{"title":"Shiraz","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"2023-lo-behold-shiraz-mourvedre-carignan","title":"2023 Lo \u0026 Behold Shiraz-Mourvedre-Carignan","description":"\u003cp\u003eSourced from vineyards in the mountainous region of Piekenierskloof, above the Citrusdal Valley, Western Cape in South Africa. Vines up to 25 years old sit atop sandstone soils at altitude of 650-700m and take in the dry hot summer days, cool nights and mild, wet winters. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach variety is vinified separately. Shiraz aged with French oak during the malolactic fermentation for 6 months. All varieties fermented and aged in stainless steel for 6 months before being blended.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTasting note: Fresh, ripe fruit and white pepper on the nose. Mourvèdre brings a dark, rich fruit core to the classic Shiraz characteristics, with fragrance from the Carignan and the red fruit vibrancy of the Cinsault.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFood match: Works beautifully with pizza, Mediterranean pastas or a lamb ragu.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lo and Behold","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42616073977930,"sku":"S129702231","price":13.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2140\/3211\/files\/2023_Lo___Behold_Shataz_blend.png?v=1762438147"},{"product_id":"2021-thistledown-where-eagles-dare-single-vineyard-shiraz","title":"2021 Thistledown Where Eagles Dare SIngle Vineyard Shiraz Eden Valley Barossa","description":"\u003cp\u003eThistledown was founded by Master of Wine, Giles Cooke who had a vision for a more elegant, textural interpretation of Australian wine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInitial explorations resulted in access to many of the best vineyards, many of which were the previously unloved Old Vine Grenache. Incredible, historic fruit sources coupled with Giles’ increasingly adept efforts has quickly resulted in a reputation for being amongst the best in the country. Narrating the stories of these wines to an increasingly attentive global audience is Giles’ heartfelt commitment and mission.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePerched high above the Barossa, the Eden Valley can be a precarious but highly rewarding place in which to grow grapes. This single vineyard, at 550m above sea level is hauntingly beautiful. Home to the majestic wedgetail eagle, the soils composed of pink quartz and ironstone, provide a formidable substrate in which the vines takes a tenuous hold. Fruit is sourced from one of Joel Mattschoss’ Mengler’s vineyards. The fruit is hand-picked and transferred to the winery.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e20% of the total weight is placed in whole bunches in a concrete egg while the balance is crushed and placed on top. A spontaneous fermentation with no physical extraction aims to capture the rugged beauty of the vineyard while preserving the energy and vitality that are the hallmarks of our style. A brief post fermentation maceration is followed by pressing to French oak for 11 months (approx 20% is new).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIntense, tightly coiled and vital, this wine is like a great orator. Beautifully complex, red and black bramble fruits support the naunces of spice and peppery notes. Every component measured and well timed, the tone lifts and falls, all the while building emotion and resonance. Tension and excitement builds and leads through to a memorable finish. Oh, and it tastes amazing!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFood Matching:  Big meaty dishes, with rich and reductive sauces.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"title\"\u003eAwards\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Wine Advocate 93 Points\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 2021 Where Eagles Dare Shiraz hails from the Mattschoss vineyard up in Eden Valley, and the wine is intially quite aromatically subdued. In the mouth, the fruit bursts from the docks, with licorice, blackberry, mulberry and black olive brine. The wine feels like it needs a really good decant to assist it in unfurling and giving up some of the characters we know it can have. The wine is elegant and fine yet grunty and forthright, driven by tannin and grit in the mouth. For all of these descriptors, the wine is actually elegant, but it just does so with some texture, which I like. Bottle number 0996 of 1775, 14.5% alcohol, sealed under Diam and wax. 93 Points, EL, August 2021.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJancis Robinson 17\/ 20 Points\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDeep crimson. Really appetising and savoury. Creamy-sweet but not heavy. Lots of drive here. Polished tannins. Light years from the old stereotype of Oz Shiraz. Dry but not drying finish. Well done! Food would be necessary with this wine in the short term. 17 Points, JR, April 2025.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHalliday Wine Companion 94 Points\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSourced from the Mengler Hill site in Eden Valley. Hand picked and fermented wild in a concrete egg, replete with 20% whole bunches, before transfer to French oak (20% new). A lather of lilac, lavender and aniseed defines a sumptuous nose. Purple fruits and rosewater, the palate, with a creep of tannin growing in gravitas across the back end as the wine opens. This is a delicious, full-weighted expression of considerable class and detail. Top of the totem in the region. 94 Points\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Vineking","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43252222918730,"sku":"A305512211","price":55.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2140\/3211\/files\/WhereEaglesDare.png?v=1769155954"},{"product_id":"2022-natte-valleij-swallow-copy","title":"2023 Natte Valleij Swallow","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAlex Milner tells me that this is the wine they started with. Nowadays it's their experimentation wine, 'a platform to play around on and of course to lap up all the extras'. It's usually Shiraz dominated and the rest depends on what comes in. 2023 is 49% Shiraz, 31% Mourvèdre, 20% Grenache Noir. All Darling fruit. Bottled 8 April 2025. TA 5.63, RS 2.61 g\/l, pH 3.8, VA 0.75. 4,500 bottles produced.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePink and red tones. Grippy, bold, sassy. Minty and menthol, giving a lingering 'cold heat' on the tongue. Chunky but super-fresh and very, very vital. This would be such a great wine for a lamb burger. (TC)  \u003cstrong\u003e16\/20 Jancisrobinson.com\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Natte Valleij","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43560295563338,"sku":"S123804221","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2140\/3211\/files\/Swallow.png?v=1777628433"}],"url":"https:\/\/thevineking.com\/collections\/gra-shiraz\/the-vineking.oembed","provider":"The Vineking","version":"1.0","type":"link"}