Wild Duck Creek Yellow Hammer Hill SMC 2022 is a bold Shiraz Malbec Cabernet blend from Heathcote, showcasing pristine fruit flavours and exceptional balance.
Appearance
This brooding garnet red wine displays deep, inky purple hues that hint at the concentrated fruit within. The wine's impressive colour intensity reflects the low yields and meticulous vineyard management at Wild Duck Creek Estate.
Aroma
Intoxicating aromas of dark boysenberry lead the nose, complemented by layers of blackberry, currants, and mulberry. Woody and sweet spices mingle with coffee grounds, whilst flinty mineral notes and tobacco add complexity. Earthy elements of eucalyptus and mint provide a distinctive Australian character, finished with a touch of pepper.
Palate
The palate bursts with joyous freshness—blueberry, plums, and tart red cherry dance across the tongue. Partially matured in concrete vats alongside French and American oak, this wine achieves superb balance between fruit purity and subtle oak influence. Silky tannins and vibrant acidity ensure wickedly good drinking now, with cellaring potential of up to 15 years.
Pairs With
Grilled lamb chops, beef brisket, mature cheddar, venison, or rich mushroom risotto.
Review
"Mostly shiraz with 12% malbec and 6% cabernet sauvignon. A blend of several sites, with lower yields, which seems a theme for WDC. The wine is in French and American oak of various sizes and sees around a third matured in concrete vats.
All the slurpy, inky purple here. Sloshes around the joyous freshness of blackberry, currants, cherry and mulberry, all of this dusted with woody and sweet spices, a touch of coffee grounds, some flinty mineral notes and tobacco. Earthy elements in this too, a swish of eucalyptus and mint. Pepper too. It’s wickedly good drinking, superbly balanced and an outstanding entrée to the wines of Wild Duck Creek."
93 Points - Mike Bennie, The Wine Front, July 2023, Drink: 2023 - 2030
