Mitolo Marsican Shiraz 2020

One of the heavy bottle brigades – expect these to go the way of the dinosaurs as we move to a more sustainable future. In the meantime, enjoy them, especially as they so often indicate something special within. Frank Mitolo’s father, Bruno, brought the family to Australia from the Abruzzo region of Italy. The region is home to the Marsican bear, which apparently forms the Ursa Major constellation. The wine comes from the finest barrels, new French oak hogsheads, of their McLaren Vale Shiraz, which spend 18 months maturing. Dark magenta, this is big, ripe, powerful, intense and, pretty much, the quintessential McLaren Vale Shiraz. A supple, creamy texture, there are notes of mocha, chocolate, beefstock, aniseed and blackberries. Excellent length, with soft graphite-like tannins, this will provide pleasure for twenty years.