Winemaker Notes
The fruit was hand-picked, and 25% whole bunches retained. Theremaining fruit was destemmed and mechanically sorted. Five daycold soak at approximately 10 degrees. Open fermenters were used,wild yeast ferment. Plunging and some gentle délestage occurred duringfermentation. The wine was kept on yeast lees in 35% new French oak and65% older French oak for 18 months. We have selected individual barrelsthat showcase the characters of the ironstone that the vine grows in.Certified organic/biodynamic.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
I was thoroughly impressed by the opulent and layered texture of the 2016 Ironheart Shiraz, a wine that in previous vintages has sometimes seemed more about structure than pleasure. It starts off with scents of cedar, menthol, plums and baking spices, then eases into a full-bodied, plush, velvety palate that delivers waves of ripe black cherries. Deep and long, it's a terrific example of McLaren Vale Shiraz that should drink well for 10-15 years.
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James Suckling
This has a very impressive array of ripe, rich dark plums and black cherries with a very intense and assertive palate that marries powdery, cocoa-infused tannins, as well as density at the finish with an air of precision. Certified organic.
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Wine Enthusiast
From a high elevation site with sandy, ironstone soils—and from a terrific vintage—this Shiraz is unlike many of its South Aussie counterparts. There are sanguine and graphite notes amid the broody black cherry, plum and vanilla aromas, plus a raw power that’s exhilarating. Alongside the muscle there’s also exceptional poise, balance and complexity. Chalky, precise tannins weave together the silky fruit. Drink 2022–2040.
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Wine & Spirits
Peter Fraser chose this 4.4-acre block at the Yangarra estate for his top selection of shiraz. A gravelly ironstone hill, it was planted 20 years ago, so it isn’t the vine age driving this wine’s elegant power, but it may be the soil, exposure and the biodynamic farming. There’s energy at its core, driving the wine’s irreverent complexity in layers of fragrance—some root, some leaf, some currant fruitiness. The clean and gentle tannins build richness, the wine already offering a sense of McLaren Vale grandeur, and suited to a decade or more of evolution in the cellar.
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Wine Spectator
Dense and muscular, featuring a core of cherry and plum flavors that mingles with fresh herb, minerally earth and espresso notes. Firm, deep, dense tannins and a whiff of freshly cracked black pepper emerge on the finish, balanced by concentrated flavors.
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.