Ulithorne ‘Dona’ Shiraz Grenache 2018

This blend is heavily Shiraz dominant (90% Shiraz with 10% Grenache). The grapes are sourced from a single vineyard in the Blewitt Springs sub-region of McLaren Vale, where the soil is ‘sand over clay’. The winemaking was done by separate small batch ferments with 15 days on skins, before pressing directly to French and American barrels and hogsheads and then a further year in barrel for maturation, before bottling.

An appealing maroon in colour, this is a deeper, more burly and intense style with fuller flavours than the ‘Dona’ GSM (the fact that they are from different vintages might also contribute to this). Black fruits, leather, cloves and chocolate to the fore here. Good concentration, firm tannins and excellent length. More licorice notes emerged on the palate and especially black cherry notes. Delicious now, but it really needs four to six years to really peak. Good luck keeping your hands off it.