FOX CREEK 2023 MCLAREN SHIRAZ

The wine

 This wine celebrates the quintessential varietal and regional characteristics of McLaren Vale Shiraz. This wine has a dark inky glossy black cherry colour. Intense and lifted, with plums, berries and rich dark chocolate on the aroma. The palate is full, generous and mouth filling with fruit flavours with a touch of spice and vanilla from oak maturation. The finish is persistent with fine dusty tannins. Full flavoured, smooth and rich. Delicious.

The vintage

2023 was a challenging vintage with cool and wet conditions that delayed harvest by more than a month in some blocks. Windy, cold and wet conditions at flowering reduced the yields across the McLaren Vale region resulting in the lowest tonnage crushed since 1993. The reduced yields in combination with the cool conditions resulted in Shiraz fruit that is perfect for the Fox Creek Family Shiraz. Fruit that has concentration of flavour, purity of Shiraz expression, with freshness and vibrancy.

Ageing potential

Designed to be enjoyed with youthful vibrancy the density and powerful fruit flavours will evolve and gain complexity with short term careful cellaring of 5-10 years.

Food pairing

BBQ, pizza and yum cha.

The winemaking

Blocks of Shiraz fruit are identified in the vineyard from berry tasting and having historical knowledge of which blocks produce the intense McLaren Vale Shiraz expression required for our Family Shiraz. Each vineyard parcel was made separately as individual ferments for between 7-10 days with careful and gentle extraction regime. The wines were then pressed off to mature and soften in a mix of well-seasoned French and American oak barrels including large format Puncheons for less than 12 months, bright fresh fruit flavours are required for this style. Barrel selection of multiple batches allowed us to produce this layered and generous Shiraz.