Dowie Doole Cali Road Shiraz 2022

The fruit here comes from the California Road Vineyard in the McLaren Vale sub-region of Tatachilla (yes, technically McLaren Vale does not have strictly defined sub-regions according to regulations, so we are talking in general – small “s” sub-regions, if you prefer). The vineyard was planted in the year 2000, and maturation was in American oak hogsheads for three years, half of which were new. Dark red/maroon in hue, there is still lashings of oak in the process of integration, as one might expect. The nose also gives us notes of chocolate, coffee beans, mocha, cocoa powder, blackberries, dried herbs, cloves and leather, while the palate has a sweet core of that chocolate and touches of vanilla. Seamless on the palate through to sleek tannins, there is good length here. Quite a plush and generous style which will provide much pleasure over the next ten to twelve years, longer if you have the patience, though I’d be inclined to give it three to four years before opening, just to give that oak a chance to finish integrating.