2018 Moonambel Shiraz

colour

Dark purple-black and shiny.

aroma

A deep brooding nose full of violets, blood plum and baking spices. Intense black cherries, and lifted rose petals; this wine has density and freshness with serious concentration. 

palate

The palate is medium-bodied yet powerful and expressive with dark fruits, mocha spice, mouth-coating tannin structure and smoky oak framing this exceptional Pyrenees Shiraz. 

cellaring

Enjoy over the next three to eight years. 

vintage

The growing season was temperate and dry with beautiful pollination and fruit set – this meant an exquisite crop of pristine grapes. Careful viticulture meant fruit was picked at optimum ripeness.

winemaking

The fruit for this wine was sourced from the original Dalwhinnie estate vineyards, where it was fermented in small batches for 10-14 days in open top fermenters. Once approaching dryness the wine was pressed directly to French oak barriques for a 20 month maturation. Careful barrel selection was carried out to produce the final Moonambel blend.

region

Pyrenees

variety

Shiraz

analysis

• Alcohol: 14.0%
• pH: 3.47
• TA: 7.20 g/L

Slow-braised lamb shank with a creamy mash.

Decanter World Wine Awards 2021

jeni port, halliday wine companion 2022

Strikes a generous pose and colour. There's some pretty smart and attractive oak that is a big part of this wine's appeal. It contributes added gravitas, with wide-ranging influences from prominent spice to a toasty, smoky, mocha overlay. The ripe blackberry, plum, aniseed fruit loves it. Mouth-coating and long.

95

Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate 2022

The Dalwhinnie Shiraz wines have a devoted following here in Australia, and the intensity of the midnight fruit in this 2018 Shiraz Moonambel answers that question for me. This is savory and dense, but there is a line of minerality and austerity in here that holds it all in check. It is black like the night and dotted with stars of flavor and texture throughout. There are notes of Champion Ruby tobacco, aniseed and blackberry essence.

94

Huon Hooke, The Real Review 2022

Very deep, dark purple-black-red colour, with imposing aromas of oak and black fruits, preserved plums and berries. The wine is full-bodied and rich, with ample soft tannins that are gentle on the tongue, the flavours generous and earthy with eucalypt forest-floor tones and a long, long finish. There's a suggestion of volatile acidity through the wine that doesn't spoil it for me. A big and bountiful glass of shiraz.

92