Dowie Doole Reserve Shiraz 2022

A cracking McLaren Vale Shiraz from the Tatachilla sub-region, the vineyard was originally planted in 1974. Known as the California Road Vineyard, the fruit spends time maturing in French oak puncheons and hogsheads, around half new. For me, this is possibly the best one I’ve seen from this producer. Dark maroon with a magenta rim, the nose reveals aromas of mulberries, plums, blackberries, aniseed and truffles. There is beautifully handled oak here and with time in the glass we see the emergence of spicy notes as well as hints of vanilla and smoked meats. What one might think of as a seriously good nose. The wine is seamless, well-structured and very long, finishing with silky tannins. On the palate, we see chocolate, cold tea, coffee beans and blackcurrants. The wine is finely balanced and should provide pleasure for at least another twenty years.