Winemaker Notes
Shiraz with a splash of Viognier has been made for over a hundred years in Australia and certainly Cote Rotie...but Riesling? It accomplishes a similar goal as Viognier but with less alcohol and weight and more acidity and lift. 40+ year old fruit from the Pieri Vineyard in Mclaren Vale was hand picked with some pressed Eden Valley Riesling skins tossed into the ferments. The finished wine is everything you'd like its not and that is a great thing.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
The straight-up appeal is undeniable here with red plums and wild berries that fill out this approachable shiraz. Super juicy finish. A blend of 95% shiraz and 5% riesling.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Shiraz-Riesling? If Viognier works, why not Riesling? The 2017 Lion's Tooth of McLaren Vale Shiraz Riesling blends Shiraz with Eden Valley Riesling skins, resulting in a peppery, berry-laden, mouthwatering wine that sells for a song. It's medium to full-bodied, with crunchy, fresh fruit character, ripe but firm tannins and a crisp finish.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
Known for opulent red wines with intense power and concentration, McLaren Vale is home to perhaps the most “classic” style of Australian Shiraz. Vinified on its own or in Rhône Blends, these hot-climate wines are deeply colored and high in extract with signature hints of dark chocolate and licorice. Cabernet Sauvignon is also produced in a similar style.
Whites, often made from Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc tend to be opulent and full of tropical, stone and citrus fruit.