Wirra Wirra Catapult Shiraz 2012
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We fulfilled Trott's ambition when we had our very own trebuchet built in 2010. While we don't bomb our neighbors with wine bottles, we do hurl watermelons into a neighboring paddock. Just because we can. Oh, and this is where the Catapult Shiraz gets its name.
Vivid red in color with brilliant purple edge. Fragrant aromatics displaying plums, red fruits and blue berries. The bright fruits are complexed by attractive florals and musk, violets and phenol spice. Lively fleshy plums, red currants and blueberries provide a plush palate with great depth. The bright fruits are balanced by fresh acid, fine cedary oak and fine silky tannins. The wine finishes with luscious fruits and a wave of spice.
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It was the late Greg Trott who transformed Wirra Wirra Vineyards into what it is today in McLaren Vale in the southern tip of South Australia. McLaren Vale is highly regarded for its Shiraz style: ripe, spicy savory and sleekly structured. Trott's vision for the winery was probably equal to his sense of humor, as he envisioned a large catapult on the property (especially good for tossing watermelons) and this wine was named for that imaginative device. Big, generous plum and a touch of white pepper engage, sending up spiced blue and black fruit. A touch of Viognier brings in floral tones. Silky espresso tannins sweetened by milk chocolate on the finish has us over the moon.
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Wine Enthusiast
Representative of the solid values that may be found from Australia for about $20, this medium- to full-bodied Shiraz offers a blend of cherry and plum flavors, with savory elements of mocha and roasted meat. It’s slightly dusty on the finish, making it food-friendly, ending with hints of cocoa and coffee. Drink now–2018.
Other Vintages
2018-
Suckling
James
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Suckling
James
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Wirra Wirra Vineyards was originally established in 1894 by known South Australian eccentric and cricketer Robert Strangways Wigley. The winery prospered in its early days, producing many wines including a much acclaimed Shiraz, which was exported to England and the Empire until his death in 1926. The winery ran into disrepair and was eventually abandoned. In 1969 under the watchful eye of the late Greg Trott and his cousin Roger, the winery was rebuilt from the remnants of two walls and some slate fermenting tanks. As with all subsequent Trott endeavours, it was the sheer magnitude and unlikeliness of the project that made it so attractive.
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.