All About Wine

A truly iconic Australian Wine is a “Shiraz”. Nothing else expresses Australian wine production as completely as “Sunshine in a bottle”, that is Shiraz. Other countries produce Shiraz or Syrah as it known in its European home, which is The Rhone Valley in Southern France, but the Shiraz of McLaren Vale is a truly unique wine easily recognized by wine connoisseurs all over the world.
Shiraz is the easiest wine to buy because there are very few that are not sound wines or good value for money. Whether they are $10 or $80 and all the price points in between, there are good, great and greater wines available. McLaren Vale has become the International Identity of Australian Shiraz. You’ll find the D’Arenberg “Footbolt Shiraz” is a very drinkable wine in the modern funky mould while the Eileen Hardy is classical, conservative and enduring. The Wirra Wirra vineyard has several Shiraz wines. “The Catapult”, which includes a touch of Viognier, creates a delightful aromatic lift to the wine as well as making younger Shiraz more accessible and approachable in its youth. McLaren Vale has more than 80 vineyards growing Shiraz, some like D’Arenberg, Seaview and Hardy’s have been around for 100 years or more, whilst others that are relatively new are only 20-25 years old. “Shingleback”, is a highly successful wine label with a Jimmy Watson Trophy to their credit, John and Kate Davey can be truly proud. There are three Shiraz Wines in the portfolio, along with a Sparkling Shiraz, two Cabernet Sauvignons and a Chardonnay. The entry level Shiraz, “The Red Knoot” has established itself as a truly delicious Bistro Style Red, generous and inviting, spicy and unctuous. “The Gate”, a little more serious sporting sombre tones on the label to suggest the long term cellar potential of the wine. McLaren Vale Shiraz will generally have good cellaring potential. The ‘Shingleback” D Block Shiraz from the 2006 Vintage has enormous potential and is a multi award winning wine. The 2006 vintage from vineyards with elevation and the limestone sub-soil will be the wines to show international guests. Look for Pirrammma, Scarpantoni, Clarence Hill, Tapestry, Hastwell & Lightfoot, Woodstock Wines, Beresford Wines and The Galvanised Wine Co which produce Blackbilly, Pennys Hill and Black Chook.
Shiraz is the wine for a Brisbane Winter. It’s best suited to slow cooked meats, stews and roasted meats and vegetables. Lamb shanks and Shiraz would impress most visiting rellies.
McLaren Vale has the good fortune of a Mediterranean climate, on shore breezes from the Southern Ocean through the Gulf of St Vincent. Seaview was named due to it’s view of the sea and the grape vines also enjoy this proximity to the ocean. The maritime climate extends the growing season which in turn increases the level of flavour and complexity in the vines and resulting wine. If you have wines also produced from low yielding old vines with barrel ferments, hand picked and pruned, controlled water and perfect vintage conditions, the wine should be great. If the wine is then made by world class winemakers, like John Duval and David Fatches, you’ve got “Songlines” and “Bylines” 2006, two of an impressive list of Iconic McLaren Vale Shiraz wines.
Shiraz is a rich fruit wine and as such requires rich concentrated foods. A typical Shiraz will be juicy with bouquet characters of ripe, dark cherry, plums, mulberries and blueberries. The palate will have soft acidity, gentle grainy tannins, blackberry and mocha and balanced cedary oak. In good cellaring conditions most will last at least 10 years but they are great to drink when they are young and vital.
McLaren Vale Shiraz is never disappointing. There are 80 wineries in the region and 3500 hectares of Shiraz vines. Search out one today. It is our iconic comfort wine for Winter.