2018 Special Reserve Shiraz

Rich, rounded, beautiful.

VINTAGE 2018 was a great vintage.  Good rains during last winter ensured a full soil moisture profile. Consistent weather until late Summer also helped the vines gain strength to settle for a  couple of hot spells just before ripening which was marked by ideal dry conditions.

VARIETY While Huntington Cabernet leads the way in the Trophy and Medal tally, it is Huntington Shiraz that often wins the hearts of our customers. As smooth and as fruity as you’d expect from the variety; the fine tannins are well managed to provide structure and length as well as the ability to age. Mudgee produces outstanding Shiraz in both the warm and cool years.  

VINEYARD / WINEMAKING Received 9.4 tonnes of fruit from Block 2 21/2/2018 at 13.9Bé. 12 days on skins followed by 19 months in a blend of 36% new French and American oak. Bottled 15/10/19 at 13.8% alc/vol.

IN GLASS Ruby.

IN NOSE Ripe black fruit, soft pepper spice. Fresh sawn cypress sweetness and toasted oak notes.

IN MOUTH Soft and rounded red and black fruit. Refreshing on the palate with pleasing acidity. Medium plus body, lovely black tea characters and a fruit led finish.

CELLAR until 2038+

ACCLAIM

94/100 "Big love here. Cold nights, fireside chats, this is a cuddle in a bottle. A fabulous Mudgee Shiraz. American oak seeps through just a little more than it needs to for now. But this wine is a keeper. Decant well before drinking if you must tuck in now but throw it in a dark place and the reward will be golden - a bit like the label. I'm hooked early. Think blackberries and licorice, Nestle Rolo chocolates and cedary oak. For 13.2% there is some fantastic depth here - it rolls on and on. Some charcoal and earthiness fuse with the generous black fruit. Sweet spices wrap themselves around a long and moreish finish. Those big, voluptuous Mudgee tannins then take the stage and roll on and on. Dusty pillows of pleasure coat the mouth as they gradually dry out. Brilliant with the best yet to come." QWINE 2022

92/100 "A glossy but deep red in the glass, there is immediate impact of coconut like oak on the nose that works well with black cherry and plum; the plate has flowing acidity with fruit tending to dark cherry. Oak is a continual influence that is both textural and spiced, with tannins in part from the wood. There is a chocolate influence to the fruit and savoury impact on the finish. As is almost always the case a long term cellaring prospect." THE WINE REVIEWER 2022

90/100 "Allspice, raspberries and black plums on the nose lead into a drawing and chewy core. Flavours of oak and an added layer of tannins tip the scales towards structure over fruit. It needs time as there is a lovely core of fruit under the structure." THE REAL REVIEW 2022

"My sense of smell and taste were hit with continual waves of rich and lush dark fruits (think blackberries, dark cherry and plum) and there’s a lovely creamy (almost) dark chocolate feel through the palate.  The oak and tannins show their hand as usual with these wines when they are so young but, they have excellent support from the perfectly ripe, and obvious quality fruit." WORDS FROM A WINEGLASS 2022