Exotic shiraz

Wine Classification Feature Week

Dalwhinnie Moonambel Shiraz 2020, Pyrenees, AUD $70

Dalwhinnie is one of those small, iconic wineries that delivers the goods year in, year out. Established nearly 50 years ago, it is synonymous with powerfully built, fragrant and age-worthy shiraz, and this wine absolutely plays to that theme. The fruit was sourced from the original Dalwhinnie estate vineyards and the wine spent 20 months in French oak barriques prior to bottling.

Deep, dark, inky red and opaque in the glass. Brooding aromas of iodine, spice, mulberry, blackberry, charcuterie, charred meat and ferrous earth. There’s a whole lot of exotica going on. The flavours are chewy, fleshy, black fruit driven and expansive. Quite youthful and full of satsuma plum, blackcurrant, black olive, a lick of char and licorice. The tannins are firm and forceful and the acidity brings a decent amount of cut and life to the finish. (Screwcap)

Score: 95 ★★★★★ – view original tasting note

Alcohol: 14%

Ageing: now to 2039

Food: osso buco with polenta

Stockists: Fogarty Wine Group (Dalwhinnie); Different Drop online; Prince Wine Store and online (AU)

Ranked: #15 of 104 2020 Shiraz from Victoria

Awarded: Top Rank

Wine Classification: 1 Merit