Mount Pleasant Rosehill Shiraz 2019

Mount Pleasant Rosehill Shiraz is made from vines first planted by legendary Hunter Valley winemaker Maurice O’Shea in 1946. It’s a classic Hunter red with that very distinctive Mount Pleasant profile, imparted by the volcanic soil of Rosehill (a rare commodity in the Hunter). It’s rich in peppery red fruits and firm tannins, with pleasing oak and leather on the nose.

A site of atypical volcanic soils for the Hunter, facing northeast. Lower of elevation than its Old Paddock & Old Hill sibling and far more brooding. Starkly different terroirs and thus, very different wines. I love the fresh, ‘luncheon claret’ precocity of the Old Paddock, but this will age very well. Better. Sassafras, thyme, dark cherry, charred meats, clove and iodine. Polished leather, too. The tannic mettle, ferrous and saline; forceful yet highly refined; is the wine’s opus. The depth and intensity, too, compelling. The velocity and length, extremely impressive. Expansive. Even better the day after. Drink by 2036.
95 Points Ned Goodwin MW – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion

Ah, Rosehill, that almost magical and autological word. Blackberry and dark chocolate, some earth, but given some air, that raspberry and dried rose perfume of the vineyard does rise above the vintage. It’s fleshy and slightly spicy, fine strokes of suede-like tannin, good depth and waft of perfume, inherent sweetness and succulence of fruit comes through nicely on a pretty long finish. A little more brooding and butch this year, but still so lovely. Drink 2021-2034+ 94+ Points Gary Walsh – The Wine Front