Bec Hardy Pertaringa Undercover Shiraz 2024 takes its name from McLaren Vale’s proud history of supplying other regions with its finest red grapes — known as the mid-palate of Australia, McLaren Vale fruit is renowned for its ability to improve the quality and richness of wines from other regions. This is that fruit, kept at home and given the full Pertaringa treatment. A blend of three historic McLaren Vale vineyards — Lower Tintara, originally planted by Thomas Hardy in the 1880s; Picnic Grounds, right next door; and the Price Vineyard at the gate to McLaren Vale — grown on ancient Maslin Sands and Reynella Siltstone soils that range from 34 million to 650 million years old. Dense black cherry and dark plum on the nose with lifted oak spice; a full-bodied palate packed with concentrated dark fruits and supple, rich tannins that give great length of flavour. 20 months in new and seasoned French oak hogsheads.
Tasting Notes
Appearance
Deep, inky ruby — the rich, concentrated colour of a full-bodied McLaren Vale Shiraz from three of the region’s most historic vineyards, with the depth and intensity that ancient Maslin Sands and Reynella Siltstone soils, 8 days on skins, and 20 months in French oak hogsheads deliver.
Aroma
Dense black cherry and dark plum with lifted oak spice — the powerful, inviting, and characterfully McLaren Vale bouquet of a Shiraz blended from Lower Tintara, Picnic Grounds, and the Price Vineyard, and matured for 20 months in new and seasoned French oak hogsheads.
Palate
Full-bodied and packed with concentrated dark fruits — black cherry, dark plum, and lifted oak spice, with supple, rich tannins that give great length of flavour and the depth and structure of a McLaren Vale Shiraz grown on soils up to 650 million years old. Powerful, generous, and deeply rewarding.
Pairs With
A natural companion for slow-roasted lamb shoulder, beef short ribs, venison, aged hard cheeses, and any occasion that calls for a full-bodied, concentrated McLaren Vale Shiraz of genuine depth and character — equally rewarding now and will develop beautifully through to 2030.
Finish
Long, rich, and deeply satisfying — black cherry, dark plum, oak spice, and supple tannins fading together in a close of genuine McLaren Vale distinction. Great length of flavour. The mid-palate of Australia, in every sense.
Review
"...Black blood red with a dark purple rim, this is generous and approachable and really does have a good future ahead of it. Finally balanced with aromas of chocolate, root vegetables, bay leaves, mocha, dried herbs, blackberries and tobacco leaves. There is a dense creamy texture through to satiny tannins and seriously impressive length. Delicious now and should remain so for the next fifteen years. In a portfolio with some really good examples of McLaren Vale Shiraz, I’m not sure this one should stand out quite as much as it does, but who’s complaining. Astonishing value."
96 Points - WineOrbit
