2015 Mystery McLaren Vale Shiraz Deal No. 6132

97 POINTS

Steve Leszczynski - QWine Reviews

A McLaren Vale Shiraz masterclass, this is an elite ride through the pleasure zone courtesy of the Ox Hardy Upper Tintara 1891 Ancestor Vines Shiraz 2015. A museum release, this is a wine to cherish and savour. From one of the earliest vintages on record (surely to be surpassed by the current 2025), 2015 was a dry year with mild ripening temperatures resulting in a compressed vintage. From the top 17 rows of the Ancestor Vines block planted on the Upper Tintara site in 1891, the fruit was hand picked, hand plunged three times a day followed by almost two years in French oak barriques (33% new). A wine exhibiting restrained power, it's dense with a veil of silky delight. Blackberries, dark plums, dark chocolate and licorice fold into one another with ease. There is still some primary fruit on show but at ten years of age, the svelte, supple presence is awfully seductive. A fine dusting of dried herbs and fennel add further detail with sheets of baking spice reaching long on a seemingly never-ending finish. A class act and then some with many years left ahead.

96 POINTS

Marcus Ellis - Halliday Wine Companion

Museum release. This is selected from Andrew (Ox) Hardy’s favourite rows of the oldest vines on the family vineyard, which also happen to be the second oldest, by a whisker, in the Vale. Fermented in open vats, this was plunged thrice daily, before nearly two years in older French barriques. Whether from the older vines, or those more youthful, the Upper Tintara vineyard shines through. Released with a decade under its belt, this is in a fine place, with tertiary notes knitting into and enhancing the ferrous site signature. Black fruits, blueberries and plums, ground pepper, anise and caraway, pressed violets. It feels so of place, unhurried in elaboration and naturally given the chance to relax.

96 POINTS

Erin Larkin - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

One ton of fruit was handpicked from the Ancestor Vine Block (in the Upper Tintara vineyard, in Blewitt Springs) on February 19, 2015—the earliest vintage on record, and the earliest pick since 2008. The fruit was destemmed, chilled, fermented in 2.5-ton open-top fermenters and hand-plunged thrice daily; post fermentation, it was basket pressed to French oak (33% new) for nearly two years of élevage. Aromatically, the 2015 1891 Ancestor Vines Shiraz leads with autumn leaves, turned earth, crushed rocks and roasted meat crust. In the mouth, the wine is elegant, medium-bodied and silty, with purple fruits, aged leather, lotus leaf and peat. There's a lot to be said for the decision to hold this wine back prior to release; the oak is evident, yet it feels integrated and grounded at this point, 10 years from harvest. This wine feels sedate, languid and comfortable in its skin and just gearing up for a long life in front of it. It's a lovely wine, one that is getting fresher the longer it sits in my glass. 14% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

96 POINTS

Aaron Brasher - The Real Review

Mid-red in the glass, holding well for 10 years old. Complex and lifted aromas of plum, earth, polished leather, sweet spice, dried herbs, mulberry and dark chocolate. The palate has lovely depth, drive and purity of fruit. Supple, mouth-filling, dark fruited and plush, with silky, textured tannins and firm, taut acidity. A very smart 10 year old shiraz, drinking wonderfully well now, but has another 10 years ahead of it

95 POINTS

Andrew Caillard MW - The Vintage Journal

Selected from a few special rows in the Ancestor vines planted in 1891 by Andrew’s great-grandfather. Matured for two years in seasoned barriques before release. Copper penny, dried goji and stewed figs. Adzuki bean, sumac spice and raspberry leaf. The wine feels as though it has been poured into its slinky dress of fine acidity and powdery tannins. A crunch still left in the redcurrants and cherry skin. There is cumin and grated nutmeg oak spice and a mellow, almost treacle-like bitterness. Flavour for days, reminiscing of years of yonder. This is what great age-worthy wine is all about. Drink now–2028

Matthew Jukes

With crazy intensity and depth on the nose and astounding freshness without an ounce of excess weight or fat on the palate, this is not a heavy wine but a super-intense experience with incredibly grand, swaggering black fruit notes accompanied by an entourage of earth and spice bowing and scraping in adoration. I lost count of how long it was because my watch battery ran out. Either way, this is Andrew’s winemaking down to a tee – patience, precision, and persistence. Gentle handling, old barriques and seriously old vines add to a unique and unforgettable experience. Score: 19.5/20