A 60/40% blend, the bouquet is very fragrant, with the plum-accented malbec contribution obvious (as it should be); the palate has multiple layers of flavour, with blackberry and black cherry ex the shiraz leading the way, complexed by notes of plum from the malbec, half-suggesting some fruitcake flavours.
97 points, Wine Companion (March 2014)
The Clare Valley
The Clare Valley is located two hours north of Adelaide in the Mount Lofty ranges. The region was settled by John Horrocks who encouraged his servant James Green to plant the first vines in 1842. Climate in the Clare Valley is continental with hot summers, cold winters and low rainfall that necessitates supplementary irrigation. Soils in the valley are predominantly red brown loams over shale, permitting excellent drainage. Many of the best vineyards are located at higher elevations of 400-500m on sites that take advantage of the cool breezes that funnel up the corrugation of hills from the south. The Clare Valley is renowned for its zesty fruit-pure Rieslings particularly from the sub-regions of Polish Hill and Watervale. The region also produces intense age-worthy sturdy reds from Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.
