While we cant name names, here's something we can tell you: the winery behind this stunning shiraz is a family owned, much loved, 5 star Halliday winery. Abounding in black fruits, coffee, white pepper, ironstone and cedar, you'll be impressed from your first sip.

The winemaking philosophy is one that aims to allow the fruit to have a full expression with winemaking and oak inputs playing a supporting role. In 2014 the grapes were hand picked then de-stemmed without crushing. The grapes were allowed to macerate on skins for two days prior to being inoculated with a selected strain of yeast. The grapes were fermented on skins until dryness (approx. 9 days) in a combination of large format French oak fermenters, concrete and stainless steel open top fermenters, with a combination of hand plunging or pump overs twice per day. The wine was pressed to a combination of mostly French (90%) and some American oak (10%) barriques, of which 50% were new. The wine was matured in barrel for 15 months prior to bottling. This wine shows the ability of the Heathcote region to consistently produce Shiraz with great intensity of flavour as well as exceptional balance. The nose shows dark plum and spice aromas, with hints of charcuterie and some more earthy notes. On the palate the wine opens with plum and cherry fruit as the main drivers, followed by smoked meats, wild herbs, earth and dark cocoa. The fine tannins build on the palate and combine with powerful fruit, to provide great length and structure for ageing.

This wine is dark crimson in colour. The nose displays notes of black currants, dark chocolate with earthy undertones. The palate is rich, with generous savoury tannins.It can be enjoyed now and will cellar well for up to 15 years.The fruit was hand-harvested from our single vineyard site, at the foot of the MT Camel ranges, north of Heathcote. The rich red Cambrian soils provide optimum growing conditions for producing this premium wine.

Brooding in style, the Mail Coach Shiraz is a medium to full-bodied wine showing dense regional fruit and impeccable balance on the palate. High-end French oak contributes to a tasty and supple tannin-profile, and together with concentrated primary fruit, ensures further complexity and development in bottle. 'This excellent current-drinking shiraz gets just a little Viognier to tickle up the spices a tad. The palate has that typical grainy gravelly Heathcote character. It's more medium bodied with a savoury edge. The palate is long and consistent. Ideal food-wine style.' - 91/100. - West Australian, Perth, 27 Jun 2013.

The Shiraz is all about balance, mouthfeel and intensity of flavour, a vintage that has wonderful appeal now but will evolve slowly but surely as Heathcote Estate has proven time and time again. The wine is exceptionally poised with characteristic layers of red and black fruits, floral notes, tar, gun flint and excellent balance and concentration. The palate is seamless, elegant and plush, with beautifully ripe tannins.

This was such a delight to taste - one of those wines that makes you wonder why Victoria doesn't quite have the global recognition for shiraz as their South Aussie neighbours. I think we're lucky enough to be looking at this 2018 right as it's finding its feet; pure fruit remains the main draw-card, but there is glimpses of maturity beginning to shine through. A layered and deeply curious wine. Blueberries and cool winter fruit sit squarely at the centre of what is a genuinely abundant affair; full and juicy. That fruit freshness is flanked by anise, vanilla, fruit leather, and cold, wet soil. A bright, shimmering example of how dually finessed and powerful Heathcote shiraz can be. This is a beauty, right in its prime.