Paradise IV Winery has a long and proud history dating back to 1848 when James Henry Dardel first established his Paradise Winery, a collection of four vineyards on the banks of the Moorabool River in the Moorabool Valley. An aromatic nose of cloves, berries and cherry. Wonderful balance in the mouth with a light and shade to the constantly evolving flavours. The tannins are fine and resolved but still present and shape the mouthfeel. Oak is perfectly integrated. Savoury, cool-climate Shiraz.
A wild, spicy, meaty Rhône Valley style whose rather funky bouquet of dark plums, blackberries and briar is underpinned by smoky, mocha and chestnut-like oak and faint herbal nuances. Medium to full-bodied, it’s sumptuous and seamless, with a deep, lingering core of vibrant dark plums, cherries, licorice and savoury quality wrapped in velvet tannins. It delivers a fragrant and depth of expression rare in Australian shiraz.
96 points, JeremyOliver.com
Bright hue, with more purple than the Bates' Ford, and has more structure and darker fruits, and may well have a longer life. Both these wines are exceptional for the vintage, for there have been no magic tricks in the winery, and neither need any excuse.
94 points, Wine Companion (December 2012)
Victoria’s first commercial wine was produced in Geelong by Swiss immigrants in 1845. During the mid- 1800’s Geelong was the largest grape-growing region in Victoria with 400 hectares under vine. When phylloxera struck in the 1870s however, the vines were decimated and it was not until the late 1960’s that the area’s vineyards were re-established. Located about 80 km southwest of Melbourne, Geelong has a cool maritime climate with low rainfall and prevalent cool blustery winds that affect flowering and Franceuit set. Soils are diverse, mostly volcanic over limestone with some lesser quality black soils. The region is dotted primarily with family owned wineries producing small quantities of high quality Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz & Cabernet Sauvignon.
