2016 ESTATE SHIRAZ, Paringa. Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia

Mornington Peninsula is a relatively cool climate area, renowned for fine, elegant Pinot Noir. Not surprising, then, that this is a rather ‘different’ style of Shiraz.

95% Shiraz, 5% Viognier, co-fermented in open stainless steel tanks and matured for 11 months French oak barriques (10% new).

We came across this wine when we hosted Matthew Jukes’s ‘100 Best Australian’ Wine Roadshow. Matthew describes it rather brilliantly:
“This is a Shiraz style which often confuses people, but as more and more wine lovers taste this otherworldly-shaped wine they all fall for its charms. With pepper spice, a decent amount of new oak (28% new French for 18 months), and a dark, inky colour one might consider that this all, so far, makes sense. But then add to it a fruit texture that is only ever associated with Pinot Noir and a flavour which tastes like an Hermitage made from Vosne-Romanée fruit and you can imagine the confusion. Let me tell you that this is an experience that you do not want to miss though, because this is a wine like no other and it has never failed to gain immense scores in my notes.”