Cloudwine. Mount Avoca Shiraz 2009

Mount Avoca Shiraz 2009

Jeremy Pringle: "Undoubtedly one of the bargains of the year thus far. Outstanding value"

Winemakers John Harris and Cameron McPherson continue to lift the bar at this long-established (1970) winery. Bright crimson-purple; the bouquet has the special fragrance that comes from co-fermented viognier, bright yet also complex; whole bunch shirazfermentation (plus the viognier) has worked brilliantly, giving the wine great texture, length and balance. From Pyrenees, Vic. Drink to 2024 with Wagyu. 96 points, $27, Screwcap, 13.5% alc. James Halliday Top 100 2011

"94 Points. Wines like this shiraz from Mount Avoca make my life as a reviewer so much easier. Open the top and the quality bursts forward. Fresh, vibrant, fruity – and interesting. Plums and eucalypt, smoky cedarwood and fine, gravelly, minerally tannin. It’s essence of shiraz. It’s not over the top. It’s balanced and bright and lengthy. It’s gold medal standard for mine. Alcohol: 13.5% Closure: Screwcap Drink: 2012 - 2019" Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front.

Vibrant and full mulberry colour. Peppery, plum jam nose, with the Viognier working to advantage here, adding an extra weight of pure juiciness and a little floral sexiness.. Nice flick of Pyrenees mint and menthol too. Palate is very tight yet honest andquite pure. Silken, purple, plum jam palate is juicy, ripe and generous yet also savoury, the texture just about perfect. Integrated oak, fleshy blueberry finish. Late, proper tannins. Lovely Viognier integration here, all blueberry edges and a bright androunded palate with style much above the price point. Winner! 18/93. Andrew Graham.

The Dalwhinnies and Warrenmangs of the world may fly the flag admirably for high-end Pyrenees wine, but lately, I've been really impressed by a number of more modestly priced Pyrenees reds, from emerging brands such as Blue Pyrenees, Mitchell Harris and Mount Avoca. The last two names mentioned here share an important resource; the winemaking skills of one John Harris.

Mount Avoca's 2009 Shiraz may well contain some viognier, but v-weed sceptics needn't worry because it's disguised well. In fact, its aroma just beams sexy young shiraz appeal. It's bright, fruity and vividly ripened; showing classic Australian form, yetits proudest punch is pulled by a minty, regional whiff of eucalyptus, whilst a toasty side note of fragrant coffee/vanilla oak complements a drier, more savoury edge. The palate slides in with a fine assortment of medium-bodied, rich, silky flavours, allcleverly offset by a gritty acid/tannin balance, but its most pleasing feature may be the way its bright fruit fore-palate translates into lingering, savoury, earthen tones, spiced up by a dry touch of clove. For its price, the transition is something special. So is its ripeness, brightness, winemaking, balance, polish...

An incredible, delicious effort from a hot, trying vintage. Undoubtedly one of the bargains of the year thus far. Outstanding value. Drink to 2017. Chris Plummer

Key Points

James Halliday Top 100 2011
96 points. James Halliday
94 Points. Campbell Mattinson
93 Points. Andrew Graham.
"Undoubtedly one of the bargains of the year thus far. Outstanding value." Chris Plummer

$25.00 incl tax

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Elefante Tempranillo Shiraz 2009	One Tree Paddock Shiraz 2009
Tim Adams Clare Valley Riesling 2007	Bests Great Western Riesling 2011