McLaren Vale is the heart of South Australia’s wine country, and if it bleeds, it’s most likely that Shiraz would be what pours forth. This is a nice example of such a staple drink; the nose is inviting and laced with fruit, spices and oak. The palate is laden with dark cherries, raspberries and cassis, generous and intensely flavoured. Framed by soft tannins though these elements are held in check so as to not be over powering. This is an easily approachable wine, both in it’s branding and it’s flavour and will drink well now or in the not too distant future.
Past Accolades and Awards
Jeremy Pringle, Wine Will Eat Itself: A multiregional blend with 59% of the grapes coming from the large catch-all Big Rivers GI (akin to the Riverland in many ways) and 41% from McLaren Vale. Affable, unaffected gear. Blackberry pastilles and plums mostly. A little milk chocolate and spice. Not much in the way of oak, a hint of red fruited confectionary flavour. Vibrant acidity is a tad on the pointy side and there isn’t much endurance but at the price who exactly is complaining? Works just fine.
From the Winery
Sourced from a combination of established, dry-grown vineyards in central South Australia and low-yielding McLaren Vale vineyards. Wines are made and matured by Jim Zerella in McLaren Vale. Fruit is chilled before de-stemming and a cold soak for three days. Each parcel is fermented separately with the McLaren Vale Shiraz fermented in small open two tonne vessels before maturation in two to four year old oak barrels for six months. The Big Rivers component is fermented and matured in stainless steel before blending.
