Bleasdale Reserve Shiraz 2021 

Each day I find myself in this quandary – an uneven balance between want and need – exacerbated by renovations and a partner working in cost consultancy. There comes a point in your life where the carpenter takes precedence over Cru Chardonnay. Fortunately, we are blessed with saviours in Langhorne Creek like Bleasdale whom contest the proverbial you can’t have your cake (wine) and eat (drink) it. A bottle of their $30 Reserve Shiraz bears witness. Deep crimson, a pervading perfume of sweet berry fruit and floral lift are imbued with graphite and soy. An immediate people pleaser – there is abundance in flavour, layered by fruits of the forest, panforte, pomegranate, pine and Milo choc malt. And just like the latter, a heaping serve is destined. A wine of laudable composure, its oak evident yet respectful providing support and structure without detracting from the fruit. Very Langhorne Creek. Over time an earthiness evolves, while sweet vanillin ricochets off cushiony tannins to a finish that sees greater length than a majority of my $30 purchases.

Tijana Laganin

Director at Winepilot

Tijana is on a mission to take the intimidation out of wine. With a background in sales and marketing, she furthered her studies to complete WSET Levels 2 and 3. An advocate for chardonnay, she plans to use her position as Deputy Chair for Wine Communicators SA Chapter to break the ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) stigma. If sentenced to death, her last meal would be freshly baked bread and salted butter paired with a glass of the best wine in the world - chardonnay of course.

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