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  • 95

2012 Reillys R Shiraz

Clare Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA
$14. 99
Bottle
$179.88 Dozen
Cellar: 4 - 5 Years (2017-2018)
ABV: 15.5%
Closure: Stelvin
Outrageous value!
 

Reilly's started from humble beginnings in 1993 when the first vintage was processed on the front porch of a historical cottage on the property. Over the years, production has steadily grown, outstripping the capacity of the cottage, and now moved to a state-of-the-art facility in nearby Leasingham. Having resisted the temptation to increase prices, Reillys have quickly established a tradition of generosity with their wines. As a result, they've earned a strong base of followers, especially for their 'R' series reds, with some previous vintages selling out in a matter of months. This is up there with the very best.

'Astonishing length & persistence of flavour for its price point'.
 

The fruit is sourced from Reillys Dry Land Shiraz vineyard (planted in 1964) along with the best parcels fruit off their new St Clare property (planted in 2000) which was previously sold off to bigger labels. Cropping levels averaging a meagre 2.2 Tonnes per acre account for the wines remarkable concentration and maturation took place in French and American oak barrels for 18 months.

Totally opaque black dark purple red colour with deep dark purple red hue. The nose offers up scents of liquorice over blackberry, dark plum and vanillin confectionary with some blackpepper end notes. The palate is packed with richness and possessess an explosive power that belies its meagre price point yet has a more structured fruit profile than previous releases. Mouthfilling flavours of liquorice, blackpepper, black cherry and blackberry with some underlying toasty vanillin oak. The blackpepper persisting long into the aftertaste. Fine grained tannins but with plenty of structure. Superb persistence with long aftertaste of liquorice, blackpepper and toasty vanillin oak.
Cellar 4-5 years (2017-2018).
Alc 15.5%

Other Reviews.....
Medium to full purple-red; many of the Reilly's wines have an element of rusticity, but here the volume of juicy black fruit carries the day on the long, medium-to-full, full-bodied palate, the tannins are evident but balanced. Exceptional value.
93 points
James Halliday - Australian Wine Companion