Grand Cru (Perth) Tasting Group – 2018 Shiraz

[Waiters Friend]

G’day

The usual suspects assembled at Mayfair Lane in West Perth, to consider a very specific brief – a look at 100% Shiraz wines only from the 2018 vintage. Admittedly, this was an excellent vintage in WA, and not bad at all in other parts of Australia. Internationally was a bit of a mixed bag.

The wines, as usual, were served blind, and selected at random. No preconceptions on origin or winemaking style.

So, what did we taste?

Sorby Adams “The Thing” Shiraz 2018 (Barossa & Eden Valley, SA 15% alc): Pale crimson colour. The nose is substantial, with mulberry, red plums and jubey red berries, and blackberry. Some choc/mocha, and a little VA, furniture polish and leather. The palate has red, black and blue berries with some savoury cedary notes. It’s juicy, with jubey fruit, high alcohol, considerable acid and grippy tannins. There’s mouth feel and fruit weight. Full bodied with a long finish and well regarded by the group.

Howard Park ‘Leston’ Shiraz 2018 (Margaret River, WA): We had two bottles of this (each member brings a bottle masked) and the group tasting notes were relatively consistent. Purple colour. A somewhat herbal nose, with sage, bay leaf and eucalypt, alongside some dark plums and mulberry. One taster noted pea and ham soup. The palate has cedar and coffee, more herbs and menthol, some mocha and leather and mostly red and blue fruits. Fine drying tannins and supporting acid. Medium bodied and medium length.

Reynella ‘Basket Press’ Shiraz 2018 (McLaren Vale, SA): Deep purple in colour. The nose shows menthol, red fruits, sour cherry, roses and violets, along with a little mocha. One taster described it as ‘pretty’. The palate is soft, with blue and black berries and a hint of chocolate. There’s fine drying tannins and noticeable acid. Medium bodied and a medium to long finish.

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave 2018 (Saint Jioseph, France): Purple colour. A pronounced and complex nose, with dark plums, red cherries, cocoa powder, bacon and menthol. The palate shows red berries and plums, and some savoury notes. A couple of tasters noted ‘Thai fish oil’. Good acid, and fine grippy tannins with some glycerol texture – almost mouth coating. Medium bodied and a medium to long finish.

Plantagenet ‘Lancaster’ Shiraz 2018 (Great Southern, WA, 14.5% alc): Purple black in colour. White pepper, dark plums, jubey berries and red cherry on the nose, with mocha, vanilla, cloves, and a touch of almond. More white pepper on the palate, with dark plums, mulberry and blackberry. Cedary oak, mocha. Tannins are integrating and drying, supporting acid, velvety mouthfeel and a long finish. Highly rated by the group.

St Hallett ‘Blackwell’ Shiraz 2018 (Barossa Valley, SA): Purple colour. Cloves and baking spices on the nose, with dark plums, blueberries, vanilla and coconut (American oak, presumably), and a hint of leather. The palate is juicy, with blueberry and dark fruits, cocoa and one taster noted macadamia cream. Moderately grippy tannins, good acid and medium to long finish.

1847 ‘First Pick’ Shiraz 2018 (Barossa Valley SA): This was another duplicate – one bottle was decanted several hours earlier and the second was not – and there were differences in the wines. The first bottle had black olive, mushroom, roses, raspberry, oregano, blackberry and a touch of lanolin on the nose, while the second bottle had no lanolin and little mushroom, more Christmas cake and dark fruits. Both wines had fruit cake on the palate, with blueberry, dark cherry, vanilla and coconut. The first had a bit of Chesterfield about it (freshly oiled, apparently) while the second had more dark plums and fruit sweetness. Both finished long. The Aldi ad got a mention here “Good. Different” and not just because there were two bottles. Well regarded by the group (both bottles were tasted at different points in the evening).

Marq “The Cut And Dried” Shiraz 2018 (Margaret River WA): Crimson colour. Liquorice, black berry, pot Pourri / dried herbs and desiccated fruits on the nose. The palate showed stewed dark fruits but was dominated by acid and tannins. High alcohol, grippy tannins, high acid, full bodied and a long finish. A big wine but with lots of jagged edges.

Wynna V&A Lane Shiraz 2018 (Coonawarra, SA): Crimson colour. Blueberries, stewed black fruits and some red berries on the savoury nose. There’s also some white pepper, cloves and cinnamon. The palate is savoury and ripe red fruited, with salty liquorice and some juiciness. Acid is noticeable, and tannins are grippy, It’s medium bodied, and has medium length and is a little unbalanced.

Windance ‘Glen Valley’ Shiraz 2018 (Margaret River WA): Crimson colour. Ripe red and black fruits on the substantial nose, with cloves, baking spices and a surprising Mintie note (the lolly). There’s dark plums, blueberries and tangy raspberries on the palate, with cocoa powder, graphite and slight raisining. Plenty of fruit sweetness. Good acid and integrate tannins, with a slippery mouthfeel. Long finish and well regarded by the group.

Peel Estate ‘Old Vine’ Shiraz 2018 (Geographe, WA). Crimson colour. A herbal and medicinal nose, with mocha, olive tapenade savoury oak and furniture polish. The palate also had a medicinal edge, with sour cherry and red fruits. Fine dusty tannins, noticeable acid and a medium to long finish. Unbalanced and when revealed, I was surprised – Peel Estate Shiraz usually looks a lot better than this bottle.

Jim Barry ‘Lodge Hill’ Shiraz 2018 (Clare Valley SA): The nose shows red fruits, including strawberry, some vanilla and cedar, and herbal notes, especially rosemary. The palate is similarly red fruited with raspberry and cranberry, and a little blueberry as well. Its fresh and youthful, with good supporting acid, noticeable integrating tannins and a medium to long finish.

It was wonderful to see so many varied expressions of Shiraz. Wine of the night was the Plantagenet ‘Lancaster’ Shiraz 2018. Many thanks to the team at Mayfair Lane for their excellent cuisine and service.

Cheers
Allan

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[VinoEd]

I had always assumed the 1847 wines to be more ‘commercial’ - old vines and no doubt quality fruit, but mass production, box ticking wines, rather than unique expressions. I may have been wrong.

Thanks as always for your notes.