Shiraz

Western Australia

Shiraz

The colour is quite extraordinary. It's the deepest of deep, dark black-red, almost impenetrable. But the nose is pure exoticism, with liqueur-like cherry, dark plum and a little prune-juice richness. Soft, generous, incredibly supple and plush. This is a sumptuous shiraz, which comes from some very old vines. Balance is impeccable, seamlessly integrated, with everything where it should be. First-rate...

Frankland River

Shiraz

This is an exceptional example both of the region and the vintage. So, Frankland in '23, like the rest of the state, was mighty good and here is a wine that makes a statement. Bursting with aromas of dark plum spices, some slightly dried herb sage-like characters and beautiful florals. The palate is seamlessly integrated with dark fruits, a slightly...

Manjimup

Shiraz

If you remember 2020, it was warm, it was early, oh, and it had COVID, but the wines produced were, in some cases, quite exceptional. This is a super example of the vintage. It’s rich, it’s textured, it’s lavish, and it’s loaded with fruit, all perfectly poised and presented. The aromas are a blue fruit, plummy mulberry combo with a...

Manjimup

Shiraz

Ah, the ’23 vintage. It rears up again. This is a wonderful wine expressing this cooler climate region but capturing the wonders of this great vintage. It’s medium-bodied, lovely lifted fruit on the nose, displaying a plummy red fruit combination, and then a palate that is simply sublimely integrated and seamless. Fine chalky tannins, neatly applied oak, and that plush,...

Margaret River

Shiraz

What a terrific little wine this is. It’s loaded with plenty of dark berry fruits, with a dollop of chocolate, little lifted leafiness, and even some black olive. The palate is generous with rich chocolatey flavours, dark plum, spices, and just a little cedary oak. A great entry-level wine into this excellent range of wines.

Margaret River

Shiraz

The varietal character and intensity of cabernet is evident immediately. Aromas strike initially with blackcurrant, dark chocolate, and a softer plumminess about it. The palate delivers richness, texture, and power on an elegant and stylish framework, has a silky smooth feel in the mouth, and strikes an impeccable balance of oak and fruit. It’s really highly focused through to a...

Margaret River

Shiraz

Colour is quite brilliant and lustrous. The nose delivers real intensity with a captivating mix of liqueur cherry and dark chocolate. And then the palate reveals, with its merging of dark plum, blackberry, and some nice mulberry-like characters. The tannins are firmish and fine, with a slight chalkiness offsetting the fruit characters and contributing to its balance. A wine of...

Swan Valley

Shiraz

A beautiful example of Swan Valley shiraz from this warmer season that produced excellent fruit of balance and poise. Spicy plum and clove with a little cedar on the nose, and then a supple, soft, generous palate of typically medium body from the Swan, but displaying great depth of fruit and a pure, sustained finish. Excellent wine.

Margaret River

Shiraz

Yet another prime example of why Margaret River should never be ignored for syrah or shiraz. This is a wine of structure and purpose, yet at the same time, it's loaded with warm, fleshy fruit. The use of stalks back in the fermentation has contributed both structurally and to the slightly more savoury elements. It sits in the medium bodied...

Margaret River

Shiraz

A generous and opulent shiraz from this very warm season that shows what can be achieved with clever vineyard management and then empathetic treatment in the winery. The nose is a lovely combination of spices and blackberries, with a plummy dark chocolate overlay. The palate has a certain firmness about it through the core, yet there's a plush wrap of...

Great Southern

Shiraz

This warmer vintage, which was tempered ever so slightly by the southern location, has produced a quite beautiful example of cool climate shiraz. The colour is deep and dark, with reddy black hues. The nose is beautifully fruity, with a plummy, black pepper and slightly licorice character. And then the palate kicks into gear with rich, lavish flavours, dark chocolate,...

Margaret River

Shiraz

More proof, if proof were needed, that Margaret River can produce high class shiraz, syrah, when the seasons are right. '22 was one of those years, and this is an excellent example of Margaret River syrah. It is a totally seamless, velvety smooth, and beautifully composed wine that draws together the spicy, plummy, dark chocolate fruit intensity with the support...

Margaret River

Shiraz

This more southern vineyard seems to have handled the warmer '24 vintage very well. The wine is poised and balanced, with lovely fruit weight and intensity. Aromas immediately strike with spicy plum, liquorice, and dark chocolate. And then the palate has a crunchy juiciness about it, with a mix of red fruits and rhubarb. Supported by fine, chalky tannins and...

Frankland River

Shiraz

A beautiful testament to old-vine Frankland fruit. In fact, these vines are now more than 50 years old, and their value cannot be overstated, especially in warmer years, where, despite the heat, they can bring fruit of tremendous generosity and softness, all in perfect balance, to the table. This is loaded with dark blackberry and cherry-like characters on the nose....

Frankland River

Shiraz

Generous, soft, round, plush shiraz from this warmer year. In fact, the remarkable thing is that a wine of such suppleness and almost gentleness has come from what was hot times in the old town of Frankland in '24. Bright red fruits with some plummy cherry notes, a little spice and dark chocolate. And then the palate, soft and supple,...

Swan Valley

Shiraz

A generous shiraz showing some distinctive earthy and slightly dried herb characters on the nose. A little tarry edginess complements neatly. The palate is warm and generous, with a neat contribution from 18 months in oak and the supporting chalky, fine tannins. You need to let this one breathe, as it opens up nicely with a little air. The plush...

Perth Hills

Shiraz

In such a warm, in fact quite hot, vintage as ’24, it is quite remarkable that a wine of such finesse and plush softness has been produced. The fruit is generous, but almost medium-bodied with admirable restraint. It saw a mix of old and new French and American oak, and that American oak, I think, plays an important part in...

Swan Valley

Shiraz

Now this one is special. Having tasted many of these over the years, I don’t believe I’ve tasted a better one, and there have been some good’uns. It comes from fruit grown on Griffiths and neighbouring vineyards. It’s a wine of deep, impenetrable colour, intense aromas and a plush, richly flavoured palate. On the nose, there’s a dark plummy blackberry...

Mount Barker

Shiraz

This is the first Wyjup-only shiraz, with previous releases sourced from the Bouverie vineyard. Deeply intense aromas of plum, spice and cherry introduce a thoroughly beautiful wine. The palate is supple, soft and generous, displaying dark plum, cherry, spice and a touch of dark chocolate. It was matured for 18 months in French oak, 30% of which was new. Blueberry,...

Margaret River

Shiraz

This barrel selection from Margaret River highlights the quality of shiraz from the outstanding 2023 vintage. Savoury dark fruits lead the nose, with ripe plum, dark cherry and a touch of spice adding complexity. The palate is firmer and more tightly structured than the Frankland River wine, yet it retains generous plush fruit, concentration and intensity. A powerful yet beautifully...

Frankland River

Shiraz

A wine that speaks clearly of Frankland River and the excellent 2023 vintage from the moment you engage with it. Lovely spicy plum aromas are joined by hints of chocolate and black cherry. The medium-bodied palate has tremendous depth and flavour, reflecting both the region and the vintage. Beautifully balanced, with plush fruit and layers of spice washing effortlessly across...

Mount Barker

Shiraz

Although 2024 was a warm year across much of Western Australia, the cooler Great Southern performed exceptionally well. This is a classic cool-climate style, showing plum, cherry and violet aromas with subtle dusty, smoky notes. The medium-bodied palate bursts with flavour, combining tightly integrated fruit and oak with fine-grained tannins. Soft and supple, yet with a core of structure that...

Frankland River

Shiraz

This is a thoroughly delightful expression of a modern shiraz from a great region. Thomas Yule was a colourful member of the original syndicate which purchased Houghton 1836. Highly perfumed aromas of red berry, light spicy plum and a little ironstone complexity. It’s bright and vibrant from the first take on the nose through to that exquisitely balanced palate. Fabulous...

Margaret River

Shiraz

There are loads of concentrated fruit characters on the nose, and you're immediately struck with a raspberry plummy mix, a little cedar, and some light dusting of white pepper. The palate is generous and plush. Yet it presents with a velvety smooth suppleness thanks to its fine tannin and gentle oak infusion. It's a most stylish and poised example of...

Margaret River

Shiraz

This is a real crowd-pleaser. It's sumptuous and lush, which you would expect from this warm vintage, and loaded with bright red fruits, showing a slightly raspberry nuance working with the more traditional plummy, spicy, and slightly peppery characters. It's soft, plump, and round. With the oak influence understated and the tannins quite fine and supple. It's designed as an...

Margaret River

Shiraz

As you would expect from this warm year, there's plenty of grunt and power in the shiraz, and yet it shows remarkable softness and plushness, no doubt a result of the old dry-grown, low-yielding vines. It spends 18 months in a mix of American and French oak, and I think that American component is quite important. Aromas of dark fruits,...

Margaret River

Shiraz

The colour is a pale salmon pink, while the nose is a bright combination of strawberries, spice and a splash of cranberry. The palate is crunchy and light-bodied, yet delivers impressive flavour intensity. It finishes crisp, fine and refreshing, making it ideal for current drinking. A terrific modern Australian rosé made from shiraz.

Margaret River

Shiraz

A bright, generous, lively, medium-bodied shiraz with loads of plummy black fruits and a lift of cherry-dominated red fruits. There's a hint of spice and a sprinkle of pepper. The palate is soft and supple, with fine yet supportive tannins. Plenty of rich flavour is crammed into its medium-bodied frame, and the finish is effortlessly long. Mighty good value Margaret...

Margaret River

Shiraz

The cooler 2021 vintage has shaped the style of this excellent shiraz. Plush fruit, fine chalky tannins and carefully managed oak are seamlessly integrated. The palate reveals ripe plum and savoury meaty characters with a subtle hint of damp leather adding complexity. Rich and beautifully textured, with excellent balance throughout.

Margaret River

Shiraz

A perfectly poised and presented example of a classy Margaret River shiraz from an outstanding year. The longer growing season allowed the fruit flavours to develop slowly and enabled the grapes to be picked in perfect condition. Lovely spicy, plummy, dark chocolate notes emerge on the nose, while the palate is bright and alive, bursting with red fruits. Dried herbs...

Margaret River

Shiraz

If you ever doubted that Margaret River could produce outstanding shiraz, then this wine should change your mind. It’s a beautifully elegant, balanced, and vibrant shiraz that delivers with deft understatement. The aromas show lovely plummy and spicy notes, while the palate is seamlessly woven, with fine tannin and oak integrated in support. A firm thread sustains through to the...

Mount Barker

Shiraz

Without doubt, one of the very best shiraz to come off this superb little vineyard, which was planted back in 1985. The aroma shows lovely spicy dark chocolate and ripe plummy notes, with some deeper black fruit evident. The palate is seamlessly integrated, with those spices emerging and the fine chalky tannins and subtle oak integration carrying through to the...

Margaret River

Shiraz

No surprise that in this very warm year the shiraz was picked quite early. About 30% of the wine was whole bunch for carbonic maceration, to give a vibrant, bright lift to the palate and the nose. Typical varietal pepper and spice combine with some toasty oak emerging. It has good structure and is seamlessly woven with fine tannins and...

Frankland River

Shiraz

This is quite different from the 470 clone. It's a softer and more supple character. On the nose there are lifted notes of blue fruit. The ironstone characters really thread through here. The cuttings came from New Zealand's Hawke's Bay region. No acid additions or tannins with no fining. The colour is so brilliant and bright with energy in abundance....

Frankland River

Shiraz

One of two shiraz from Frankland’s Swinney vineyard, with extended maceration allowing the tannins to lengthen, soften and ripen perfectly. Has a slightly spicy charcuterie character on the nose but with a distinctive fennel character which is part of the clonal influence. It has energy and vibrancy here with definition and detail. You should check out the Waldron Clone shiraz...

Geographe

Shiraz

This wine has evolved over the years from what was once quite a brutish, massive wine into one of more restraint, but still with the opulence and ripeness that the name might suggest. It comes off very low-yielding vines, resulting in wine of tremendous concentration and richness. Dark plummy, dark chocolate nuances on the nose carry through to a palate...

Great Southern

Shiraz

This is a lovely wine that expresses this vintage, which turned out to be mighty good in the Great Southern. A lovely combination of plums and spice with a little dark cherry on the nose, followed by a palate which is both seamless and supple but with excellent intensity delivered on a medium body. A harmonious mix of oak and...

Frankland River

Shiraz

This is from the Swinney vineyard. It’s a dry-grown WA selection. Has a lovely spicy aroma with sweet fruit and dark cherry characters. There’s no new oak and is a mix of 500l oak barrels and just one stainless barrel. Vesey has included 50% whole bunch, which has certainly brought some texture. And it is all foot stomped. Stylistically falls...

Great Southern

Shiraz

This was a warm to hot season in the Great Southern, yet the slightly cooler influence of this southern region has tempered the heat, resulting in wines of generous acidity and flavour with supple palate appeal. Plummy red fruit notes with a spicy character on the nose and a palate that is delicious and rich, with slightly chocolatey, plummy flavours...

Frankland River

Syrah

This is big, deep, and dark with stacks of rich, opulent dark fruit characters. It’s a mix of 100%while bunch from one block and 50% from another, contributing to its brightness and intensity. The combination of different blocks adds to its deep complexity, with the dark spicy fruit of one block and the blue fruit perfumes of the other. Delve...