The strength of the recommendation and geographic proximity meant we didn't have much choice about visiting Woodlands.
Subsequent checking revealed the place was a Halliday five-star, so while it wasn't on my list of places to visit it could well have been had there been something on the website to spark interest.
As it was, a flying visit, a chat to a knowledgeable attendant and a sampling of the range had me signing up for the mailing list and heading off with a bottle of the 2008 Emily Special Reserve (5/5 $39.50) in tow.
It's a small range, but highly impressive, from the entry-level 2009 Cabernet Franc Merlot (4.5/5 $20 or $16.50 in a case). It was a luxurious, dense style that comes through very late on the palate.
That assessment continued through the very similar, but slightly more rounded 2008 Cabernet Merlot (4.5/5 $23 or $19 in a case) through to the Reserves, which punch up comfortably into the mid-nineties on the old points range.
It looked like an operation that will be featuring in the wine rack for the next few years.
Stop #3 at Brookland Valley might be bordering on usual suspects territory. But Madam is partial to the Verse 1 range, I wanted to try the Estate range, and it was Halliday's 2009 Winery of the Year.