Massena Stonegarden Shiraz 2018

Stuart McCloskey - Tasted 6 September 2024. "Bouquet: The standout character being the sense of purity as the sheer ripeness factor would go awry in the wrong hands. Dark berries, plums, violet, game and redcurrant meld with cooling steel, iodine, sea kelp, graphite, dark chocolate and leather. Sublime and hedonistic (in the purest sense). The palate provides extraordinary levels of concentration, but the sense of levity is breathtaking. In many ways this reminds me of Standish Schubert Theorem (with a touch less luxuriousness and depth, but there are canny similarities). The palate feel is so creamy – lavish, it feels expensive and exotic. This commands your attention. Flavours come by way of autumn and would partner roasted wild duck or venison perfectly. Earth meets wild hedgerow if you get my drift. The length of flavour and sheer presence marks this out as a special wine. Wonderful in a word. Served using Zalto Bordeaux stemware. Decanted for an hour and drinks like a dream today. Expect more gamey notes in the next 5-8 years."

Sam Kim, Wine Orbit “This is impressively fruited and lifted, showing blackberry, sweet plum, cedar, tapenade and dark cocoa aromas on the nose, followed by a richly textured palate offering succulent fruit intensity with expansive mouthfeel. Well framed by fine dusty tannins, finishing delectable and highly enjoyable. At its best: now to 2036

Winemaker Notes: The vineyard was originally planted in 1858, with some replants in the 1920’s and 1970’s. Due to the vine age, the fruit is carefully hand harvested and delivered in small bins to avoid compaction. Gently destemmed direct to fermenter with some whole bunch inclusion, the grapes are left to spontaneously ferment with the natural yeasts from the vineyard. Once fermentation commences, the wine is hand plunged over several weeks to slowly extract the natural tannins that are evident from such a small, concentrated parcel of old vine grapes.