Ulithorne ‘Chi’ Blewitt Springs Shiraz Grenache 2019

A blend of 75% Shiraz and 25% Grenache, sourced from a single vineyard in the highly regarded Blewitt Springs sub-region of McLaren Vale, where the soil is ‘sand over clay’. Small open fermenters are used for a slow and cool fermentation. Hand
plunging takes place twice a day, before a gentle pressing to barrel. Two discrete batches of Shiraz and one of Grenache are used here and they are kept separate till the final blending. The wine is then aged in older French oak for 14 months.

Deep maroon in colour, there is a lovely creamy note on the nose, a little like a black cherry and coffee bean milkshake – yes, probably no such thing and it sounds horrible, but in my mind, I am thinking it would be delicious. Also some root vegetable notes, some cigar box touches and dark fruits. Supple texture through to a finish with abundant tannins, which are soft and silky. Look closely and amongst the tannins is a slight sandy note, which presumably comes from the Grenache component. Very good length here. This is balanced, long and offers some complexity. Love it.

Ken Gargett

Contributor at Winepilot

Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.

Wine writer and critic