Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz 2019 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is the latest vintage of this always reliable, premium Australian Shiraz from Wakefield Wines that arrived at the LCBO earlier this month, as part of the August 7th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Bill Taylor Sr. and his two sons founded the winery in Clare Valley in 1969 to create estate wines. Today, Wakefield produces wines not only from estate fruit, but also sourcing fruit from other growers. The Wakefield's Jaraman range of wines takes advantage of Australia's iconic wine regions which provide great diversity. With the Jaraman range, the family searches for parcels of extraordinary fruit, from Australia's celebrated wine regions that are renowned for a particular variety, to craft wines that showcase their distinctive regional characteristics and style.

I have enjoyed previous vintages of this red wine, including most recently the 2017 Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz back in December. For this vintage, this 100% Shiraz is composed of 59% Clare Valley and 41% McLaren Vale fruit, which is more or the less the same composition as the 2017. In Clare Valley, the 2019 growing season experienced a lower than average winter and spring rainfall, along with some hail and frost events affected yields. There were also some extreme temperatures - the lowest temperature ever recorded in spring, as well as the highest ever temperature in the summer. However, the vines showed great resilience and wine quality is strong with intense flavours and colour. In McLaren Vale, dry conditions, plus a hail event in November, and hot weather in January and February resulted in reduced yields, but an increase in flavour intensity. Overall, while yields were down, the fruit quality is, once again, very good. Let's see how this 2019 is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

WAKEFIELD JARAMAN SHIRAZ 2019 - Clare Valley & McLaren Vale, South Australia (#377036) (XD) - $24.95
100% Shiraz from Clare Valley (59%) & McLaren Vale (41%) and aged in a mix of coopers' American oak hogsheads (30% 1 year old and 70% 2-3 year old) for an average of 12 months before being bottled. Screw cap. The highly aromatic nose is ripe with slightly jammy dark berries and spices nuanced with sweet oak vanillin and cocoa aromas. The medium-full bodied palate delivers pleasing aroma replays which are joined by black pepper spice, savoury, and earthy tones with touches of olive in a slightly warming profile, but still well-balanced. There's a fresh lick of acidity, while the finely textured tannins are slightly grippy. Some herbal complexities show up on the cocoa-dusted, savoury finish, with very good length. Enjoyable now, but should be even better in a couple of years. Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines from Wakefield Wines can be found at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Profile Wine Group, who also now offer Air Miles Reward Miles with purchase.