The name Stump Jump surprisingly has nothing to do with cricket - though this is a wine that will knock you for a six - and more to do with the invention of the Stump Jump Plough; one of South Australia’s more significant gifts to the rest of the world. The other may very well be Shiraz, and this is a prime example of that.
A nose that’s packed full of berries, dark chocolate (the fancy 70% kind) and a sprinkling of spices. There's the same ripe red fruit on the palate, with evidence of something floral and a twist of fresh black pepper. The tannins are finely grained with d’Arenbergs trademark earthy characters balancing out the more free-wheeling aspects.
It is rumoured that the inventor of the Stump Jump plough, which enabled a ploughshare to jump over tree roots, had poor eyesight and required regular tests to ensure he could still operate machinery. The design of this label is inspired by an optometrist's eyechart and serves as a makeshift sobriety test. If you can hold the bottle at arm's length and still read the front label, you can enjoy another glass.
The grapes used in this wine are mostly from very old bush vines, and underwent gentle crushing, traditional open tank fermentation, basket pressing and oak maturation prior to bottling.
A wet winter ensured good sub soil moisture and set up the vines well with healthy canopies. Spring was very dry with above average temperatures, a heavy downpour in January was a welcome relief. Mild conditions during the ripening period produced wines that show an abundance of spicy fruits with great colour, richness and balanced tannins. Vintage started on 30 January, the earliest start on record by one day.
Pound for pound one of the best value Australian Shiraz you'll encounter. The Stump Jump Shiraz always punches well above its weight and the 2015 version is no exception. The aromas and flavours present as a mix of dark and red fruits - plums, mulberries, blackberries and raspberries. Add to this a healthy dose of rich liquorice and slightly earthy notes, along with a subtle lick of vanilla and baking spice.
The mouthfeel is creamy and succulent with just enough tannin to prop the wine up, presenting long and fresh, effortlessly avoiding falling over short of the mark. What a complex and complete wine for the price point, delivering upon release with an expectation to drink well over the next 2 to 5 years.
Don't Pay: $16.00
WBW Rating: 93/100
Closure: Stelvin
Region: McLaren Vale, SA
Winemaker: Jack Walton
Drink now until: 2022
Alc/Vol: 14.3 %
