2014 Mount Hurtle Shiraz

The Story: “When I purchased the Mount Hurtle winery in 1985 it was to preserve a small piece of Australia’s winemaking history. Today the winery is an oasis among suburbia, nestled in 4 acres of vineyards and landscaped gardens and has retained an almost Tuscan charm.” - Geoff Merrill

Vintage Information: The 2014 vintage started out with a wet winter in 2013 with higher than average rainfall which then essentially ceased for the months following. An unexpected burst of heat through spring lead to flowering early. Low rainfall and extremely high temperatures then continued throughout summer.

Immediately following the high temperatures was some cool weather and a large rain event which slowed down ripening, causing quite a gap in vintage. Top wines will be exciting, well balanced acidity and full flavoured with good tannins.

Winemakers Notes: The colour is a bright, dark red, developing some brick red hues. The aroma shows an initial herb and spice note which then reveals an inviting cherry ripe and red berry fruit character. A hint of toasty vanilla oak complements this classic McLaren Vale Shiraz nose.

The palate is juicy and delicious. It is smooth and seamless over the whole length and finishes on a warm and fruity note. The tannins are fine and in balance, and the acidity keeps everything together, ensuring longevity and broad food matching potential.

Food Pairing: Enjoy it with BBQ lamb chops, slow cooked lamb shanks, burgers, pizza and shepherds pie.

Winemakers: Geoff Merrill & Scott Heidrich

Variety: Shiraz

Oak Treatment: Aged for 29 months in new and seasoned American and French oak hogsheads and puncheons.

Region: McLaren Vale

Harvest Date: March 2014

Alc: 14.5%, pH: 3.40, TA: 7.78 g/L, RS: 0.4 g/L