Winemaker Notes
Beautifully concentrated, the 2018 Inara Shiraz has aromas and flavors of black pepper with spicy stewed mulberry. The oak ageing has added hints of vanilla, clove and cinnamon. Fine tannins support the juicy red berry fruit.
The 2018 Inara Shiraz can be enjoyed on its own or share it with friends over a big plate of smoked barbecue brisket.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This relatively cool-climate Shiraz is reductive at first, but after some swirling in the glass the mushroomy funk blows off. To the fore floats attractive cherry and plum fruit with violets and earthy spices like bay leaf, cloves and ground anise. There’s a lifted line of acidity, vibrant red fruit and fine, taut tannins on the palate. The winemaking allows the place and variety to shine through.
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.”
As the most important area of wine production in Victoria today, the Yarra Valley is most popular for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which account for over half of vineyard acreage. A gentle, rolling and rural region alongside the Margaret River, the Yarra Valley has a cool maritime climate with a lengthy growing season, perfect for these cool-climate varieties.
Two styles of Pinot Noir are possible here. The warmer Lower Yarra Valley with sandy, loam soils, produces plush and fruity Pinot Noir while the cooler, higher-elevation Upper Yarra Valley with soils of young red basalt, produces more angular and mineral-driven Pinot Noir.
Yarra Valley Chardonnay is among the best in Australia. To preserve the floral aromatics and fresh citrus flavors for which this area’s Chardonnay is so appreciated, time in barrel is restrained (though barrel fermentation is common). The best Yarra Valley Chardonnays display brilliant acidity, leesy characteristics, citrus, stone fruit and flavors of ginger and spice.
Shiraz and Cabernet find success in parts of this region as well.