Wendouree Clare Valley Shiraz Mataro 2012

‘AP Birks’ Wendouree is among Australia’s most collectible and sought after names in wine. This is picture perfect South Australia, Chocolate brown soils of the Clare hills, broken up with the contrast of rustic old buildings and eucalyptus trees.

Planting commenced in 1892 with a 0.2Ha block of Cabernet Sauvignon and then subsequent Birks generations planted further varieties, Shiraz in 1911 and additional Cabernet planting in 1971, eventually ending up with 50Ha of vines in total. Through time, overall plantings were reduced to about 25Ha in order to better manage the quality of the soil & the fruit to focus on making the best wines possible.

Vines are all dry-grown (no irrigation), produce grapes of fantastic concentration of flavour from the now, knarled old vines. Ultimately delivering a wine of concentration and power, built to stand the test of time. Needless to say, production is extremely limited with most wines sold through an allocation program.

"Fresh, blackberry, gentle earthiness, spices, raspberry – perfume. Medium bodied – melt in the mouth but firm tannin, if that makes any sense – earthy bass, perfect ripeness – almost a roundness, succulence and feeling of ‘purpleness’. Long. Very individual. Just beautiful. Drink 2017-2037. 96 Points - Gary Walsh, The Wine Front."