Mount Pleasant Old Paddock and Old Hill Shiraz 2014

Mount Pleasant Old Paddock and Old Hill Shiraz is made from grapes handpicked from two of the Hunter Valley’s oldest vineyards. Old Hill was first planted by legend and trailblazer Maurice O’ Shea in 1921, while Old Hill dates back to 1880. These are old vines with character and distinction. A deep, rich Hunter Valley red, you’ll find sweet red and blackberry fruit, with dense oak and chocolate on the long finish.

"Destemmed, cold soak, open-fermented, 11 days on skins, matured in small format French oak (35% new) for 15 months. Enthralling, intense finesse, a juicy, vibrant mouthfeel and flavour intensity that is quite exceptional. If you don't want to partake in vinocide, leave the O'Shea alone and drink this - or better still - the Rosehill. Seldom has terroir spoken with such eloquence in Australia." JAMES HALLIDAY 98 Points

"Black fruit, thin smear of raspberry jam, liquorice, earth and oyster shell, light creamy spiced oak. Medium bodied, fleshy and smooth, fine grained tannin plays the length of the field, red fruit, earthiness and plump sweetness of fruit carry it very long. There’s a plumpness and seduction here that’s unusual for Hunter Shiraz, though it’s just the makings of something that’s going to be very special twenty or so years down the track. Can’t recall a better OP & OH."GARY WALSH 96 Points