Shaw & Smith Balhannah Vineyard Shiraz

From Block Two at Shaw + Smith’s Balhannah Vineyard, this wine is sourced from close-planted (5,500 vines/ha), low-yielding vines established in 2005 on a north-facing site of loam over clay, ironstone, quartzite and shale. The fruit was hand-picked and sorted, then matured for 14 months in 500–600L French oak barrels (15% new), followed by a further 14 months in bottle.

Fresh and aromatic, it shows lifted florals, red fruits and subtle spice, with graphite adding definition and a hint of black olive tapenade bringing a savoury edge. The palate is finely structured with supple tannins, offering immediate approachability while clearly expressing the character of the Balhannah Vineyard.

"This is a wine of power and darkness and yet it remains elegant and, indeed, exquisite. It tastes of walnuts and plums, smoked meats, barbecued black cherries, cedar, dark soy, peppercorn and cocoa, and while there’s a boldness in play all these flavours are relayed in intimate, interwoven detail. There’s a logic to everything here; a motivation to the way each flavour bounces from one to the next. This impression is aided by the svelte, luxury nature of the texture. This is an elite wine. It’s complex, it’s seductive, and it’s compelling."
96 Points, Campbell Mattinson