Parker Estate Kidman Block Shiraz 2023

The Kidman Block Shiraz comes from 50+ year old vines in Tim Kidman’s vineyard in the northern end of the terra rossa cigar.  This spent 16 months in French oak hogsheads with 20% of the final blend. White pepper spice, dark cherry, blood plum and cured meat aromas sit cool and restrained in the glass before an unfurling of earth, blackberry, peppercorn and menthol. Some dusty cedar-like notes beneath. It’s restrained and poised aromatically, with an attractive mix of savouriness and dark fruit. The palate is at once lifted and mouth filling, with dark cherry, plum and blackberry at the fore, followed by cedar, pepperberry and earth before fine-grained tannins and cherry-laced acidity frame it up through a long finish. The cool 2023 vintage shows in this wine,  which is more about seductive delicacy and restraint than showy power and drive.