To call something a ‘typical’ anything usually implies it’s a bit boring. However in the case of Shiraz and McLaren Vale it’s quite the opposite. And this is definitely a classic South Australian Shiraz, deep red, richly aromatic with plums and mulberries infused with aniseed, bitter dark chocolate, and a touch of cinnamon. There’s a slight hint of vanillin oak there too, which carries nicely into a mouth filling wine supported by dark ripe fruit. Crucially these fruits are balanced by firm tannins and a well-laid acid structure that will provide an excellent foundation for cellaring for at least the next decade.
Accolades and Awards
2014 Vintage: GOLD - China Wine & Spirits Awards 2016
2014 Vintage: 95 Points - James Halliday, Wine Companion "Darkly coloured and jam-packed with blackberry, tar, anise and a lick of dried herbs. Plush and expansive, finely grained tannins hold everything in check. Long, and requiring many years."
From the Winery
Fruit parcels of typical Woodhenge style were selected from some of the warmer, earlier ripening blocks closer to the coast: rich generous McLaren Vale shiraz fruit, with the Wirra Wirra style stamped firmly over it. Gently crushed and destemmed to open top and static fermenters, parcels were tasted twice daily by the Wirra Wirra winemakers to determine the number of daily plunges and pump overs for tannin, colour and flavour extraction.
Once pressed and sugar dry, parcels were run to oak barrels to complete malolactic fermentation. These individual vineyard parcels were racked and returned separately throughout maturation, the final selection was blended at 18 months of age. The wine was fined lightly with egg white, filtered and bottled.
Don't Pay: $35.00
WBW Rating: 94/100
Closure: Stelvin
Region: McLaren Vale, SA
Winemaker: Paul Smith
Drink now until: 2027
Alc/Vol: 14.7 %
