Tag Archives: McLaren Vale

This is the second of my review of the 2011 McLaren Vale Scarce Earth Shiraz Project wines.  A summary of the project and the tasting is outlined in Part 1.

2011 McLaren Vale Scarce Earth Shiraz Project Tasting

Below is the McLaren Vale Region Geology Map with the different districts shown.

District 5 or Whites Valley

From the coast, undulating coastal land forms the main ridge with heavy black cracking clay soil but with scattered calcrete outcrop and float.  Vineyards are generally early ripening similar to #1 and #2.

Hugh Hamilton Black Blood 1 ($70)

Made from fruit off the block next to the cellar door – same as last year.  Clean fruit with violets and white pepper on the nose.  Flavours of blackberry, cloves and licorice that on the whole was better balanced between fruit and oak when compared to the same wine last year.  I say this as last year I thought the wine needed a touch more oak – not so this time.

Shingleback Unedited Shiraz ($80)

Shingleback Unedited 2011 Shiraz

The aromas were strong with dried herbs and less blackberry fruit.  On the palate there seemed to be some fruit sweetness but more on the mulberry side (compared to blackberry).  There was the dried herb hit of oregano and rosemary with the distinct finish of licorice.

District 5 & 6

District 6 or Gloucester.  Soil are undulating rises on sandy sediments. Heavy black cracking clay soil with lesser silty
loam over red clay and over brown clay.

Inkwell Shiraz ($40)

Inkwell 2011 Scarce Earth Shiraz

Cherry conserve edge to the aromas with some fresh herbs with the unusual finish of dustiness with red licorice notes.  Lots going on here – even before the wine enters ones mouth.  once the wines hit my mouth I got an interesting mix of red and blue fruits with, this time, dried herbs.  The wine lingered and interestingly I thought the tannins were not too strong, however they certainly were drying to the teeth.  I have been lucky to have seen this in barrels and the discrete individual parcels of wine – this is definitely a case of the blend being better than any of the individual components.

District 7 or Maslin Beach / Bayliss

Soils – coastal land with undulating rises to the east on sand, not heavy clay. Heavy black cracking clay soil with lesser silty loam over red clay and over brown clay.  Moderate to steep slopes along Pedler Creek with sandy loam over red clay, sandy loam over brown clay and black-brown cracking clay.

Kangarilla Road Scarce Earth Project Shiraz ($60)

Kangarillia Road 2011 Scarce Earth Project Shiraz

As per last year this wine from a Maslins Beach vineyard (same vineyard and same grower) produces something different.  On the nose I got blackberry conserve with dried herbs (oregano and lavender) with an inherent minerality.  The blackberry conserve component is even more fitting for the flavours with that same minerality and slightly chewy tannins.

District 9 or Onkaparinga Hills

Soil: Loam over red clay on limey rock and shallow calcareous loam along the frontal hills from Pedler Creek in south to Morphett Vale in north.  Generally thin patchy soil with gravel and extensive outcrop of Neoproterozoic rocks on the moderate to steep slopes flanking Onkaparinga River. Loam over red or brown clay on bedrock and shallow stony loam.

Chapel Hill Winery The Chosen Road Block Shiraz ($75)

A cherry orientated aroma hints at an early picking regime for this vineyard (next to the Chapel Hill facility).  This wine shows red fruits and its class is defined by the length this wine stays on the palate.  The tannins were a little course but as expected this wine is made for the long haul and really needs some time to even get close to it’s best.

Chapel Hill Winery The Chosen House Block Shiraz ($75)

As expected this wine is high class and so different that the Road Block that is so close but so far.  I got lots of peat on this one and I expected this wine may have had some Blewitt Springs action (before I found out it was definitely from the House Block).  Big red and black fruits, subtle spice and dried herbs with a drying tannin finish.  The tannins were more than I expected from a Scare Earth Project wine however the wine is structured for success and will be thriving for at least the next 10 years.

Coriole Galaxicidia Single Block ($50)

Made from grapes grown on the Coriole vineyards (15 years old) near the cellar door and winery complex.  This wine is all about the vibrant red fruits with the licorice finish that one gets often with McLaren Vale Shiraz.  More of a medium bodied wine and thus different than the others from this district.

The McLaren Vale Scarce Earth Project has just released the third vintage of single vineyard Shiraz.  I have reviewed the project before and an outline of what the project is about and how a winery is judged to be Scarce Earth worthy can be found here.

The 2011 vintage was challenging with wet and cool conditions during the key ripening period.  There was some average wine made during this vintage but as with all years this generalisation is dangerous.   Good management and care in the vineyard and the winery can produce excellent wine even when conditions are “challenging”.   I was looking forward to this tasting to see how the different wineries worked their grapes.

This year I want to concentrate on the geology differences and how the McLaren Vale region has been split up into a number of different areas based not on location but on soil and weather types.  The geological map is shown below and I will reference the various districts in the wine reviews.

District 1 also known as the Sellicks Foothills

The soil is categorized as gently sloping fans and level flats formed on gravelly clay out wash sediments. Silty loam over red clay, silty loam over brown clay and in the west, black cracking clay.

Cradle of Hills Row 23 Shiraz ($45)

2011 Cradle of Hills Row 23 Shiraz

Made from the same vineyard as last year and has lovely fresh fruits and florals with white pepper aromas.  The flavours are a little green (maybe some of the grape seeds were a little green) which is not unexpected from the wet vintage conditions.  Clean fruit and acid with minimal tannins.  Some licorice pokes it head through on the back of the palate.

District 2 also known as Delabole.

The soils are similar to District 1 but is further from the ocean and thus has less coastal effects.

Shirvington Wines The Redwin Shiraz ($45)

From a Willunga vineyard close to the Willunga escarpment and I suspect in black clay soils.  Why do I say this?  Well the wine is all about strength.  Strong fruit, chocolate and violets with hints of peat (wich I was not expecting).  The strength continues in the mouth with the peat and violets continuing with the addition of a chocolate finish and the lick of french oak cedar.

District 3 also known as Strout.

The soil is categorized as gently sloping fans and level flats formed on gravelly outwash sediments in southern 4.5km. Silty loam over red clay, silty loam over brown clay and in the west, black cracking clay. Gentle slopes formed on heavy clay out wash sediments in northern 1.5km. Sandy loam over poorly-structured brown clay.  The impact from the ocean is less than in Districts 1 & 2.

Battle of Bosworth Chanticleer Single Vineyard Shiraz ($45)

Summed up with bright fruits, florals and pepper that is long lasting in the mouth.  Probably a little disjointed at this time and needs time in the bottle to be a little beauty.

Battle of Bosworth Braden’s Single Vineyard Shiraz ($45)

From a Bay of Biscay clay soil vineyard and based on this I was expecting strength.  Compared to the other BoB offering that is what was on offer.  The fruit was the hero here with a fine licorice finish.

Halifax Per Se Block ($65)

I have been a bog fan of all the offerings from Halifax and just love the philosophy of Peter (wine maker) who wants his wines to be expressions of the vineyard and the fruit is the key.  Minimal oak influences are seen here.  This wine just continues this focus with aromas of  red and blue fruit (not expecting this for a Shiraz and was definitely a point of difference to the other Scarce Earth wines) with perfume florals.  The flavours go through layers of the plum fruit, licorice, florals and a touch a cinnamon with just a slight lick of oak tannins.  Yes I really like this wine.

Coriole Willunga Old Vine Shiraz ($50)

From a 95 year old vineyard and dark fruit character abounds.  Deep black fruits with a white pepper side dish.  The oak was a little more obvious than the other wines so far but not over done.