I asked Joch to give me his vintage report for 2020 and this is what I got verbatim and straight from the horse’s mouth; ‘Looked like a b$#^%&d of a year; hot and dry and then it rained in late January and early February and a cool change moved in, which continued through to February and March and these conditions finished everything off nicely. There were tiny yields and so in reality 2020 ended up only a b&^%h of a year, not a b$#^%&d.

This is the 13^th version of this wine, and in reality, nothing much has changed in the way we make it since the first vintage back in 2008. We pick based on flavour and sugar ripeness and then ferment the grapes traditionally in open vessels, some older oak barrels or some in tanks. We mature the Shiraz in older oak (about 10% new oak barrels) because we want to to showcase classic McLaren Vale characteristics of spice, red fruits and chocolate in a fresh and modern style of Shiraz.

• Halliday Wine Companion 2024

  Organic certified vineyards manifest as purple fruits, dried nori, lilac, lavender and a swab of tapenade across a belt of well-applied oak, especially in lieu of the value pricing. This is a full-weighted wine of impressive fruit intensity, judicious handling and ample freshness, punching well above its weight with a real whiff of class.

  91 points

• The Real Review

  Huon Hooke

  Medium-deep red-purple colour with clean and appealingly fragrant aromas of red fruits with an unusual lemony overlay. The wine is medium-full bodied and there is an appealing touch of firmness in the tannin backbone. It's fruit driven and bold, soft enough to be drinking well now, and good value for money.
  89/100 

• 2021
• 2020
• 2019
• 2018
• 2017
• 2016
• 2015
• 2014
• 2013
• 2012
• 2011
• 2010
• 2009
• 2008