-
97
/ 100
Campbell Mattinson -
97
/ 100
James Halliday's Wine Companion -
97
/ 100
Huon Hooke
Red
Classification
Shiraz
Variety
2022
Vintage
750ml (Bottle)
Bottle Size
Australia
Country
South Australia, McLaren Vale
Region
13.0%
Alcohol %
5-10 Years
Cellaring
Scores
97 / 100"If you’re lucky, and most of us aren’t, there comes a time in your life when it all comes together. I suspect that’s what’s happened with this Blewitt Springs vineyard, planted in the middle of the Second World War, and the collection of wine people behind MMAD, all of whom have weathered a lot of summers in a lot of places in the pursuit of wine excellence. This wine tastes of a lot of right decisions, and of a lot of time spent in the journey to them. It has texture, balance, flavour and all that, but as my mum would say, ‘any dumb bunny can do that’. More importantly, what this wine has is all the nods and winks. I once wrote, a long time ago, of a moment where union legend David Campese ran straight through a bunch of defenders without breaking stride, or altering course. He did something, something that couldn’t be seen, and made the impossible look effortless. So too here. It has degrees of silk, fruit enough, a spinnaker on the finish, a volume of nuance. If there was such a thing for single vineyard, vintage, Aussie shiraz, this wine would be classified as first growth."
- Campbell Mattinson
97 / 100
"This is a seriously impressive release, showcasing winemaker Adam Wadewitz’s learnings from the first vintage and the bounty of full viticultural control. The old-vine fruit could easily handle about one-third whole bunch, a Wadewitz favourite. And that impact is profoundly positive, weaving in spicy, smoky notes and complexing tannins to provide exceptional tension without greenness. Red and blue fruits, violet and dusky red florals, coal dust, anise, cacao and roasted coffee bean. Intensity on the palate at moderate alcohol and no heavy mid-palate sweetness nor new oak. Rather, it is poised throughout, with fruit intensity seamlessly meshed into a silky, supple but aptly assertive structure, a ferrous nori/kelp mineral note underpinning. For a site purchased prizing grenache, this is a revelation."
- James Halliday's Wine Companion
97 / 100
"An outstanding shiraz. The tannins are formidable and sneaky—they will ensure a long aging career. A stonking McLaren Vale regional shiraz."
- Huon Hooke
Tasting Notes
Lovely mild ripening conditions gave beautiful balance to the Shiraz. The fruit was hand-picked, 80% destemmed, and whole berries and whole bunches were fermented in open vats with gentle extraction. There is old vine concentration, and opulence on the palate, with notes of mulberry, blackberry, cinnamon, and dark chocolate. Generous, layered, and complex, with tannins and savoury notes that keep the fruit in check.
Serving Temperature - 16 – 18°C
Cellaring Potential - Has the concentration and structure to develop fine tertiary characters in bottle over the next 15 years.
ABV - 13.5%
Located in the dress circle of Blewitt Springs, MMAD Vineyard was first planted in 1939, and the oldest Shiraz blocks date from 1941. The vineyard has the fine Maslin sands found in Blewitt Springs, and is exposed to the fresh sea breezes from the south-west. Below the sand is a layer of ironstone pebbles, and this combination of sand, ironstone, and cooling winds gives both perfume and structure to the wines.
Tasting Profile
- Light
- Full
- Low Tannin
- Tannic
- Sweet
- Dry
- Low Acidity
- High Acidity