Pirathon ‘Silver Label’ Shiraz 2018

Another solid, well-built Barossa shiraz where the winemaker lets rip with Barossa power, but also brings forth a degree of elegance. The latter is delivered through lively red and black fruits with dried raspberry, dark plum and blackberry that lift the wine contributing an impressive fragrant complexity. Oak is on view but balanced with sweet vanillin, warm toasty notes. Tannins are sturdy but well-resolved and like the 2017 shiraz, alcohol is on the generous side hitting the scales at 15%. It carries it well.

This is the bold, generous expression of Barossa shiraz that many of us love. It is of a style to be sure but the quality and intensity of fruit – definitely the hero here – lifts it well above the average.