Gundog Estate’s Indomitus range has always been built on thoughtful experimentation — wines designed to challenge the usual expectations of their variety and invite a genuine sense of discovery in the drinker.

The name says as much as the wine: Indomitus is Latin for untameable, wild, unconquerable, and each release embodies that spirit in its own direction. This year’s trio — Albus (white), Rosa (rosé) and Rutilus (red) — has drawn some of the most enthusiastic critical response the range has yet seen.

2025 INDOMITUS ALBUS

Made from 100% Hunter Valley Semillon sourced from the Hollydene Estate vineyard in the Upper Hunter, alongside Brycefield and Tinkler’s School Block, the 2025 Albus continues the Indomitus tradition of pushing Semillon into unfamiliar territory. Cloudy juice is fermented with naturally occurring yeast in both tank and barrel, with a portion left on skins for 175 days — a process reviewers have described as everything from left-of-centre to simply irresistible.

“This is a powerful white wine wrapped inside a delicate visage. It’s an extraordinary example of winemaking sleight of hand… Everything feels exquisitely well finessed but then there’s a body of flavour on show too. In the end it’s all just wow.” Campbell Mattinson, 95+ points (www.campbellmattinson.com)

“Brush up on your Latin and at the same time enjoy a Hunter Valley semillon with a difference. It’s complex, a touch exotic in a good way, creamy in texture and nicely restrained. Falls completely, beautifully, into the Indomitus school of winemaking a la Gundog.” Jeni Port, 94 points (www.winepilot.com)

“A compelling, delicious, multi-layered and distinctive wine that redefines the boundaries of what Hunter Valley semillon can be.” Halliday Wine Companion, 94 points (www.winecompanion.com.au)

“Winemaker and owner Matt Burton says it best: ‘a somewhat unlikely, but very endearing, white wine.’ The result comes together with finesse, retaining the light brightness of Hunter Semillon with additional power and complexity.” Rob Geddes MW, 94 points (www.robgeddesmw.com)

2025 INDOMITUS ROSA

The 2025 Rosa is a 100% Sangiovese rosé from the Freeman vineyards in the Hilltops. After twelve hours of skin contact, the juice ferments cloudy in seasoned oak, then spends six months on lees — built for texture and complexity rather than the pale, crisp style rosé drinkers might expect. Critics have responded to it in kind.

“You’d be hard pressed to find a better rose. This is seriously good. It’s pale, savoury, seamless and textural, with grip to the finish and a long, beautiful, smoky aftertaste… It’s a terrifically food-friendly style and, plainly, terrific in quality.” Campbell Mattinson, 96 points (www.campbellmattinson.com)

“Prepare yourself for a dark, savoury, textural walk to the other side of rosé where a wild Hilltops sangiovese dwells… It’s one serious rosé and should be a good ager, too. Oh, and it’s a natural with a wide range of foods.” Jeni Port, 93 points (www.winepilot.com)

“A considered Rosé, it’s a far cry from the commercial, chill-hard, crisp styles many desire… Fine spices ripple along on a persistent finish, but I’m here for the thought-provoking delivery. Bravo!” Qwine, 94 points (www.qwinereviews.com)

“Dried strawberry, tobacco, watermelon, charred lime, red apple skin, caramel, rosewater, vanilla bean, blood orange and an inherent varietal earthiness. The aromatics carry through to the palate, emboldened and textured.” Regan Drew, 93 points (www.vinonotebook.com)

2024 INDOMITUS RUTILUS

The most ambitious step yet in the Indomitus story, the 2024 Rutilus blends Shiraz (57%), Tempranillo (29%) and Grenache (14%) from Hilltops vineyards, fermented in open-top tanks and matured for fourteen months in seasoned French oak puncheons. It’s Gundog Estate’s first major move into alternative red varieties — driven equally by curiosity and by an eye on the region’s changing climate — and reviewers have called it one of the strongest releases across the range.

“Winemaker Matt Burton is in his happy place with the Indomitus range revealing an inner creative flair… A lovely wine nicely restrained in structure and savoury tannins and finishing on a savoury sour cherry high note that zings.” Jeni Port, 96 points (www.winepilot.com)

“Gundog Estate has hit it out of the park with its Indomitus range this year. This is a truly beautiful red wine; each of its component parts feel synergised with the other… It’s a ‘Must Buy’ proposition.” Campbell Mattinson, 95 points (www.campbellmattinson.com)

“I like how these grape varieties are working together — with plush sweet dark fruited Shiraz lifted by red Grenache touches and wound up with more spicy Tempranillo influences… Fascinating and delicious.” Angus Hughson MW, 93 points (www.winepilot.com)

“Inky fruit, fine tannin profile, great length of flavour, evocative perfume… You’d meet this at a bistro or cool wine bar and be very pleased.” Mike Bennie, 93 points (www.winefront.com.au)

THOUGHTFUL EXPERIMENTATION, PROVEN

Indomitus Albus, Rosa and Rutilus are now available in extremely limited quantities via the Gundog Estate cellar doors in Pokolbin and Gundaroo, online here, and through the Gundog Estate Wine Club.