Grey Label McLaren Vale Shiraz 2017
Wolf Blass
Grey Label McLaren Vale Shiraz 2017
Wolf Blass
Grey Label McLaren Vale Shiraz 2017
Overview
Overview
Mclaren Vale Shiraz is inherently suited to the Grey Label style, rich, plush and powerful, yet with an approachability that provides sheer enjoyment throughout its evolution over time in bottle.
Grey Label Shiraz was sourced from vineyards ranging in altitudes from about 50m near the coast to 200m where McLaren Vale merges with the Adelaide Hills, bringing complexity and layers of interest to the final wine. The region mostly spans two basins of ancient bedrock layered with sediments laid down by advances and retreats of the sea over the past 45 million years. Soil types vary from sands, yellow clays, and red and black loams through to ironstone.
Individual vineyard batches were fermented in small open-top fermenters for 5 to 10 days. Plunging and gentle irrigation were used to work the cap and optimise flavour, colour and tannin extraction, providing for concentration and depth of fruit flavour, while keeping tannins plush, hallmarks of the Grey Label style. Select batches completed fermentation in barrel, contributing mid-palate texture, while others finished fermentation on skins, providing structural length and focus.
| Varietal | Shiraz |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2017 |
| Country | Australia |
| Region | McLaren Vale |
| Volume | 750 mL |
| Closure | Screw Cap |
| Alc/Vol | 14.5% |
| Peak Drinking | Now - 2027 |
| Winemaker | Marie Clay |
Awards and Accolades
Awards and Accolades
| Gold | Melbourne Wine show 2019 |
| Silver | Adelaide Wine Show 2019 |
| Silver | McLaren vale Wine Show 2019 |
| Silver | National Wine Show of Australia 2019 |
| Bronze | KPMG Sydney royal Wine Show 2019 |
| 95 points | Toni Paterson MW |
| 95 points | James Halliday |
| 94 points | Ray Jordan |
| 93 points | Campbell Mattinson |
| 92 points | Huon Hooke |
James Halliday
“Fermentation was completed in new French and American barrels, then matured in those barrels for 15 months before blending and bottling. Vivid colour; the winemakers of McLaren Vale agree '17 is among the greatest ever vintages for the region, and this proves that belief. My only reservation is the amount of oak. On the basis that fans of Wolf Blass know the predilection for French oak, I'm giving way on the oak issue."
Ray Jordan
"This is sourced from McLaren. An elegantly structured shiraz displaying vibrant blackberry and spicy licorice notes on the nose.The palate is supremely balanced with fine oak and tannin integration. Dark choccies and spicy blackberry flavours work together. Nice floral notes add another dimension. (Best drinking: Now to 2030)”
Campbell Mattinson
"From vineyards in McLaren Vale, this is matured in (new) French and American oak for 15 months. It’s as you would expect, heavy fruit and heavy oak, though there’s a freshness to the profile this time around that is most appealing. It’s always a brute of a wine but it punches you with old suede kid gloves this year. Vanilla-cream, mint, blueberry and sweet plums. Al dente tannin is just the right complement to the smooth of pour of flavour. It’s a very good rendition of Grey Label Shiraz."
Food Pairing
Food Pairing
Beef
Lamb
Duck
Veg
Pizza
Taste Description
Taste Description
Nose
Aromatic blue fruits are complexed with notes of dark chocolate, warm spice and subtle nougat oak
Viticulture Vintage & Winemaking
Viticulture Vintage & Winemaking
McLaren Vale, South Australia
McLaren Vale lies nestled between the Mt Lofty Ranges and the rolling white sand beaches of Gulf St Vincent. With its warm Mediterranean climate, relaxed coastal ambience and superb local produce, McLaren Vale is a melting pot of food, wine and the arts: the ultimate epicurean destination. The region is renowned for its soft and velvety Shiraz, with pronounced berry, spice and chocolate flavours.
VINTAGE CONDITIONS
Good soil moisture from above-average winter and spring rain established healthy vines. Conditions during flowering were stable and dry, though cool spring weather delayed flowering, and ultimately veraison and harvest. Autumn was warm and dry, with little natural rainfall, but some morning dews. Reds are bright, lively and elegant with strong fruit characters.
Marie Clay - Winemaker
Wolf Blass winemaker Marie Clay discovered wine through her Dad's stellar collection of South Australian reds. Like all good fathers, he stocked up on the birth year of his two daughters. In Marie's case, that just happened to be a lovely bottle of 1979 Wolf Blass Black Label, which was cracked at her 21st birthday.
After graduating in 2000 from the University of Adelaide with first Class honours in Oenology, Marie received the Southcorp wine scholarship. This allowed her to travel and work with the company’s best winemakers across the Australian wine regions of Coonawarra, Barossa, Sunraysia and Great Western. Following these experiences, Marie worked with Lindeman’s for 4 years at both their NSW and Victorian wineries, overseeing white wine production.
In December 2006 Marie joined the Wolf Blass winemaking team in the Barossa, where she relished the opportunity to work with premium red wines from vineyard to bottle. She loves working in a modern winery that allows the fruit's potential to be realised. Langhorne Creek and McLaren Vale, the heartland regions of the Grey Label range, are particularly close to her heart.