2015 Mr Riggs Shiraz

Produced from a blend of two great McLaren Vale Shiraz vineyards; Piebald Gully and Gateway. Piebald Gully is situated in the coolest sub-region of McLaren Vale, bordering the Adelaide Hills. It’s planted in deep sand over at the base of Willunga foothills and is virtually dry grown. Gateway Vineyard, so called as it stands just at the entrance to McLaren Vale, is located in the subregion of Seaview. The vines grow on top of a rather unusual amount of limestone rock and has views of the Gulf of St Vincent and the Adelaide Hills. Components from both vineyards were fermented in traditional open fermenters, and following pressing, finished their fermentation in oak of which approximately 80% was French and the balance American, 35% of which was new oak. The maturation time was 18 months.

Awarded Best in Show at the prestigious Decanter World Wine Awards 2018.

Magnificent depth of colour displaying an impenetrable pitch black core with a very deep dark purple black hue. Potent aromas of blackberries, liquorice, black cherries and dark plums bloom from the glass followed by vanillin oak, hints of boot polish and pepper. Rich, powerful and densely built the sizeable yet refined palate is flooded with lavish ripe blackberry and liquorice flavours with some dark plum and black cherry also evident. Underscoring the decadent fruit is lightly smoked vanillin cedar, traces of crushed rock and cracked pepper. An underbelly of sturdy tannins gives the wine its structure and lends some muscle to the otherwise opulent feel. Driving power with a long imposing finish of blackberry, liquorice, black cherry, lightly smoked vanillin cedar, crushed rock and pepper. Limited Stocks.
Cellar 6-8 years.
Alc. 15%

Other Reviews….
Dense, dark black-red in colour. Very pure black fruits (bramble and plum) with rich, thick cream and mineral-oil complexities: hugely attractive yet far from simple in aroma, and with the overwhelming appeal and force of a great South Australian site. It delivers on all of that aromatic promise on the palate: a slow-fuse, broad-shouldered McLaren Vale Shiraz which has retained freshness in its fruits, yet which sighs and whispers with all of the brooding, tarry, oilstone complexity this fine terroir is capable of. 2018-2027.
98 points
2018 Decanter World Wine Awards