Shaw + Smith, `Balhannah Vineyard` Adelaide Hills Shiraz
Vintage: 2021
Vintage | Product Code | Format | Closure | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | SS412B21 | 6 x 75 | Screwcap | Sold Out |
2021 | SS412M21 | 3 x 150 | Screwcap | Contact Us |
Producer
The dynamic partnership of cousins Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith MW began in 1989 when the duo decided to realise their dream of making wine together. A talent for wine runs in this family, with Martin honing his craft at the University of Bordeaux, and Michael being the first Australian to pass the notoriously difficult Master of Wine exams in 1988.
Since founding Shaw + Smith, their goal has been to make exciting, refined wines, exclusively from the Adelaide Hills, that rank among Australia’s best. The wines are made from several sites throughout the region and they specialise in grape varieties suited to the cooler climate, namely Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Shiraz.
The Shaw + Smith winemaking team consists of chief winemaker Adam Wadewitz, one of Australia’s brightest winemaking talents, winemaker Matthew Large and assistant winemaker Alex Clark. Adam was named the WINE magazine Winemaker of the Year 2022 in recognition of his ten vintages at the helm of Shaw + Smith. The trio work closely with viticulturist Murray Leake, who succeeded Ray Guerin when he retired in 2015. Together they are taking Shaw + Smith to new heights. “30 years ago, we made the wines in the winery; today, we make them in the vineyard,” says Adam.
The Sauvignon Blanc is sourced predominantly from their own vineyards at Balhannah and Lenswood. The original ‘M3’ vineyard was sold, as new clones and improved vineyard technology had left it a relic of an earlier period. Subsequently, the grapes for this wine are now a selection of the estate’s best fruit, a great deal of which now comes from ‘Lenswood’, a high-elevation vineyard purchased in 2012. This is one of the reasons why ‘M3’ Chardonnay has taken such a leap forward in quality over the past decade.
The Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir is also predominantly sourced from the ‘Lenswood’ vineyard. The clones used here are the 777 from Burgundy and MV6, the backbone of many of Australia's best Pinots. For the Shiraz, parcels from the warmer sub-area of Macclesfield give structure and richness, while the cooler ‘Balhannah’ vineyard contributes spice and perfume.
The single vineyard ‘Balhannah’ Shiraz is from a north-facing block behind the winery. Whole bunch fermentation and ageing in 500-litre French oak puncheons has resulted in a fragrant, intense and lively cool-climate Shiraz. The ironstone soils produce a mid-weight Shiraz with pepper and spice perfumes on the nose that evokes the best of Côte-Rôtie. The 2021 vintage won four major awards at the 2024 IWC awards, including the highly coveted Australian Red Trophy and Sustainable Trophy.
The single vineyard Chardonnay and single vineyard Pinot Noir come from the ‘Lenswood’ vineyard. The cooler nights here give the wines from this site their characteristic freshness and concentration. The ‘Lenswood’ Chardonnay is every bit as good as at the fabled Tolpuddle, Shaw + Smith’s Tasmanian project, but with more weight on the mid-palate and an alluring silky texture derived from a move from small barriques to 500-litre barrels. The ‘Lenswood’ Pinot Noir uses 30% whole bunch to lift the aromatics from this exceptional vineyard, giving the wine an alluring perfume and lovely grainy tannins on the palate.
Vineyards
The Balhannah vineyard was planted with low-yielding Shiraz clones in 2005, at a density of approximately 5,500 vines per hectare. The plot has a north-facing aspect, and soils comprise of loam over clay, ironstone, quartzite and shale.
Vintage
The 2021 vintage benefited from a terrific growing season, which felt particularly triumphant following the disastrous events of 2020. Abundant winter rains provided excellent water reserves which developed healthy crops. The summer was mild which allowed for a slow and even ripening which developed grapes with excellent concentration and aromatics.
Vinification
The grapes were hand picked, hand sorted, and fermented as whole berries and whole bunches in open fermenters, with gentle plunging and minimal working. The wine was aged in new (15%) and used 500-litre French oak puncheons for 14 months. Unfiltered and unfined before bottling, the wine then underwent another 14 months of bottle ageing.
Tasting Notes & Technical Details
This Shiraz exhibits a complex nose laden with spice and red fruit which leads to a poised and balanced palate. Graphite, sage, kalamata olives, and plum flavours envelop the palate which is lively and medium bodied. Grippy tannins and bright acidity lead into the long finish.
Alcohol (ABV)
14%
Acidity
5.2 g/l
Residual Sugar
0.3 g/l
pH
3.64
Awards
Trophy
International Wine Challenge 2024
Other wines from this producer
Producer | Wine | Product Code | Features | Style | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Shaw + Smith | Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc | SS403 | W | Factsheet | |
`M3` Adelaide Hills Chardonnay | SS406 | W | Factsheet | ||
Adelaide Hills Shiraz | SS409 | R | Factsheet | ||
Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir | SS411 | R | Factsheet | ||
`Lenswood Vineyard` Adelaide Hills Chardonnay | SS413 | W | Factsheet | ||
`Lenswood Vineyard` Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir | SS414 | R | Factsheet |