Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The full-bodied, opulent 2016 Carnival of Love Shiraz kicks off with scents of mint, raspberries, plums and dark chocolate. Those notes unfurl across the palate in slow-moving, velvety waves of flavor, picking up hints of anise, cinnamon and vanilla on the lingering finish. It's one intense, languorous rush of flavor and richness.
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Wine Spectator
Strikes the right balance between dense, dark flavors and a juicy, vibrant note. Apricot, cherry and raspberry flavors are pure, ripe and expressive, mingling well with Earl Grey tea, sarsaparilla and orange zest accents. The tannins are concentrated and a tad rustic on the finish, adding a charming chewy element. Drink now through 2027.
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.