This is our winter Member's Shop exclusive, limited to 300 bottles available for purchase. Shipping late August 2024.
 
A good deal of my adult time in wine has been spent in the Hunter Valley, including three successive vintages with Tyrrells (’12-’14). It holds a very special significance for this time, and its place in Australian wine history and folklore. One significant left of centre style the Valley has historically been home to is the Shiraz - Pinot Noir blend (especially those of the early work of Maurice O’Shea and Mt Pleasant), combining medium weighted, earthy shiraz, with the sweeter berry fruit of pinot noir to great effect.

I am lucky enough to have shared bottles of these wines dating back to the ’40’s, including the legendary 1965 vintage.

This cuvée is a homage to those styles.

The temptation was too strong to combine a portion of the wonderfully spicy, cherry fruited and 'Burgundy' weight Blanche Barkley shiraz with a small percentage of fragrant, floral and silky Doug’s Vineyard pinot noir.

The result:

Bright ruby in the glass the two varieties meld seamlessly as a cohesive whole. Pepper, anise, pot pourri, red cherry and raspberry and sweet brown spices combine in an aromatic wave. While the fine, silky pinot noir tannins add even more layers and flesh and nuance to the shiraz.

A wine to decant and savour, or lay down in the cellar.