Not that long ago, if you were looking for an Australian Shiraz in the supermarket, you would leave the wine aisle and wander over to the aisle marked ‘Jams and Preserves’. Times have changed and nowadays the wines show much finer line and length. No longer are they the pimped up Cortinas of the wine world. They are E-Type Jaguars, with sleek flowing lines and stylish contours. Lower yields and earlier picking times have combined to ensure that the essence of a great Australian Shiraz isn’t lost, with lavish, hedonistic fruit still in abundance, but weight has been replaced by fruit intensity and over- ripeness has been replaced by the vibrancy of fresher, healthier grapes. This is a great example, lacking nothing in aromatic glamour, but brighter and cleaner on the palate than the bruisers of yore. 13.5% alc. Drink now-2032.

Press review:

The Australian Wine Companion: “Natural fermentation with 20% whole bunches, matured in older French oak. A super-bright crimson purple. Fully deserving of its gold medal at the 2022 Yarra Valley Wine Show, this opens with aromas of blackcurrant pastilles, boysenberries, black pepper, floral notes and a little charcuterie. Just as good on the medium-bodied, youthful and very well-balanced palate, which finishes with gently chewy, very fine-grained tannins and a little spice.” 96 points