enjoyers of our product range.

Your renowned type A+ leader, Hector Lannible

Rutherglen VP-style stalwarts

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1993 Stanton & Killeen Vintage (port)
Rutherglen, 90% Shiraz 5% Durif, 5% Touriga

A stack of gold medals and trophies. Dense bricky colour, all red fruits – sweet but balanced; floral roses, and mulberry, sweet spicy brandy spirit. Terrific length, and this is right in the zone for delights, so why wait?

Drink to 2031, and 94 points

1997 Pfeiffer Christopher’s Vintage port 18.5%
Rutherglen, majority Touriga, (plus other Portuguese varieties (?)

Here’s another wine where each taste resulted in a higher score. Not the world’s greatest cork, but an easy decant (which was needed anyway), and problem solved. Christopher is the first name of the long-time eponymous winemaker, and Australian wine industry legend. Ruby coloured with some bricking on the rim; very fair for its age. Floral Swiss milk chocolate, spicy spirit, and a silky, mellow, comforting, lingering plum plus cherry plus blueberry palate, still with refined tannin support and spices, and beautiful mid-palate. It’s in no danger of failing, but mighty hard to resist its pleasures already. It’s a much drier style than most Oz efforts at the style, and all the better!

Drink to 2033 and 93 points (cork permitting)

Two countries, and less familiar fortifieds

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2013 Clonakilla Vintage (fortified) 18%
Canberra district, Shiraz

One of the curio Clonakilla small batch releases – I never knew this one existed, until I found it at auction recently. No surprise that it quality all through; good fruit and very well made.

Blackberry, very clean spirit and designed for balance not brute force; seductive chalky/ talcy tannins; palate has red fruits veering into black; not a blockbusting tannic monster; yet with the authority and gravitas of super-ripe shiraz with clever skilful spirit.

So its relatively soft but a delight; but maybe more in an LBVP style. I see a long holding pattern but no real improvement.

Drink to 2032, 91 points.

2001 Taylors quinta Vargellas Vintage Port 20.5%
A vintage port from a single site in Portugal, from a (generally) undeclared year. These can be terrific bargains.

Very crumbly cork (alas) and plentiful sediment when filtered (albeit no drama). Deep ruby colour, with some bricking. There’s the appropriate complex Portuguese mix of red, dark and more here, especially blueberry plus some dried green herbs too. Spirit is mellow, integrated and the wine is approachable. Palate is relatively soft, savoury and simpler than expected; dark cherries and blueberry (some of my weaknesses) with sweet spices. Easy, pleasurable drinking, and no need to wait – its on a holding pattern and I cannot see improvement ahead. But VFM and fun even though I purchased it many years ago.

Drink to 2030, 91 points

Two Oz rarities

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2011 Clonakilla Riesling Auslese 10%
Canberra District, screwcap (half bottle)

Light gold colour, apple, baked apple, sweet spice, stonefruits. Still fresh, with a viscous, honeyed, textured palate, peach, dash of apricot, limes, and persistence. Clonakilla’s Rieslings (from winemaker Tim Kirk) are under-appreciated, and this sweet wine (from a very wet year) surely has some complexing botrytis.  I previously reviewed this wine in 2019, and it has surpassed my expected lifespan; albeit the descriptors and score are pretty similar. Very smart, and supports a recommendation to seek out the unusual small-batch releases from Clonakilla.

Drink to 2031, 93 points

1998 Gehrig Vintage Port 18.1%
Rutherglen

Good, cork, lots of sediment; developed colour but decent for age. Not the first Rutherglen producer that comes to mind for the style, but spices, chocolate and mocha, sweet fruit (100% Shiraz) and sweet brandy spirit with some dried fruits (orange peel) in the mix. Luxurious and a little alcohol heat forgiven with the fruit concentration, as everything was in a delicious drinking window.

Drink to 2033, and 92 points.

A Mosel marvel

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2005 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel #9 7.5%
Mosel.

A great producer, a magic site, and a very smart year. Cork wet through, but all Ok. Goldkap here means it’s “more” than a standard Auslese classification. Deep but electric gold colour; quince, apricots, cinnamon, camphor, apple, honeysuckle…and blackcurrant. The palate is absolutely racy, unctuous, minerally and packed with honey, pear, spices, apple, stonefruit, tropical notes and hangs on mightily.  This wine is so fragrant, so complex, and so hedonistic that I cannot see an upside in waiting. This is very special (my only bottle alas). I tasted this wine over several nights, and kept raising the score!

Drink to 2032, 97 points

A hasty (blind) dinner tasting

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2009 Zilliken (Forstmeister Geltz) Saarberger Rausch Riesling “diabas” 12%
Mosel, 18.2 g/l residual sugar.
Pale lemon colour, ripe and fresh, off-dry (15 g/l?) spices, and nicely resolved. Holding, and drinking as well as it can. It turns out I reviewed this wine in greater detail in early 2021, but with similar conclusion – although my drinking window was “to 2025”, so the wine has surprised.

Drink to 2030, 91 points

2011 Ch Haut-Bergeron 13.5%
Sauternes
Deep gold, some harmless “floor polish” and the viscosity pointing to its origin. Apricot, quince and vanilla, some candied fruits, and a touch of green herbs. The palate is quite soft, honeyed, with very ripe stonefruits. Very pleasurable drinking, but I estimated the wine’s age to be at least ten years older, so drink up without qualms.

Drink to 2030, and 91 points

1993, and 1994 Chateau Reynella Vintage Port
McLaren Vale, South Australia

Served blind as a pair, there was discussion that the table likely had one Portuguese, and one Australian vintage fortified – although there was dissent about which was which! No problem at least with the age, which I stumped up as mid-90s. We were then kindly guided to “both from Australia, both 100% Shiraz”.

Anyway the 1993 (bottle #8243) showed initial spirit heat, spices, dark fruits, fine tannins, and camphor. It looked straighforward – correctly pushing me to Australia as its origin.

Drink to 2030, 89 points

The 1994 (bottle #8825) was a better wine; blueberry and dark cherry; better texture. Its degree of sweetness also pushed me to Australia as its source, albeit the array of different fruits misled me into think Portuguese varieties were present. Terrific drinking with many people seeking a further sample. But drink it while it charms.

Drink to 2031, and 92 points.