Winemaker Notes
With "The Ball Buster" and "The Wild Ride" under winemaker Bruno Tait's belt, he thought it was time he tried a new direction. He had heard so much about the Shiraz in McLaren Vale that he thought he'd check it out for himself. So, he set out to cross the border of wine regions and explore the competition. He loves his Barossa Shiraz but how would it compare with a McLaren Vale Shiraz? Well, "The Border Crossing" has worked out to be big, lush and juicy.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Offers gravelly tannins, concentrated plum notes and a chewy finish, accented by floral details of violet. White pepper aromas linger and gain momentum on the finish. Drink now through 2027.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A stark contrast to the Barossa-based Shirazes produced by Tait, the 2014 Border Crossing McLaren Vale Shiraz is full-on opulent, voluptuous and a powerhouse of black fruits and chocolate box notes. Full-bodied with lovely richness and plenty of velvety tannins to frame, it finishes with great length.
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.