2018
“2018 shows what a warm season can achieve – amazing fruit purity, yet with the classic elegance of a Margaret River Shiraz. Bright and juicy with hints of earth and spice. An excellent food wine, delicious all-year round.”
STEVE JAMES, HEAD OF VITICULTURE & WINEMAKING
TASTING NOTES
Tasting Notes
Nose: Blackberry, cherry, mulberry, earth, cedar & spice
Palate: Rich, concentrated, savoury, layered tannins
Food match: Game meats like duck or venison, aged cheeses
Oak: 12 months, French and Hungarian oak, 34% new
Colour: Bright red
VINTAGE
Vineyard Notes
Excellent budburst was followed by a beautifully warm November with great flowering and fruit set. Summer was quite mild with just a few hot days in December then cool, dry conditions. The warmer March weather saw the reds ripen beautifully and they were harvested under clear, sunny skies with ripe, concentrated flavours and excellent fine-grained powdery tannins.
RECOMMENDED CELLARING
Aging
Up to 15 years
PREVIOUS VINTAGES
Aging
Up to 15 years
Production Notes
2017: From one of our coolest, latest growing seasons, 2017 is a vibrant Shiraz displaying lifted floral aromas with bright, red and blue berry fruits, noticeable peppery spice character, earthiness and finishing with a nice savoury line. This is a distinctly lighter Shiraz than we’ve seen in recent years, with great finesse and drinkability.
2016: A dark red crimson colour. Lifted aromas of dried flowers mingle with blackberries, mulberries and sweet spicy notes of cinnamon and roasted coconut. The medium bodied palate displays fresh, vibrant blackberry and mulberry fruits with complex earthy, graphite notes and hints of spice. The fine layered tannins integrate seamlessly with nuances of cedar and vanilla derived from the restrained use of French and a hint of American oak. Drink now to 2031.
2015: From a challenging growing season with variable conditions throughout, the 2015 Shiraz is developing into a savoury, spice-driven wine. Deep ruby with garnet hues, it's dark and brooding with nutmeg, clove, roasted pepper spices dominating the nose, hints of coffee bean, toasty oak and earthiness. Quite savoury also on the palate, with dried blackcurrants and blueberries, more spice, cedary oak and fine chalky tannin on the finish. Drink now to 2030.
2014: Medium dark red crimson. An attractive bouquet of red and blue berry fruits with hints of dried flowers and spice. The palate displays layers of sweet red, black and blue fruits on the nose and palate, with hints of spice and nougat. The fine layered tannins integrate seamlessly with hints of cedar and vanillan derived from the restrained use of French and American oak. Drink now to 2029.
2013: Lifted aromatics of dried flowers with blueberries and nuances of spice lead into a medium-bodied palate displaying fresh, vibrant black and blue fruits with complex gravelly earthy notes, hints of spice and some savoury black olive elements. The fine layered tannins integrate seamlessly with nuances of cedar and vanillan, derived from the restrained use of French and American oak. Drink now to 2023.
2012: Minimal sign of development in this wine which still displays juicy, black fruit and coulis character, pepper and soft spices. Complex fruit notes and a gravelly earthiness on the palate, fine layered tannins and well-integrated oak. The 2012 vintage is remembered as one of our warmest summers and earliest vintages with above average yields producing exceptionally clean, pure fruit with great varietal expression. Drink now to 2027.
2011: An intense wine from a warm, humid growing season which display rich, ripe blackberry and mulberry fruit character with soft, sweet spice notes on the nose. The palate follows through with similarly rich fruit, structural tannins and some oak softness which will continue to integrate if cellared a little longer. Drink now to 2026.
2010: Pure, balanced and elegant. A complex bouquet of red and blueberry fruits with distinct dried flower notes and hints of spice leads to an silky smooth palate displaying berry fruits, white pepper and vanilla spice notes. A fine, cool-climate Shiraz just now starting to show notes of age. Drink now to 2025.
2009: From an unusually hot late ripening season this is a rich and concentrated Shiraz with ripe berry coulis fruit character and savoury notes of coffee bean, anise and white pepper. The fruit purity together with fine, silky tannins and excellent balance will ensure this wine will continue to develop in the bottle.
2008: A little more austere than other Shiraz vintages, yet displaying elegance and structure. Dark black fruits, hints of spice and anise intertwine with sweet vanillin and cedary oak in a somewhat fruit cake light aroma. Hints of leather and a gamey mid-palate savoury character together with soft, powdery tannins make this a complete wine. Great drinking now. Recommend decanting.
2007: Shiraz loves warmth and 2007 provided its ideal ripening conditions. This is a rich and concentrated wine dominated by ripe dark mulberry fruit, subtle vanillan oak, with some earthy, anise spice and dark chocolate notes developing nicely. Tannins are mature, silky, long and balanced. Drink now
2006: From one of Margaret River's most challenging red vintages comes this intriguing Shiraz which has retained bright blue fruit notes even as it ages. Hints of forest floor, liquorice, pepper and anise, well-integrated oak and fine, well-balanced tannins, complete the package which still has plenty of drinking enjoyment. Drink now.
Ratings
5/ ‘Its savoury characters are quite simply, brilliant.’ / 96 Points, James Halliday



