Heathcote Winery Mail Coach Shiraz has a nice touch perfume and spice to a normally full-bodied regional style. Enjoyable now for lovers of big bold reds and a wine built to age gracefully in the cellar in the mid term. Shows intensity, good structure, complexity and fine tannins.

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.

Bright cherry red. Sweet red cherries on the nose with hints of thyme, fennel and dried bay leaf. Mouth-filling tannins with sweet red cherry flavours and a hint of spice on the finish. Chargrilled eye fillet. The fruit was machine harvested into 2.5t steel bins, transported directly to the winery for immediate processing. Crushed to static fermenters it was pumped over twice a day for approximately 20mins each time. During which time the temperature and acid levels were monitored constantly and adjusted when necessary, after completing fermentation the wine was pressed to tank using an air bag press. It was racked off gross lees directly to barrel to finish malolactic fermentation and mature in mainly older used barriques. The barrels were checked and topped each month. Tar & Roses home is in Nagambie Central Victoria and produces wines inspired by classic varietals from the Mediterranean and was named after the signature characteristics of Nebbiolo. The name also ties back to the winemaking team behind the venture, the legendary Don Lewis and his winemaking partner Narelle King. Following the passing of Don in 2017 this represents the final vintage of his great career with Narelle now carrying on the Tar & Roses tradition in 2018 and beyond. Tar & Roses produce one of Australia's leading Pinot Grigios known for its characteristic dusty pink colour. Tar & Roses sources the majority of red fruit from areas across central Victoria such as Heathcote, an ideal region for Italian and Spanish varietals and classic "Australian" Shiraz.

William Bulling was the first to stumble upon gold in the McIvor-Heathcote area. His accidental find afforded him a legendary name and started the rush of 1852 that lasted ten years, creating many a rich man. An area known for fulfilling the dreams of its fortune seekers, the Heathcote region with its rich Cambrian soils once abundant with gold are now home to some of the country's most loved wines. Much like this classic Shiraz, with layers of red fruits, opulent liquorice and black cherry fruit with a powerful vanilla cedar oak finish.

This close-planted Mourvèdre vineyard (4545 vines per Hectare) on rich pre-Cambrian soil produced fruit of amazing complexity and length of flavour. Bright and light raspberry red in colour, the perfumed nose of ripe berry fruits, raspberries and layered with dried herbs, amaro and warm spice of garam masala. Savoury turned earth, spice, lifted whole bunch (50%) and a meaty small goods character. Medium bodied, lighter on its feet than most Mourvèdres. This wine is all about texture and fine velvet like fine tannins; palate is long, rolling and fresh.

The Red Claw is the complimenting range to the estate Yabby Lake wines that call the Mornington Peninsula home. This Shiraz though is sourced from the Cambrian rich soils of Heathcote, a region which has quickly become one of Australia's premier Shiraz growing areas. Dark berry and spice dominated, there are underlying notes of pepper and crushed herbs. Fermented in 100% French Oak, there is a subtlety to this Shiraz that lends itself to many cuisine matches.