Haselgrove Dileab Shiraz 2019

The trend to use weird and wonderful names for wines is showing no sign of easing – suggesting that my doubts as to its possible success are well off the mark. ‘Dileab’ means ‘heritage’ in Celtic. I guess as good a name as any for the wine. 12,018 bottles made and this is one you do not want to miss. If plush, joyful McLaren Vale reds are your thing, do not hesitate. 

Haselgrove is a famous name in McLaren Vale wine – indeed, a famous name in Australian wine – and while they seem to drift in and out of the winelovers’ eye, if this is an indication of what they intend to offer us, welcome back to the spotlight. 

This wine is made from grapes sourced from top sites around the best sub-districts of McLaren Vale and then spent 18 to 24 months in French and American oak (yes, one would assume that notes on the wine would be able to get a smidge closer to the exact period but it hardly matters). An inky black purple colour. Aromas of chocolate and cassis, aniseed and blackberries, licorice and tar. Seamless, big, bold and welcoming. Classic McLaren Vale. Juicy and generous. Great length here, through to satiny tannins. A cracker.