Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz 2022 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is the latest vintage of an always terrific Australian Shiraz that arrived at the LCBO as part of the recent November 30th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Wakefield Wines, which is known as Taylors Wines in Australia. This family estate winery was established near the Wakefield River in South Australia's Clare Valley in 1969 by Bill Taylor Sr. and his two sons. The Taylor family worked as wine merchants, but desired to have their own vineyards and create their own, authentic, and estate-grown wines. By 1969, they settled on a site near the Wakefield River and established Taylors Wines.

Today, Wakefield Wines is led by brothers Mitchell, Justin, and Clinton, the third-generation of the Taylor family, the sons of Bill Taylor and grandchildren of Bill Taylor Sr. The brothers continue their family's tradition of crafting delicious wines that stand the test of time, while also firmly fixed upon the future and the next generation. The family's philosophy is to craft wines sustainably and responsibly, while respecting the fruit and where it comes from. Their goal is to be Australia's best wine company at applying best practiced principles in environmental management to enhance sustainable business activities and products. They also favour the most innovative techniques to improve energy efficiency, water conservation, and packaging, while also preventing or eliminating waste and pollution. Through a holistic approach to environmental management, they aim to achieve sustainable land and biodiversity management outcomes for both the present and future. Taylors Wine is also a founding member of Australia's First Families of Wine, which was formed in 2009.

Wakefield Wines has several ranges of wines in their portfolio, with this wine coming from their premium Jaraman range, which celebrates Australia's iconic wine regions which provide great diversity. With the Jaraman range, the Taylor family searches for parcels of extraordinary fruit which they can use to showcase the distinctive regional characters and style for each grape variety. The fruit for Jaraman wines is sourced from celebrated wine regions in Australia that are renowned for producing particular varieties. At the winery, the winemaker at Wakefield ensures that the distinct regional characteristics of each variety are preserved and enhanced, while also making sure that the fruit is the star of the wine, and any winemaking influence only plays a supporting role. Respecting the fruit is a core value at Wakefield Wines, and the Jaraman range showcases the skill and dedication to this core value.

While the previous vintage of this wine - the 2021 Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz - was nearly equal parts of fruit from Clare Valley and McLaren Vale, this latest vintage is 100% Shiraz with 72% Clare Valley fruit and 28% McLaren Vale fruit. Traditional vinification methods were used to craft this red wine, with parcels from the two regions kept separate until blending prior to oak ageing. The wine was matured for an average of 12 to 15 months in a selection of new and used American oak hogsheads and then bottled.

The 2022 vintage in Clare Valley was a year of both high quality and quantity as the crops basked in the mild, sunny days without any rain or humidity. The stunningly beautiful weather provided uninterrupted and idyllic conditions that were more typical of the better vintages during the 80s and 90s. In McLaren Vale, it was a slightly different story as inconsistent fruit set reduced yields by about 15%, which likely explains the reduction of McLaren Vale fruit in this cuvée. The growing season featured mild conditions of warm days and cool nights, with minimal rain and no heat spikes. The end result produced some of the best McLaren Vale reds in years with vibrant wines having supple tannins and bright, natural acidity. From a mostly cool and very good vintage, let's see how this 2022 Shiraz from Australia is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

WAKEFIELD JARAMAN SHIRAZ 2022 - Clare Valley / McLaren Vale, South Australia (#377036) (XD) - $24.95 $21.70
Screw cap. The fragrant, medium+ to medium-high intensity nose has plummy dark fruit, mulberry, blackberry, and black cherry aromas alongside savoury oak, chocolate, clove, and subtle Asian spice notes. The medium+ bodied palate is dry with delicious mulberry, brambly, plum, blackberry, sweet spice, clove, and chocolatey oak flavours in a slightly jammy profile. It is quite firmly structured on the palate, with smooth, ripe tannins. Gently tangy acids are crisp, juicy, and succulent, while the chocolatey oak, plum, and earthy notes linger on the long, well-structured finish. Recommended buy to enjoy into the early 2030s. Score: 89 pts

Other lovely Wakefield Wines can be purchased at the LCBO, or through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz 2021 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review, and my first wine of 2024, is this lovely, premium Australian Shiraz that returned to the LCBO last month in the December 16th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by the renowned and well-respected Wakefield Wines, also known as Taylors Wines in their home market in Australia. The estate winery was established in 1969 by the Wakefield River in Clare Valley, South Australia, by Bill Taylor Sr., a wine merchant who was inspired by Bordeaux wine producers and had a vision of crafting his own family estate wines that rival the best in the world.

Today, the family-owned estate is led by the third generation of the Taylor family - brothers Mitchell, Justin, and Clinton - as they carry on their grandfather's tradition of staying true to their core values of quality, authenticity, and craftsmanship. The Taylor family continues its dedication to crafting wines of exceptional quality by using innovative winemaking techniques, while also implementing sustainable viticultural practices. As stewards of the land, the Taylor family is committed to sustainability in both rural and urban settings, as well as on land and in the sea. Their love for winemaking, keen eye for detail, and commitment to excellence have made Wakefield Wines a renowned producer of some of Australia's top wines.

Wakefield Wines has several ranges of wines, and this particular red wine is from their Jaraman range, which consists of this wine, two other reds, and a Chardonnay. As Australia's iconic wine regions provide great diversity, with the Jaraman range, the Taylor family seeks out parcels of extraordinary fruit to craft wines that showcase their distinctive regional characteristics and style. The grapes for Jaraman wines are sourced from celebrated Australian wine regions that are renowned for their particular variety. At the winery, the winemakers ensure that the distinct regional characteristics are preserved and enhanced, with the fruit playing the leading role in the wine, while any winemaking influence plays only a supporting role. Jaraman wines showcase the skill and dedication of the winemakers towards their philosophy of respecting the fruit.

Like the 2020 Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz that I enjoyed a couple of summers ago, this red wine from Australia is crafted with 100% Shiraz from fruit grown in both Clare Valley (54%) and McLaren Vale (46%), a blend that has been more or less the same for several vintages now. The individual parcels were kept separate during the vinification process and after fermentation, the wines were matured for an average of 12 months in used coopers’ American oak hogsheads, with 30% in 1-year-old casks and the rest in 2-3 year-old casks. The different parcels were then blended and bottled.

Idyllic growing conditions that were slightly warmer than average were prevalent throughout most of Australia during 2021. The season was markedly calm, with a near perfect ratio between warm, sunny days and intermittent rain. In the Clare Valley, the grapes produced wines of excellent quality and high acidity, while McLaren Vale had healthy yields that were bolstered by rainfall in early February. A mild Autumn in McLaren Vale kept sugar levels at bay and helped produce grapes with strong varietal definition, concentrated aromas, and deep colour and tannins. Overall, it is a vintage rated as good-to-excellent and produced fantastic wines from South Australia.

After enjoying a different bottling of the 2021 Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz last summer, let's see how this 2021 Australian Shiraz is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

WAKEFIELD JARAMAN SHIRAZ 2021 - Clare Valley/McLaren Vale, South Australia (#377036) (XD) - $24.95
Screw cap. The fragrant and open, the medium-high to highly aromatic nose delivers rich, dark fruited, jammy blackberry, minty herb, and wood spice aromas layered over dark currant, and dark plum. It's medium+ bodied on the dry, dark, and sweet fruited palate with jammy blackberry, cedary oak, minty herb, dark currant, black pepper, black cherry, and dark plum flavours which are supported by fresh, well-balanced acidity. Ripe tannins are smooth and refined, with good structure and a mild grip. Smoky mineral notes linger on the long, savoury finish. Enjoy this recommended buy over the next 5+ years. Score: 90 pts

Other lovely Wakefield Wines can be purchased at the LCBO or through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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d'Arenberg The Stump Jump Grenache / Shiraz / Mourvèdre 2019 (McLaren Vale) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a delicious GSM blend from McLaren Vale in Australia that arrived at the LCBO last month as part of the recent August 19th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by d'Arenberg, a well-known and highly regarded winery situated in McLaren Vale, South Australia. It was established in 1912 by Joseph Osborn when he planted his first eight acres of Shiraz vines on the property. The same year, Joseph was joined by his third child, Frank Osborn, who left university to take up life on the land. Joseph also sold his stable of prize winning horses to purchase the d'Arenberg property, which was originally named Bundarra.

In 1913, Frank Osborn harvested his first vintage at the Bundarra property in McLaren Vale, with grape prices reaching an unheard of price of £20 per tonne. After several years serving in the army, Frank married Helena d'Arenberg in 1920. A year later, Jane Antoinette (Toni) Osborn was born, followed by the birth of Rowen Frederick Osborn in 1924. In 1926, Helena Osborn died after giving birth to their third child, Francis d'Arenberg Osborn, who was also always known as d'Arry.

After encouragement from Sam Tolley, Frank's brother-in-law and wine industry mentor, in 1927 Frank decided to build a winery and produce his own wine. Frank spent some time learning about winemaking, while Sam was largely responsible for building the winery. In 1928, Frank Osborn produced his first wines, which were labelled "Bundarra Vineyards by F. E. Osborn & Sons". Production ceased in 1942 due to Frank's health, but resumed when d'Arry Osborn left school at the age of 16 to join the family business in 1943 and work at the winery full-time.

Modernization began during this period when the first tractor with rubber tires was purchased in 1946, followed by electricity and the electrification of the production area in 1951. In 1959, d'Arry Osborn launched his own wine label with a distinctive red stripe, while also designing the family crest that has the Latin words "Vinum vita est", which translates to "Wine is Life", and the fertility symbol in the top right corner of the crest, and grapes in the opposite corner.

On a day that was hailed as a good start to the financial year, Chester d'Arenberg Osborn was born on July 1, 1962. In 1963, they purchased their first hydraulic basket press and a year later they built their first tasting room. To this day, traditional winemaking methods are still used, with all of the wines basket pressed and all the red wine ferments foot trodden. In 1965, d'Arry received a letter from another well-established winery who had applied for trademark protection for the name "Bundarra", and by mutual agreement, d'Arry agreed to let the name go and stop using the Bundarra name.

The name change didn't hinder progress or success, as d'Arenberg had to build another tasting room to accommodate the ever increasing number of visitors. In 1971, they installed their own bottling line. Starting in the late 1960s, d'Arenberg was awarded many trophies and awards for their wines.

d'Arenberg's success continued when Chester Osborn, the fourth generation of the family, took over as Chief Winemaker, focusing his efforts on producing high quality and distinctive wines, while also reducing yields in the vineyards by eliminating fertilization and minimizing irrigation. d'Arenberg is also focused on natural and environmentally-friendly philosophies which encourage strong root systems that penetrate the soil, which in turn results in lively tannin structures, soil characters, and fine minerality. Moreover, all d'Arenberg estate owned and leased vineyards are NASAA Certified for organic and biodynamic processes. d'Arenberg is also a founding member of Australia's First Families of Wine.

This particular red wine is from d'Arenberg's "The Stump Jump" range of wines. The name comes from a rumour that the inventor of the Stump Jump plough, which enabled a ploughshare to jump over tree roots, had poor eyesight and required regular eye tests to ensure he could still operate machinery safely. The label design of The Stump Jump range is inspired by an optometrist's eye chart and serves as a
makeshift sobriety test - if you can hold the bottle at arm's length and still read the front label, you can enjoy another glass. There are half a dozen wines in the range, and this particular wine is a blend is approximately equal parts Grenache and Shiraz, with Mourvèdre completing the blend. The grapes used to craft this blend were mostly from very old bush vines that underwent gentle crushing and were fermented in traditional, open tank fermenters, followed by basket pressing and maturation in oak prior to bottling.

During the 2019 growing season, winter was quite dry with sporadic light showers that didn't penetrate the soil very deeply. Although bud burst was impacted, it was managed with irrigation. During spring, a strong wind event at the time of flowering upset some of the growth, especially in Shiraz, while summer was hot with an extreme heat wave and a record high temperature of 46.6°C. Yields were down on most varieties. However, the quality was excellent, with the grapes exhibiting very typical varietal characteristics. From what is classified as a good vintage, let's see how this 2019 McLaren Vale GSM is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

D'ARENBERG THE STUMP JUMP GRENACHE / SHIRAZ / MOURVÈDRE 2019 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#173294) (XD) - $17.95
Enclosed by screw cap, this GSM blend has a fresh, medium+ to medium-high intensity nose that offers lovely black pepper, spice, raspberry and blackberry aromas layered over earthy and meaty notes. It's full-ish bodied, dry, and sweetly fruited with ripe dark red berry, blackberry, black raspberry, black pepper, oak spice, earth, and meaty flavours which are supported by fresh, well-balanced acidity and smooth, firm, and somewhat grippy tannins that are youthful. Some minty herbal notes on the mid-palate. Savoury with cedary wood spice and earth notes linger on the finish, with very good length. A solid, highly recommended buy to enjoy over the next few years. Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines by d'Arenberg can be found at the LCBO (with some in very limited quantities), while the whole portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Churchill Cellars.

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Wakefield Jaraman Chardonnay 2021 and Shiraz 2021 (Australia) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wine reviews are a pair of lovely, consistently well-made wines from Australia that are arriving together this weekend in the June 24th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection and will be widely available across Ontario by this Saturday.

These wines are produced by Wakefield Wines, an Australian winery situated in the Clare Valley wine region in South Australia that is known for producing premium wines and gained a reputation for its commitment to quality and craftsmanship. It was established in 1969 by Bill Taylor Sr., a renowned wine merchant who was inspired by the producers of Bordeaux and had a vision of crafting his own family estate wines that rival the best in world. The family found the perfect plot of land on July 20, 1969, by the Wakefield River in South Australia's Clare Valley and began their quest to establish a family estate. Just as Neil Armstrong took mankind's first steps on the moon on this day, Bill Taylor Sr. took his first steps on this land to create his family estate wines.

Today, Wakefield Wines is led by brothers Mitchell, Justin, and Clinton, the third generation of the Taylor family. Together, they carry on their grandfather's tradition and staying true to their core values of authenticity and craftsmanship. The Taylor family continues its dedication to crafting wines of exceptional quality, while also implementing sustainable viticultural practices and embracing innovative winemaking techniques. The Taylor family has successfully continued Bill Taylor Sr.'s vision as representatives of Wakefield Wines and the Clare Valley. Their love for winemaking, keen eye for detail, and commitment to excellence have made Wakefield Wines a renowned producer of top Australian wines.

Both of these wines are from their Jaraman range where Wakefield searches for parcels of extraordinary fruit from celebrated Australian wine regions that are renowned for a particular variety to craft wines that showcase their distinctive regional characteristics and style. The winemakers ensure that the distinct regional characteristics are preserved and enhanced, with the fruit acting as the star and any winemaking influence the supporting act. With skill and dedication, the winemakers at Wakefield maintain their philosophy of respecting the fruit.

From a near-perfect vintage, let's see how this 2021 Chardonnay and Shiraz wines from Australia are tasting tonight...

Tasting Notes:

WAKEFIELD JARAMAN CHARDONNAY 2021 - Adelaide Hills/Clare Valley, South Australia (#18921) (XD) - $24.95
Crafted with Chardonnay from Adelaide Hills (61%) and Clare Valley (39%) fruit, the free-run juice was fermented in French oak (60% new and the rest in a combination of 2 and 3 year old) barrels. It was aged for 8 months in French oak before both regional parcels were blended and prepared for bottling and enclosed by screw cap. The medium-high intensity nose is rich and fragrant with lovely stone fruit, apple, lemon citrus, pear, and buttery aromas accented with flinty mineral and vanilla oak spice notes. It's medium-full to full-bodied on the rich palate with lovely, ripe, lightly honeyed flavours of apple, lemon citrus, pear, and vanilla oak spice. Clean and well-balanced with fresh, juicy acidity, it's also nicely textured and lightly spicy on the mid-palate. Flinty mineral and vanilla notes linger on the long, very satisfying finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

WAKEFIELD JARAMAN SHIRAZ 2021 - Clare Valley/McLaren Vale, South Australia (#377036) (XD) - $24.95
This Shiraz is crafted with fruit from Clare Valley (54%) and McLaren Vale (46%) and matured for an average of 12 months in a mix of coopers' American oak hogsheads (30% 1 year old and 70% 2-3 year old) before being bottled by screw cap. Fragrant, perfumed, and highly aromatic, this has a lovely, spicy, dark fruited nose of ripe blackberry, dark currant, dark cherry, minty herb, and oak spice, with savoury undertones. On the ripe, medium-full bodied palate it is dry and spicy with blackberry, dark cherry, savoury wood spice, and pepper flavours backed by juicy, well-balanced acidity and smooth, supple, and gently grippy tannins. Dark fruited, spicy, peppery, and savoury earth notes linger on the long, balanced, and well-structured finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines by Wakefield Wines can be found at the LCBO or through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz 2020 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is the latest vintage of a consistently well-made Australian Shiraz that arrives at the LCBO this weekend as part of theme on Southern Hemisphere wines in the June 18th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Wakefield Wines was founded in Clare Valley in 1969 by Bill Taylor Sr. and his two sons with the goal of producing estate wines. Today, Wakefield is owned and operated by the third generation of the Taylor family and produces wines not only from estate fruit, but also sourcing fruit from growers in Australia's iconic wine regions. This red wine is from their Jamaran range, where the Taylor family seeks out parcels of extraordinary fruit from renowned regions to craft wines that showcase the each varietals distinctive regional characteristics and style.

Like previous vintages, including the 2019 Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz that I enjoyed last August, this Shiraz is crafted in a roughly 60/40 split of fruit from Clare Valley and McLaren Vale. With the 2020 vintage, exactly 60% of the fruit is from Clare Valley, and the rest from McLaren Vale. The 2020 growing season in Clare Valley started with challenging weather events that included spring frosts at budburst and then hot and windy conditions during flowering. Wild weather arrived at the start of summer from searing heat and bushfires to heavy rain and chilly, gusty winds. Weather conditions returned to relatively normal in February and March, progressing to a smooth and steady harvest. While it was a tough year for growers in Clare Valley, the fruit quality was high. Conditions in McLaren Vale were similar and characterized as a "tale of two summers" with the first part of summer searingly hot, while the latter part unusually mild and much cooler than normal. Let's see how this 2020 Australian Shiraz is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

WAKEFIELD JARAMAN SHIRAZ 2020 - Clare Valley/McLaren Vale, South Australia (#377036) (XD) - $24.95
Screw cap. The lifted, fragrant nose offers lovely minty herbal notes backed by mocha chocolate, ripe dark berries, sweet vanillin oak, and earth with a touch of jammy and black pepper spice notes. It's medium-full bodied, slightly warming, and very ripe on the palate with black-blue fruits, mocha, vanilla, black pepper, and earthy oak spice flavours. Acids are fresh, juicy and saliva-inducing, while the refined tannins have a pleasing, subtle chalky grip. Minty dark berries and mocha linger on the persistent finish. Recommended buy. Score: 88+ pts

Other delicious wines by Wakefield are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Mitolo Jester Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (McLaren Vale) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from McLaren Vale. A frequent visitor to the LCBO for many years now. I recall enjoying 2008 vintage of this wine back in 2010, while the latest vintage should be arriving on shelves across Ontario this weekend as part of the March 19 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Originally from Abruzzo with a viticultural ancestry, the Mitolo family moved to Australia in the 1950s to become successful market gardeners. After years of working in his family's potato business, Frank Mitolo started making wine for family and friends. In 1999, after a legendary 5-hour discussion with winemaker Ben Glaetzer, the pair fashioned a dream of making the ultimate expression of McLaren Vale's rich provenance of soils. Mitolo Wines was formed with a six word business plan on the back of a napkin: individuality, integrity, quality, purity, elegance and power, and the first wine was a 2000 G.A.M. Shiraz that was named in honour of Frank's children Gemma, Alex, and Marco. Ben is part of the well-known Glaetzer family that has a long lineage of viticulture and winemaking within the Barossa Valley, and uses a hands-off approach in the winery, while also working closely with the growers of Mitolo wines - the Lopresti family.

Mitolo works closely with its growers, the Lopresti family, who are also from Italy and old friends of the Mitolo family. Don Lopresti, a Calabrian, started planting his vineyards in the coastal Aldinga McLaren Vale in 1975. Today, Don works closely with his sons Joe and Michael to fastidiously maintain the 200 acres of vineyards to produce the style Mitolo is renowned for. The Lopresti vineyards are sandwiched between the Gulf St Vincent and the nearby Willunga Hills, known as the Clay Plains of Aldinga, where the soils are of heavy, grey loams mixed with black 'Biscay' clay overlying ancient Ngaltinga formation that was formed one million years ago in the Pleistocene age. Winter rains soak deep into the clay and hold the moisture deep in the soil, and when the soils have dried out, the ensuing cracks create positive stress on the vines as they strive for energy and concentrating fruit flavours.

This Cabernet Sauvignon is from Mitolo's Jester range of wines. The Jesters of the Courts of Europe had one motivation - to entertain the household of a nobleman and their guests. A modern entertainer, the Jester is able to excite, tell stories at any dinner table, and are the life of the party. Ultimately, the Jesters - and these wines - are there to remind us not to take life too seriously.

Crafted with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% of the fruit was dried on racks for approximately 7-8 weeks in the Italian Appassimento style. From vineyards located at the southern end of McLaren Vale on heavy clay soils, close to the seaside town of Aldinga, the combination of cool sea breezes and gully winds provide the ideal conditions for growing powerful fruit with intensity and balance. Yields were down compared to the 2017 vintage, but quality was exceptional. Let's see how this 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon from McLaren Vale is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

MITOLO JESTER CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#43224) (XD) - $19.95
100% Cabernet Sauvignon with 20% of the grapes dried in the Appassimento style. Screw cap. The medium+ intensity nose has ripe black currant, and cassis aromas joined by spices, mocha chocolate, dried herbs, and whiffs of crushed rock. On the dry, medium to medium-full bodied palate it has fresh, juicy acidity that supports the ripe black currant, dark cherry, mocha chocolate, and dried herbal flavours with a slightly tangy mid-palate. Textured tannins have a supple grip. Savoury, earthy, and mocha chocolate notes linger on the fresh finish, with very good length. A bit of a crowd pleaser, a joy to sip. Recommended buy. Score: 89 pts

Other delicious wines by Mitolo are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Pirramimma Petit Verdot 2017 (McLaren Vale) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely, and perennial favourite, Petit Verdot from Australia. The latest vintage arrived at the LCBO a couple of weeks ago in the October 16th LCBO VINTAGES Release, where it was featured as part of the theme on Australian wines.

Pirramimma was founded by Alexander Campbell Johnston (ACJ) in 1892 and has been owned and operated by the Johnston family ever since. The Johnston family arrived in South Australia in 1839 and Alexander, the tenth of thirteen children, purchased 97 hectares of rich farmland southeast of the village of McLaren Vale in 1892. ACJ selected McLaren Vale because of the region's cooling sea breezes from the Gulf of St. Vincent, the Mediterranean climate, rich & diverse soil structures and quality drainage. He named his land Pirramimma, an Aboriginal phrase meaning "the moon and the stars."

Pirramimma has been handed down familial lines, with Geoff Johnston, the third generation of the family, now the custodian. Geoff is known as a "Professor of Soil", spending over 25 years converting Pirramimma's sterile land into a living organism, as well as reducing the winery's ecological footprint through various projects including solar systems, dams, and even a wind turbine. After a trip to Bordeaux, Geoff developed an interest in the Bordeaux grape variety Petit Verdot. He then planted a small area to Petit Verdot as a trial in 1983, which has now expanded to 35 acres of mature vines. Geoff Jonhston pioneered Petit Verdot in Australia, and his Petit Verdot is now considered among the best in the world.

According to Chief Winemaker Geoff Johnston, the 2017 growing season was exceptional - providing outstanding fruit quality, great colour, varietal character, ripe tannins, and length of flavour. The 2017 vintage of this wine was twenty-second release of this Petit Verdot, and the fruit for this vintage was selected from the Siberia, Eric's, OTC, Jones, and Katunga vineyards, all within McLaren Vale, with each block providing its own distinctive profile. Let's see how the latest vintage of this Australian Petit Verdot is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

PIRRAMIMMA PETIT VERDOT 2017 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#986752) (XD) - $29.95
Aged for 2 years and new and used French and American oak, bottled by screw cap, this 100% Petit Verdot is ripe, black-blue fruited and spicy on the medium-high intensity nose with aromas of black cherry, peppery spice, plum, and bramble, with savoury and earthy undertones. It's full-bodied with very good concentration on the palate with delicious blackberry, cedary oak, boysenberry, and plum flavours supported by fresh, juicy acidity and woolly, finely textured, and slightly chalky tannins. Tangy black cherry, savoury, earthy, and cocoa notes linger on the finish, with excellent length. Another lovely vintage for this recommended buy. Score: 90 pts

Find other lovely wines from Pirramimma through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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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.

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Quarisa Mrs Q McLaren Vale Shiraz 2017 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a delicious Australian Shiraz that arrives at the LCBO next weekend as part of the August 7 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Quarisa Wines was established by John and Josephine Quarisa, and their three children. They live by the belief that "Passion is Everything". John and Josephine's lifelong, energetic partnership started at school when they became high-school sweethearts. Over the years, they have grown and developed, and still work together today. John Quarisa has been a winemaker for over 30 years, receiving some of Australia's greatest accolades while working for some of the country's largest wineries. In 2005, John and Josephine Quarisa founded Quarisa Wines. This small, family-run winery crafts wines that are down to earth, full of character and approachable, attributes which are both characteristic of the winemaking style and the winemaker, John Quarisa.

Quarisa has many ranges of wines in their portfolio, and this is from their Q Series, which communicates the partnership between Johnny Q and Mrs Q. Johnny Q is hardworking, effervescent, and represents the winemaker and nature of the wines, and his wines are fresh, flavoursome, fruit driven, with consistent quality using grapes sourced from various renowned viticultural regions in South Australia. Mrs Q is the better half of Johnny Q - she is intriguing, bubbly, selfless, and enticing. Her collection of indulgent luscious wines are sourced from Coonawarra and McLaren Vale. Together, Johnny Q and Mrs Q go hand-in-hand and without one another, neither can thrive.

The Shiraz grapes for this red wine were picked in the cool of the night to retain freshness, then fermented in a combination of rotary and "headed down" open fermenters, with a portion of the juice completing their fermentation in new and used oak barrels. The wine was aged for 18 months in new and used French and American oak barrels prior to bottling. 2017 was a relatively cool and wet vintage, with mostly dry weather during harvest that produced soft, and elegant wines of high quality. Let's see how this McLaren Vale Shiraz is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

QUARISA MRS Q McLAREN VALE SHIRAZ 2017 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#12909) (XD) - $18.95
Screw cap. Intense, spicy, ripe black and blue fruited aromas joined by black pepper spice and earthy nuances rising out of the glass. It's medium-full bodied with nicely balanced dark fruit, blackberry, spice, black pepper flavours with hints of blueberry, vanilla, savoury, and earthy notes adding further complexity. It has fresh acidity and very smooth, well-knit tannins. Nicely balanced throughout with dark fruit, earth, cocoa, and even some minerals on the long, juicy finish. Quality Aussie Shiraz. Recommended buy. Score: 89 pts

Other delicious wines from Quarisa can be ordered through their Agent - Dionysus Wines & Spirits.

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Paxton AAA Shiraz/Grenache 2019 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a lovely organic and biodynamic red wine made with Shiraz and Grenache from Australia that arrived at the LCBO last month as part of the May 15th LCBO VINTAGES Release - with plenty of bottles still available across the province.

Paxton Wines is a family-owned wine company that was founded in 1979 in McLaren Vale by David Paxton, one of Australia's most highly respected viticulturalists. The Paxton family has nurtured their own vineyards in McLaren Vale for over 30 years and produced their first wine in 2000. Today, the family produces wines under direction and guidance of consultant winemaker Kate Goodman and winemaker Ashleigh Seymour.

In 2011, Paxton became a fully certified organic and biodynamic wine producer and today they are considered leaders in both organic and biodynamic viticulture and winemaking. The fruit for all of their wines are sourced from their own estate vineyards in McLaren Vale. These vineyards are spread across a diverse number of sites and soil types, all of which are managed with minimal inputs, including no synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, and focusing on promoting healthy, living soils through the use of natural compost preparation. Lastly, their concept of "terroir" includes the interaction between the vine, it's environment, and the impact of the human element with the moisture balance of the soil being possibly the major influence.

The 2019 vintage of this red wine is a blend of 60% Shiraz and 40% Grenache, with each individual vineyard parcel fermented separately in a combination of open top and static fermenters. After fermentation, the wine was aged in seasoned French oak barriques (225 L) and puncheons (500 L) for 12 months prior to blending and bottling. The growing season in 2019 experienced below average rainfall, as well as regularly very high temperatures. However, due to Paxton's proximity to the Gulf of St. Vincent (a mere 5 km), the cooling winds moderated the extreme weather events. Overall, although yields were down, the berries were intensely flavoured and had very good density, producing structured wines that can be cellared for many years.

Tasting Note:

PAXTON AAA SHIRAZ/GRENACHE 2019 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#149898) (XD) - $21.95
Screw cap. This organic and biodynamic blend of 60% Shiraz and 40% Grenache has fresh, fragrant, minty herb aromas with ripe raspberry and strawberry, red licorice, spice, and subtle wood notes. It's medium+ bodied on the palate with raspberry, cherry, strawberry, and spice flavours balanced with savoury, earthy, and some mineral notes. It has fresh, energetic acids, and smooth, refined tannins, while mineral, spice, and red berry notes linger on the long finish, with a fine mineral aftertaste. Recommended buy. Score: 90+ pts

Other lovely wines from Paxton can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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The Black Chook Shiraz/Viognier 2019 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is the latest vintage of this always popular Australian Shiraz (which includes a small amount of Viognier) that arrives at the LCBO next weekend as part of the April 3rd LCBO VINTAGES Release.

The Black Chook brand was founded with its first vintage in 2003 using premium fruit from winegrowing regions in South Australia. The Back Chook struts wines that are affordable, enjoyed and adored, shared and celebrated, and has enjoyed great success in Australia, Canada, and USA. With careful vineyard selection and an exceptional winemaking team, The Black Chook strives to have consistent varietal expression in their wines which are approachable and generous with character.

While seeking a name for this new line of wines, a black chicken - or Black Chook - stopped by and lingered around. They decided to immortalize that single Black Chook and today it can be seen scratching and pecking for grubs under the big old gum tree by the Cellar Door.

I last enjoyed the 2017 The Black Chook Shiraz/Viognier back in July 2019 and am curious to see how this vintage compares. For this vintage, the fruit was sourced solely from the premium grape growing region of McLaren Vale in South Australia. The wine region of McLaren Vale has a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters, making it well-suited to growing high quality Shiraz grapes. Although the vintage was smaller than average, the quality of the fruit was good with concentrated berries and intense flavours. Let's see how this 2019 is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

THE BLACK CHOOK SHIRAZ/VIOGNIER 2019 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#66738) (XD) - $18.95
Screw cap. This co-fermented blend of 96% Shiraz and 4% Viognier has fresh aromas of red berry, cherry, and floral aromas rising out of the glass. The ripe, full-bodied palate has a dark fruited profile of blueberry, cold cream, and peppery spice flavours along with touches of wood and floral. It has fresh, lemony acidity, while the tannins are sweet, ripe, rounded, and dusty textured. Woody, pepper, and dark berry notes linger on the finish, with good length. Highly quaffable and goes down easy. Score: 88 pts

Other delicious wines from The Black Chook can be ordered through their Agent - Dionysus Wines & Spirits Ltd.

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Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz 2017 (Australia) - Wine Review (Bottle 2)

Tonight's wine review is this consistently well-made Australian Shiraz by the ever-reliable Wakefield Wines. I enjoyed the 2017 Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz when it first came to VINTAGES in July 2019 and am pleased to see it return in time for the holidays as part of the December 12, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Produced by the Taylor family, one of Australia's First Families of Wine, at their home base in the southern end of Clare Valley, South Australia, this red wines comes from their Jaraman range of wines in which they seek parcels of extraordinary fruit to craft wines that showcase the distinctive regional characteristics and style.

This particular wine is 100% Shiraz from 60.5% Clare Valley fruit and 39.5% McLaren Vale fruit. Shiraz from Clare Valley tends to be big on flavour with hints of liquorice and excellent acidity, while also providing some structure. On the other hand, McLaren Vale Shiraz is typically full-bodied with blue fruit and hints of chocolate. Let's see how this bottle has evolved, more than one year after tasting it the first time.

Tasting Note:

WAKEFIELD JARAMAN SHIRAZ 2017 - Clare Valley/McLaren Vale, South Australia (#377036) (XD) - $24.95
Screw cap. Aromas of ripe black and blue fruit along with oak resin, wood, brown spices, and meaty notes with touches of licorice rise out of the glass. It's medium-full bodied on the slightly warm palate with flavours of blackberry, blueberry, savoury oak spice, and earthy tones with hints of white pepper. Food-friendly acids are juicy and well-balanced, while smooth, polished tannins have a fine-grained texture. Wood and savoury notes linger on the finish, with good length. More savoury than the bottle tasted last year and still a pleasure. Score: 88 pts

Many other Wakefield Wines can be found at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Gemtree Uncut Shiraz 2016 (Australia) - Wine Review

Enjoy Shiraz? Tonight's wine review is an excellent organic Australian Shiraz that came to the LCBO last month as part of the August 3rd LCBO VINTAGES Release. Surprisingly, there is plenty of stock still available, so you can get your hands on this bottle too!

It is produced by Gemtree Wines, a winery in McLaren Vale whose story begins in the 1980's when Paul and Jill Buttery purchased a plot of land named Gemtree off the narrow, gum-lined track that is Elliot Road. In 1994, some years after the vineyards were already well-established, their daughter Melissa asked to work in the vineyards. Melissa would go on to become a qualified viticulturalist, a well-regarded expert in biodynamic and organic farming, and married a boy named Mike Brown who is now Gemtree's chief winemaker and managing director.

Melissa and Mike and were both mindful about the environment and earth, and soon pursued sustainable growing and farming of grapes. After experimenting with a few blocks of Tempranillo, which included trial and error, grit and determination, Melissa started to see more life in the vineyards and a better quality of fruit. From this point on wards, Melissa was determined to farm all of Gemtree’s blocks organically and Gemtree earned full organic certification in 2011.

In 2007, to improve Gemtree’s vineyards and wines, Melissa delved into biodynamics which introduced techniques that interweave the health of the soil, vines and resident fauna and flora. Inside the winery, Mike also began testing biodynamic winemaking practices.

Tasting Note:

GEMTREE UNCUT SHIRAZ 2016 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#627844) (XD) - $24.95
Named 'Uncut' because nothing is added from vineyard to bottle. Screw cap enclosure. This organic Shiraz has a fresh and highly aromatic array of dark berry, blackberry, black pepper, meaty, savoury, and cigar box aromas with just a wisp of blackberry jam. It's is medium-full bodied on the palate with fleshy dark fruits, black cherry, licorice, pepper spice, earth, and oak spice flavours. It has a very nice, supple mouthfeel with smooth, refined tannins, while acids are juicy and well-balanced. More black pepper, licorice, and oak spice on the mid-palate, while the long, juicy finish veers towards earthy and savoury notes. Enticing stony mineral notes arrive with time in the glass. Should drink nicely over the next decade. Highly recommended buy. Score: 91 pts

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The Black Chook Shiraz/Viognier 2017 (Australia) - Wine Review

This popular red wine has come through VINTAGES many times over the years - and looking through my database I discovered that I purchased the 2007 vintage of this bottle in 2008. Tonight, I opened the latest vintage which arrived in LCBO VINTAGES on June 8th - with plenty still available for purchase at the LCBO.

It is produced by Penny's Hill, a winery located in the rolling foothills east of McLaren Vale and named after a hill that sits at the base of the site in South Australia. The project began in 1988 by Tony and Susie Parkinson when they planted 32 ha of vines facing the waters of Gulf St.Vincent. In 1993, they acquired the newly-planted Malpas Road property, followed in 1996 by acquiring the adjacent, highly prized hay-producing paddock that was planted to vines and named Goss Corner. In 1998, the original Goss family homestead, "Ingleburne", was added to the Malpas and Goss properties to reconnect what had originally been one entire holding.

Today, Tony Parkinson still maintains ownership and management of the business, and joining him is his younger son, James, who is learning the vineyard ropes, and his elder son, David, who is a filmmaker and contributes much to the aesthetics of the enterprise.

The Penny’s Hill Cellar Door chook house is home to The Black Chook brand’s namesake, and the original "Black Chook" can be seen scratching and pecking for grubs under the big old gum tree. The fruit for the Black Chook range of wines are sourced from some of South Australia’s eminent wine regions and are made to be affordable, enjoyed, shared and celebrated. The Black Chook Shiraz/Viognier is sourced from McLaren Vale and Padthaway as both regions have very consistent climates, which helps produce some of the best Shiraz in Australia and work together harmoniously in the final blend.

Tasting Note:

THE BLACK CHOOK SHIRAZ/VIOGNIER 2017 - McLaren Vale/Padthaway, South Australia (#66738) (XD) - $18.95
A blend of Shiraz (96%) and Viognier (4%) that was co-fermented, while vineyard parcels were vinified and matured with suitable oak separately to best express the nuances of each block. The final wine was blended together after 12 months of oak ageing. Screw cap. Fresh, plummy, black cherry aromas mingle with peppery spice and oak notes, and just a hint of floral. It is medium-full bodied on the palate with dark currant and dark berry flavours, along with hints of pepper and oak spice in a dry flavour profile. It has soft, refined tannins and juicy acids. Wood and pepper spice notes linger on the finish. Score: 87 pts

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Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz 2017 (Australia) - Wine Review

After enjoying the 2016 Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz earlier this year, I am delighted to try the 2017 vintage of this wine tonight that will be arriving in LCBO VINTAGES on July 6.

It is produced by Wakefield Wines and within their Jaraman range of wines they search for parcels of extraordinary fruit to craft wines that showcase their distinctive regional characteristics and style.

The growing season leading up to the 2017 vintage in Clare Valley was rather wet and, in fact, the wettest recorded since 2000. Soil temperatures remained very low due to the waterlogged conditions, and below average ambient temperatures resulted in later budburst. However, weather conditions during flowering were favourable and, hence, fruit set was good across all varieties. Harvest began in late February and continued through early May. Overall, the winemakers at Wakefield declared the vintage to be an above average vintage in terms of quantity and quality.

In McLaren Vale, winter and spring saw above average rainfall, leading to full soil profiles. Like in Clare Valley, cooler than average temperatures led to delayed flowering and veraison, which also meant that harvest was also slightly delayed with very few vineyards picked in February. The weather during March & April was stable, with warm and dry conditions and little rainfall. Overall, the winemakers reported the reds to be lively, bright, spicy, vibrant, and elegant.

Compared with the 2016 vintage, the 2017 has a bit less fruit from Clare Valley, with the blend consisting of 60.5% Clare Valley and 39.5% McLaren Vale. The grapes were gently de-stemmed and fermented in small static stainless steel tanks using Shiraz-specific yeast isolate. Gentle pressing occurred in a mixture of American oak hogshead and barriques (30% 1 year old, 70% 2 to 3 year old) for secondary malolactic fermentation, and upon completion was transferred back to barrel for maturation before being fined, filtered, and bottled in August 2018.

Tasting Note:

WAKEFIELD JARAMAN SHIRAZ 2017 - Clare Valley/McLaren Vale, South Australia (#377036) (XD) - $24.95
Screw cap. Medium+ intensity nose delivers blackberry pie, plum, dark cherry and spice with hints of violet and mint. The fresh medium+ bodied palate offers more spice notes surrounding a core of blackberry, plum, and dark cherry flavours. Acids are fresh, while tannins are smooth, refined and textured. Finishes on the woody side with a touch of bitter dark chocolate. Very good finish length. Score: 88 pts

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Paxton MV Shiraz 2016 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Australian Shiraz that arrived at the LCBO last month as part of the May 25 LCBO VINTAGES Release - and plenty of bottles are available across Ontario.

It is produced by the Paxton family that has been winegrowing since 1979. Founder and owner, David Paxton, is also one of Australia’s most highly respected viticulturalists as he and his family have been nurturing their own vineyards in McLaren Vale for over 30 years. In 2000, the family released their first wine under their own label - a 1998 Paxton Shiraz.

Today, wines are made under the direction and guidance of Richard Freebairn Paxton to produce a range of estate grown wines under the family label. The range features an approachable collection of wines that showcases the quality of fruit and varietal expression from McLaren Vale. David Paxton and his team strive to minimize inputs and manage the Paxton vineyards biodynamically - whereby vineyards are farmed without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, and with a focus on promoting healthy, living soils through the use of natural compost preparation. Inside the winery, the family practices minimal interventionist winemaking to ensure the integrity of the fruit from vineyard to bottle. In 2011, Paxton Wines became a fully certified organic and biodynamic wine producer.

Tasting Note:

PAXTON MV SHIRAZ 2016 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#327403) (XD) - $19.95
This biodynamic wine was matured in French and American oak. Screw cap. Quite intense on the nose with lovely savoury, blackberry, earthy, and meaty aromas with hints of black pepper, licorice and oak. It is full-ish bodied on the palate with finely-grained and structured tannins. Nicely textured with juicy acids freshening the palate. On the flavour profile, there are blackberry, licorice, cedar oak spice, and vanillin notes with some peppery hints, all of which lingers nicely on the long, balanced finish. Recommended buy. Score: 90+ pts

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Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz 2016 (Australia) - Wine Review (Bottle 2)

Tonight's red wine is a frequent arrival in VINTAGES and was recently featured in the December 8 LCBO VINTAGES Release. It is currently available for purchase in the VINTAGES section at many LCBO outlets across Ontario.

Wakefield Wines is a family-owned and -operated winery located in the southern end of Clare Valley, South Australia. Wakefield is also a member of Australia's First Families of Wine, a group of twelve of Australia's oldest and most respected family-owned, multi-generational wineries who collectively have over 1,380 years of winemaking experience.

I reviewed this delicious Shiraz back in August and am curious to see if this bottling, which is enclosed with a screw cap, has changed much over the last 5 months.

Wine Review/Tasting Note:

WAKEFIELD JARAMAN SHIRAZ 2016 - Clare Valley/McLaren Vale, South Australia (#377036) (XD) - $24.95
Screw cap. Dark berry, mint, pepper and spice aromas waft from the glass with some jamminess. It is a touch confected on the full-bodied palate with smooth, silky tannins and fresh, lively acids supporting the minty, blueberry, dark berry, cocoa, and spice flavours. Some chalkiness arrives mid-palate. Smooth berry, mocha, and earthy notes linger on the juicy finish, with very good length. Aussie Shiraz lovers will like this. Score: 88 pts

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Wine Reviews from August 5, 2018 Birthday Party

Last month, we held a birthday party for my toddler daughter and a few of her close friends. And for the adults - there was wine!

The dry rosé was easily the most popular wine at the party, while the Riesling and Shiraz were a close second. All three wines are fairly recent releases to VINTAGES, so you should be able to pick up a bottle at your local LCBO. Full wine reviews are provided below.

Tasting Notes:

GÉRARD BERTRAND CÔTE DES ROSES ROSÉ 2017 - AP Languedoc, Midi, France (#373985) (XD) - $18.95
Glass enclosure. The medium+ intensity nose has appealing aromas of grapefruit, citrus, spring meadow and herbally notes. On the medium+ bodied palate, it has clean and crisp acids with nice texture. Herbally and grapefruit flavours on the dry flavour profile. Touch honeyed, with some bitterness on the long finish. Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah. Enjoy over the next 18 months. Part of the VINTAGES Essentials collection and released as part of the May 12 LCBO VINTAGES Release. Score: 89 pts

REDSTONE LIMESTONE VINEYARD SOUTH RIESLING 2016 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#381251) (M) - $19.95
Screw cap. Lovely limestone mineral and petrol aromas mingle with white peach and citrus. It's medium-sweet with nicely balanced acids and flavours with white peach, orange zest, citrus, and green apple flavours with hints of mineral. Tart fruited, lip-smacking finish, with very good length. July 21 LCBO VINTAGES Release. Score: 89 pts

DANDELION LIONESS OF MCLAREN VALE SHIRAZ 2016 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#357475) (XD) - $21.95
Full wine review here.

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Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz 2016 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is an Australian Shiraz that arrived in LCBO VINTAGES on June 23rd.

Like the 2016 Wakefield Cabernet Sauvignon that I enjoyed in June, this red wine is produced by the family-owned and -operated Wakefield Wines. This particular red wine is part of their Jaraman Collection - a selection of premium wines that represent the celebration the regional diversity, bringing together two of Australia's finest wine regions in a single varietal wine.

This is a blend of 63% Clare Valley fruit and 37% McLaren Vale fruit. Clare Valley experienced low, but timely, rainfall, while flowering conditions were ideal. Combined with the vines being stress-free heading into winter, this led to the vintage being called one of the greats. In McLaren Vale, there was low rainfall leading up to the growing season, as well as lower than average rainfall during vintage and long dry spells in between. However, intense rainfall over two days in early February helped increase yields. Overall, it was fairly dry year in McLaren Vale, which is ideal for Shiraz.

Tasting Note:

WAKEFIELD JARAMAN SHIRAZ 2016 - McLaren Vale/Clare Valley, South Australia (#377036) (XD) - $24.95
Screw cap. The richly spiced nose has aromas of blackberry, dark cherry, mocha chocolate, and vanilla oak with hints of black plum. It is full-bodied on the richly concentrated and ripe palate with blueberry and blackberry fruit flavours. There is some jamminess on the flavour profile, but it's backed by earthy, mocha, and savoury notes with hints of pepper spice, putting the jamminess firmly in the background (which I like). Acids are fresh, while tannins are smooth, supple and well-integrated. Very good finish length. Score: 88 pts

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Dandelion Lioness of McLaren Vale Shiraz 2016 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is an Australian Shiraz that recently arrived in LCBO VINTAGES on June 23rd.

Dandelion Vineyards is a unique fusion of vineyards and vignerons. The wines represent decades of experience, blending the fruit of old vine gardens with the finest traditions of artisan winemaking, while also allowing the unique character of these vineyards to express their terroir.

The grapes for the Lioness of McLaren Vale Shiraz are sourced from Angus and Helen Tuck's vineyard located in the subregion of Bakers Gully, in the foothills of McLaren Vale. These are mature vines are grown on ironstone pebble laden clay loam, over ancient Kurrajong Formation geology, a silica cemented conglomerate most suited to grow Shiraz.

Tasting Note:

DANDELION LIONESS OF MCLAREN VALE SHIRAZ 2016 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#357475) (XD) - $21.95
Hand-picked and pressed in whole bunches, and raised in 20% new and 80% older French Oak barriques for 18 months. Screw cap. The medium-high intensity nose offers aromas of black plum, blackberry, jammy, black peppercorn, and oak spices with some jamminess. On the medium-full bodied palate, this has vibrant acids and nice black peppercorn and blue fruit aroma replays in a dry flavour profile, with jamminess firmly in the background. Rounded tannins are ripe, dusty, and smooth. Black peppercorn and chocolate notes linger on the long finish. Score: 88+ pts

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