St Mary’s Vintage Fortified Shiraz 2023

Always a joy to see wines of this style – once so common, today they are little more curiosities, but always a pleasure to drink. Available in 500 ml bottles, an easier size to handle for fortifieds. Older wine lovers will recognise these as what we used to call vintage ports but today, in order to comply with international requirements, vintage fortified it is (much more prosaic, sadly). Very young, of course, this is a plush style with notes of cassis and chocolate, along with touches of honeycomb. There is plenty of sweetness here, but bright acidity ensures it is balanced and focused while showing a lingering finish with good intensity. Enjoy over the next ten to fifteen years.