O'Leary Walker Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Jim Barry Watervale Shiraz McGrath Foundation
Mystery Clare Valley Shiraz Deal No. 6167
This Shiraz is a luscious garnet with purple hues and displays a lifted yet intense nose of blackberry, blood plum and mocha with hints of smoky oak and some regional mintiness. It’s a medium to full-bodied wine with generous blackcurrant, blueberry and fruitcake flavours overlying fine structural tannins, subtle oak and soft acidity which will stand the wine in good stead for years to come.
Jim Barry The Forger Malbec
Electric dark purple in the glass. Aromas of cherry, violet and sage explode from the glass. Flavours of cherry, dark chocolate and bouquet garni. This luscious wine saturates the palate and fills the mouth with fine chalky tannins and a burst of purple fruit before a crescendo of cranberry juice acidy, keeping the wine fresh and vibrant.
Jim Barry The Forger Shiraz
Medium red with a purple hue in the glass, Jim Barry The Forger Shiraz opens with a brooding array of purple fruits with a hint of violet lift then countered with notes of cinnamon and sweet oak char. The palate is packed with the rich brambly fruit which follows on from the nose. Fine, chalky tannins give the wine a plush, velvety texture that fills the length of the palate. The Forger has a rich, lingering, persistent finish and is ideal for cellaring.
Taylors Heritage Release Clare Valley Shiraz
This limited-edition label, inspired by Taylors Wines very first release, celebrates both the heritage and the commitment of three generations of the Taylor family's dedication to making fine Australian wine. A soft and fleshy Shiraz boasting a lively palate of juicy red berry fruits, plum and spice, along with subtle chocolate and savoury characters from the oak maturation.
Pikes Wilfred's Block Clare Valley Cabernet Shiraz
The Pike brothers established Pikes winery in the Polish Hill sub-region of the Clare Valley in 1984, renovating an old stone shearing shed to house their winery and cellar door. Neil is the veteran winemaker (he’s done 38 vintages in Clare); Andrew the seasoned viticulturist (he spent 22 years working for big names like Wynn’s Coonawarra and Southcorp before establishing Pikes). Together they turn out formidable wines that earn plenty of show medals and critical acclaim. Their richly textured 2017 'Wilfred's Block' really is magnificent. A definitive Australian blend of inky, slatey Cabernet and sumptuous, spicy Shiraz, it’s a contemplative wine – the layers of flavour will reveal themselves slowly – and perfect for winter sipping. It will cellar well until 2032, but is still drinking beautifully now. Decant, pour into big glasses, and savour with good food and good friends.
Taylors Heritage Release Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
This limited-edition label, inspired by Taylors Wines very first release, celebrates both the heritage and the commitment of three generations of the Taylor family's dedication to making fine Australian wine. This wine shows ample varietal blackcurrant flavour seasoned with some attractive sweet oak. The tannins are firm but nicely in balance.
Sevenhill Cellars Estate Grown Inigo Clare Valley Shiraz
Sevenhill Cellars Estate Grown Inigo Clare Valley Malbec
Sevenhill was originally set up in 1851 when the Jesuits who settled in the area planted the Clare Valley’s first vines to produce sacramental wine. The estate’s wines, along with its old stone winery, stately St Aloysius’ Church, College building and spacious gardens has made the Sevenhill name famous. So much so that they have recently won the Gourmet Traveller Award for best Large Cellar Door in the Clare Valley! Ray Jordan gives their 2021 Malbec a solid 92pts, "Malbec is a variety that does rather well in Clare, especially as a major blending component with cabernet. Still this one does it solo, and it does it well. Lots of the distinctive red floral fruits on the nose have that stamp of malbec. Bright and alive on a high energy palate with plenty of ripe red fruit characters with chalky tannins and understated oak in support."