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97
/ 100
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96
/ 100
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96
/ 100
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96
/ 100
7%
OFF
Tasting Notes
2022 IRONHEART SHIRAZ
Ironheart is the flagship Shiraz from our single vineyard estate in Blewitt Springs at the northern edge of McLaren Vale. The vineyard’s northern aspect, higher elevation and sandy ironstone soils produce Shiraz with immense concentration and finesse.
VINTAGE SUMMARY
The 2022 growing season followed very similar conditions to 2021, though slightly cooler. There were favourable winter rains and a mild flowering and fruit set period. The cool ripening period took place between late January through to harvest in March. Yields were well balanced, and we were pleased with the fruit ripeness, intensity, freshness, and natural acidity. The 2022 Grenaches will be known for their low pH, resulting tight frame structure and their potential for longevity.
WINEMAKING
100% Shiraz. Hand-picked on 24th of March, 25% whole bunches, and the remainder destemmed, mechanically berry sorted, and crushed. Open fermenters and on skins for approximately 21 days. A gentle maceration principle of wetting the cap and only draining and returning as required. Wild yeast ferment. No pressings are used in this wine. Matured in French oak for a total of 19 months. Kept on lees for 12 months in French oak puncheons (35% new) and then blended to a 2 year old Austrian and French oak foudre and further matured for 7 months. Bottled November 2023. Certified Organic/Biodynamic.
Tasting Profile
- Light
- Full
- Low Tannin
- Tannic
- Sweet
- Dry
- Low Acidity
- High Acidity
Classification: Red
Variety: Shiraz
Vintage: 2022
Bottle Size: 750ml (Bottle)
Country: Australia
Region: South Australia, McLaren Vale
Alcohol %: 14.5%
Cellaring: 15 Plus Years
Scores
97 / 100"'22 was a cool year that produced some reticent but excellent grenache, while shiraz seemed to sail through untroubled. This is an infant, of course, but there’s a ready appeal not always seen at this stage, a meshing of red, blue and black fruits – ripe raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, tart boysenberry, red plum, black olive – with an overlay of baking spices, iodine, coffee grounds and beef bouillon. And iron, yes. It’s on the label. In the ground. In the wine. Here, the wine benefits from that soil transfer being elegant, filigreed, not rugged. It needs a little time to be its best, but it’s a superb release."
- James Halliday's Wine Companion
96 / 100
"The expressive 2022 Shiraz Ironheart is rich yet measured with a powerfully expressive core of bloody ferrous aromas lifted by dark earth and crushed spice tones. There is a finer side—touches of dried violet, white pepper and coal fire— with significant underlying tension as it tightens up on the long, enthralling close."
- Angus Hughson
96 / 100
"Deep ruby with a hint of purple in the light. Blood plum, lavender bush, nori and blackberry pastille aromatics. Deep and powerful, dense black and blue fruits fill the senses, equally balanced by anise, blood, nori and black pepper spices. It builds and builds to a crescendo of flavour intensity, but remains unwavering and driven by powerful fine gravelly tannins. The length is prodigious, carrying the harmony long and lingering, eventually fading with a drying flourish."
- Stuart Knox
96 / 100
"Floral and perfumed with an underlying power, showing notes of mulberries, wild blackberries, Damson plums and cured meat. The palate is full-bodied with seamless tannins and bright acidity, giving robust notes of dark cherries, iodine, mocha, violets and ferric earth. Well balanced and structured. Very serious. Drink or hold. Screw cap."
- James Suckling
