A 2015 Shiraz from McLaren Vale, Australia. Aged for 18 months in French oak barrels. These winemakers are one of the top biodynamic producers in Australia. Like most Australian wines I've had, the aromas jump out of the glass. Black pepper, blackberry, plum, vanilla, chocolate. There's a green component you don't often get with Shiraz like green bell pepper and grass. Thick, chewy, buttery, creamy, chocolatey. The tannins have some grit, producing a long finish of chocolate and mild black pepper. 14.5% alcohol. A very good example of Australian Shiraz.

Screw cap. Lovely fragrant nose of ripe dark berry, blackberry, white pepper, and floral with subtle smokiness, olive tapenade, and meatiness. It's full-bodied and dry with cool minty herbs, medicinal, dark berry, black raspberry flavours. It has juicy, well-balanced acidity, and smooth, well-structured, and fine-grained tannins. Somewhat palate-warming at 14.5% abv, but still well balanced. Black raspberry, pepper spice, and subtle minty notes linger on the long, smoky, minerally finish. Tasted Dec. 2022. Score: 91+ pts

January 2019

I was unable to get much on the nose. If anything stood out, it would have been a hint of green pepper. I can say that it had a firm tannin that became softer as it had a chance to breathe. I was tasting some dark fruit and dark chocolate on the finish.

I do recommend that this wine be decanted one hour before drinking.

2015 vintage Tasted April 2019

Biodynamically frown McLaren Vale Shiraz here, complete with super-ripe blackberry fruit, well tuned oak, and high alcohol (14.5% declared, I bet it is at least 1% higher). Highly extracted style, though not quite as over the top as some Aussie shiraz from years gone by, and some slightly unbalanced acidity on the finish (they acidify these wines in warmer climes). Anyway, well made though not really my cuppa. Still some on the shelf despite a long ago price reduction. Tasted Sep2018.