Shiraz
McLaren Vale
TASTING NOTE
The 2023 McLaren Vale Shiraz captivates with a deep, inky crimson core and vibrant purple hues at the rim, signalling its youthful vibrancy and intensity. The aromatics are inviting and layered, featuring ripe blackberry, dark cherry, and plum, complemented by delicate violet florals, a hint of black pepper, and subtle oak spice.
On the palate, the wine is generous, structured, and elegantly balanced, with concentrated dark fruits, fine-grained tannins, and bright, integrated acidity. Nuances of dark chocolate, liquorice, and gentle spice add complexity, while the silky, flowing texture carries through to a long, expressive finish, perfectly reflecting McLaren Vale’s signature Shiraz style.
RRP $28
9 days on skins with 10% whole bunch for lifted aromatics. Regular pump overs. Basket pressed to oak (mainly French) 25% new for 20 months. Vegan friendly.
Pairs wonderfully with grilled lamb, roasted beef, or game, and equally enhances rich mushroom dishes, hearty stews, and aged hard cheeses. Accentuates the Shiraz’s dark fruit, subtle spice, and silky, structured tannins for a complete experience.
94 points – Sam Kim (Wine Orbit)
“Upfront and immediately appealing, the enticing bouquet shows blackberry, star anise, liquorice, and roasted hazelnut characters with a hint of cocoa. The palate is wonderfully weighted and plump, delivering a richly textured mouthfeel, backed by layers of fine tannins, finishing persistent and velvety.”
92 points – Ken Gargett (Winepilot)
“McLaren Vale Shiraz from the highly regarded Blewitt Springs sub-region, the vines are aged anywhere between twenty and fifty years. The team included 10% whole bunches in the fermentation and maturation was in oak, mostly French, for twenty months. 25% of the oak was new. The colour here is deep maroon. On the nose we have notes of chocolate, mushrooms, cocoa powder, plums and mulberries, with a flick of oak with the integration proceeding well. A wine of medium length through to satiny tannins, the freshness is still evident. The wine is juicy and approachable and full of flavour. It will provide delicious drinking over the next six to ten years.”