As part of McLaren Vale’s Scarce Earth single vineyard program, we submitted 3 Shiraz from 2011 vintage for scrutiny by  the judges. We submitted the Chanticleer vineyard Shiraz (well-drained red brown loamy soils with river stones), Braden’s (black cracking Bay of Biscay soils) and Ding’s block (Urrbrae stoney loam, similar if not the same to the  Chanticleer vineyard)

This year, Huon Hooke came down from Sydney to look at what we were doing in McLaren Vale, along with David le Mire MW, and Louise Radman. Supporting #mcvale winemakers were Charlie Whish from Serafino Wines, Mike Fragos from Chapel Hill and Chester Osborn from d’Arenberg. 

Talk to anyone within Australia – and some from without, and you’ll get a low grumble, when you ask about 2011 vintage. That rain, that unseasonal rain during harvest…well Huon’s here to tell you, don’t believe the (anti) hype…things weren’t quite as bad in McLaren Vale as they might have seemed. In fact they were considerably better….The link takes you to Huon’s column in the SMH’s (Sydney Morning Herald’s) Food and Wine section. Click here to see what Huon had to say about the 2011 McLaren Vale Scarce Earth Shiraz. 

All three of the Battle of Bosworth 2011 single vineyard wines were given the nod, but in fact at this stage we will probably bottle just the Chanticleer and the Braden’s wines. These will be released May 2013.