We had terrific winter and spring rains leading up to vintage 2017, a marked contrast to the previous year, proving once again if proof were needed, that every vintage is different. We had a cool early part to spring too, combined with the spring rain. Flowering was about 3 weeks later than the previous year which of course meant that vintage was 3 weeks later than normal, or as some old locals said sagely, back to the old normal. There was a very long and slow ripening period which is terrific for allowing grapes to develop their flavours. We had a pretty dry February March and April, once the spring rains finished in mid-January. Overall a late vintage.

Scarce Earth is a McLaren Vale initiative exploring and celebrating the geological climatic and soil diversity of the region. All wines come from a single block, a small plot of land with a unique flavour profile and personality.

The 2017 Chanticleer Shiraz is made using Shiraz grapes grown exclusively on our Chanticleer Vineyard. It has been hand-made, hand bottled and is unfiltered. The wine was open fermented then matured in a mixture of 50% new French and older oak.

Soil Type:          Urrbrae stony loam

Geology:           Christies Beach formation, Quaternary period

Elevation:          138 metres

Vine Age:          33 years

Vine clone:        1127 clone

Volume:              30 dozen

• The Real Review

   

  Youthful and dark in the glass, looking fresh for a four-year-old wine. Dark, blue-fruited aromas: cherry, mulberry, dried herbs, spice, vanilla and cedar. Richly-flavoured and full on the palate. Dark cherry, mint chocolate, boysenberry, blackberry and a woodsy edge. Firm and grippy tannins shape the wine very nicely and provide texture and savouriness. Power, poise and precision.

  95 points

  RANKED#6 of 1612017 Shiraz from McLaren Vale

• Halliday Wine Companion

  The wine is polished yet refined in its own way. Savoury tannins have a velvety plushness, fruit really succulent and spicy and the palate full-bodied but not unwieldy.

  95 Points

  Published 01 August 2020 - Jane Faulkner

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