O’Leary Walker Clare Shiraz 2021

This superb Clare Valley Shiraz, which has been racking up the bling as they say in the classics, was sourced from two of the region’s top sub-regions, Armagh and Polish Hill River, with each parcel fermented discretely. Maturation was for two years in French oak, a quarter of it new, and it helps to come from such a stellar vintage. Gosh, this is an impressive wine. It drinks more impressively than many wines two or three times the price and will surely be in any conversation for best value wine of the year. Deep maroon hue, this offers such a seductively appealing nose. There is early complexity already evident, aromas of dried herbs, chocolate, cloves, aniseed, soy, coffee beans, blueberries and black fruits. The oak is immaculately integrated and the wine is seamless, supple with such silky tannins. This will help redefine the Clare Valley as one of the great regions for Aussie Shiraz. Impeccably balanced, a fine line of acidity, bright energy, very impressive length, this wine has everything. Wonderful stuff. Ten to fifteen years ahead of it, I see suggestions that one should attempt to refrain from drinking it now… good luck with that. Love it.