Past Vintages

Technical Details

"Concentration of perfume with blackcurrant fruit, pepper, lifted herbal notes and some apricotty sweetness. In the mouth is a long & slender, medium weight barrel of fruit with faint spice in a slippery frame. Easy drinking."

Mike Bennie, Wine 100, WBM, March 2012

 "Deep garnet purple in color, the 2009 Shingleback Haycutters Shiraz offers an intense & relatively complex nose of ripe blackberries & black cherries over smoked duck, baker's yeast, dusty earth & cloves. Medium - full bodied, it is richly fruited & crisp, giving a solid foundation of rounded tannins & finishing long & layered. Drinking well now, it should cellar to 2017+. 90 pts."

Lisa Perotti Brown, The Wine Advocate # 198 December 2011

"This was co-fermented with viognier skins to lift its lush McLaren Vale shiraz fruit, making it more fragrant, adding dimension. Boysenberry, spice, chocolate and lightly feral characters remain at its heart, with velvety texture, a plump middle and a succulent finish. 4 stars, $$$ value"

Ralph Kyte-Powell, The Age Epicure, December 16th 2011

"Has a very small percentage of co-fermented viognier; the hue is good, although not star bright. The regional clasp has ridden over the effect of the viognier, with an amalgum of black fruits and dark chocolate on the bouquet and medium-bodied palate, but not in any way diminishing the appeal of the wine. It is supple and long in the mouth, with a lingering finish. An impressive shiraz, easy to drink now, but with a conservative 5 years in front of it. 91 pts."

Reprinted with permission from 1001 Wines Under $20.00, 2012 edition, James Halliday

Tasting note:

Deep garnet in colour. Ripe mulberry aromas are highlighted with notes of orange blossom and milk chocolate, with an undercurrent of truffley earthliness. This fresh, vibrant, medium-full bodied red wine if defined by the fine tannins from the co-fermentation of the Shiraz and Viognier skins and subtle cashew / vanilla nuances from the fine grained French and American oak. Bright berry fruit flows through the palate harmoniously blending with the savoury and mineral elements.

Awards:

• Gold medal - 2011 Mundus Vini Great International Wine Awards, Germany 
• Silver medal - 2011 International Wine & Spirit Competition, UK
• 91 pts - 1001 Wines Under $20.00, 2012 edition, James Halliday
• 90 pts - The Wine Advocate #198, USA
• Bronze medal - 2011 Great Australian Shiraz Challenge
• Bronze medal - 2011 New Zealand International Wine Show, Class 18a
• Bronze medal - 2011 Royal Queensland Wine Show, Class 34
• Bronze medal - 2011 McLaren Vale Wine Show, Class 10
• Bronze medal - 2011 Cowra Wine Show, Class 32
• Bronze medal - 2011 Royal Melbourne Wine Show, Class 19