2023 Single Vineyard Shiraz

winemaker's note

“This modern style Shiraz is both expressive and restrained. From one of the oldest vineyards in the Margaret River region the underlying fruit power and intensity highlight the wines charm.

"The energetic aroma profile is alluring and perfumed while the palate is uber fine allowing the bright fruit notes to wash over. Elegance was the word most commonly used while crafting this wine and it will only continue to build in years to come."

Matt Buchan, Senior Winemaker

colour

Crimson / violet hue.

aroma

The wine is superbly perfumed with wild berry fruit, red cherries, liquorice and dried thyme. Underneath the primary fruit this Shiraz has alluring sweet spice notes of nutmeg and salted plum.

palate

The palate is enriched with red currant fruit, fennel, graphite and black olive. Ultra fine tannins carry the palate with a mouth-watering acid line. This wine has underlying fruit power but leaves an impression of freshness and elegance throughout.

cellaring 

This wine may be enjoyed on release but will find further complexity three to five years from vintage.

vintage

A moderate summer led to ideal ripening conditions with little pressure in the vineyard and a lack of any major rain events during the ripening season. Consistently warm days and cool evenings made for great retention of acid within the grapes, whilst achieving optimal fruit expression.

winemaking

Hand selected fruit was picked from our Septimus vineyard in Central Wilyabrup. The vine age dates back to the early 70s and the fruit pedigree can be seen throughout the wines structure. 75% of the fruit was destemmed with the remaining 25% left as whole clusters in the ferment. The ripe stems add further complexity to the wine’s aroma and tannin profile. Beyond fermentation the fruit was pressed and racked to a selection of small and large format French oak for 10 months. With only 10% new oak in the blend the vineyard can show its true characters and a clear snap shot of the vintage can be enjoyed.

region

Margaret River

variety

Shiraz

analysis

• Alcohol: 14.0%
• pH: 3.51
• TA: 5.9 g/L

Chargrilled rump steak with pepper sauce.

Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate, November 2024

The 2023 Single Vineyard Shiraz is sourced from an old vineyard in Wilyabrup and hails from the lovely long, mild, dry-until-the-end 2023 season. On the nose, this is jubilant, fresh and spicy, with raspberry, lifted cold tea notes, star anise and peppercorns. In the mouth, the wine is juicy, succulent and really quite delicious. This provides an excellent insight into the season and is a delicious iteration of Margaret River Shiraz. I tend to prefer these wines in their youth, although that may change as better sites and more appropriate clones are dedicated to Shiraz in the region in the future. 

Simon Hughes, Max Crus, September 2024

WA shiraz seems altogether better behaved than say Barossan or McLaren Vale shiraz, which by comparison are brash and loud. With this you can enjoy a quiet drink in both senses of the word. Refined and fine

James Suckling 2024

The nose is perfumed and inviting, with aromas of Damson plums, dark cherries, cedar, sarsaparilla and ferric earth. The palate is medium-bodied with finely integrated tannins and notes of blackcurrants, licorice, cocoa and spices. Very well integrated and giving. 

Gary Walsh, The Wine Front, August 2024

"Julian Langworthy is a Cabernet man, bless him, and while Margaret River Shiraz can often be a bit ho hum, I reckon he’s doing a very good job with it.

It’s hazelnutty and spicy, grated nutmeg, black and blue fruits, oak is there, but it’s biscuitty and sits well within the wine, also some mint and coffee bean. It’s medium-bodied, yet kind of opulent with its perfume and medley of blue, black and red fruits, again the mint, nuts and coffee, with succulent grainy tannin, and a slippery and spicy finish of excellent length. Good wine. Quite plump, but kind of nice in that way."

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