In 2021, Six Splits, Adairs Lane and the Original Vineyard comprise this wine. Mt Pleasant, being exclusively dry grown, needs wetter seasons in order to contribute to this cuvée. Six years out of 10 make it into the Shiraz Reserve wine. The vines don't tend to handle the summer particularly well. The 2021 Shiraz Reserve does not feature any added acid, and the wine is fresh; the alcohol, despite being 16.1% (the labels are all different; the indications are accurate), does not feel apparent. The wine is not heavy. By the numbers, it has a pH of 3.78 (picked at 3.4 grams, and up to 3.78 after malolactic fermentation) and total acidity of 7.1 grams. The wine was matured for 23 months in 100% new French oak. The oak (heavy toast, tight grain) is the only component that stands out here, but I am confident, given the volume of fruit, that this will ameliorate in time. This is a superb wine. It is balanced and fresh and rich at once; I never thought I'd say that about a Shiraz with 16% alcohol! Flavors of Szechuan and pink peppercorn, cocoa, pomegranate molasses, Medjool dates, raspberry, blackberry and licorice abound, and there is iodine, blood and iron, black tea, black cherry and blood plums. Super super. The drinking window is conservative, but it will show primary fruit. 16/1% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2023 - 2041.
Source: Robert Parker.