Shaw + Smith Shiraz 2022 Adelaide Hills – 94 Points Mike Bennie, cool-climate, medium-bodied, 10 months French oak. This exceptional Adelaide Hills Shiraz showcases delightful aromas of raspberry, boysenberry, game meat, white pepper, tart cherry, dried herbs and truffle, with satiny tannins, vibrant red and blue fruits, freshness and lift, delivering brightness and charm from the cool La Niña vintage.
Tasting Notes
Appearance
Bright medium ruby red with brilliant clarity, showcasing the wine's quality and vibrancy characteristic of this exceptional 2022 cool-climate Adelaide Hills Shiraz from low yielding vines in Balhannah and the central Adelaide Hills.
Aroma
The nose opens with an expectation: game meat, white pepper, raspberry, tart cherry, some dried herbs and a whiff of truffle. Savouriness and pretty fruit hand in hand, creating a sophisticated aromatic profile that reflects the cool La Niña season.
Palate
It delivers on the palate, satiny tannins wrap up more of those fruit and savoury elements, game meat and pepper a strong card but beautifully woven through red fruits and sweeter spices. Ribbons of those tannins trail long through the palate; a light dusting of spice lingers. It's spot-on medium weight, too. So much charm. A combination of red and blue fruits, a touch of white pepper and good grippy tannins framing the mid-weight palate. This Shiraz delivers brightness and vibrancy with ripe fruit and structure that makes it very complete and delicious cool-climate Shiraz.
Pairs With
This delightful medium-bodied cool-climate Shiraz pairs beautifully with game meats, roast lamb, duck, venison, mushroom dishes or aged cheeses, with the wine's satiny tannins, game meat and white pepper making it an excellent choice for sophisticated dining and special occasions.
Wine Critic Review:
"This is delightful. It opens with an expectation: game meat, white pepper, raspberry, tart cherry, some dried herbs and a whiff of truffle. Savouriness and pretty fruit hand in hand. It delivers on the palate, satiny tannins wrap up more of those fruit and savoury elements, game meat and pepper a strong card but beautifully woven through red fruits and sweeter spices. Ribbons of those tannins trail long through the palate; a light dusting of spice lingers. It's spot-on medium weight, too. So much charm."
94 Points - Mike Bennie, Halliday's Wine Companion, 7th June 2024
