2018 Mitchell Peppertree Shiraz 12 Pack

93 POINTS

Shanteh Wale - winepilot.com

A wine highly sought after for the lovers of Clare Valley Shiraz, it stands apart from the rest with an intoxicating perfume of black berries and unfettered charm. A touch of whole bunch and open fermentation, this is a lively and expressive example of fine Clare Valley Shiraz fruit. Fresh bay leaf, tarragon and nettle sits behind blackcurrant, mulberry and licorice. Maturation in 18 months of French oak adds the clove, cinnamon and black peppercorn spice. There is a gentleness to the weight and a glide of soft tannins to finish. Drinking very well now and will age another 2 years. Serve with lamb souvlaki.

93 POINTS

Ken Gargett - WinePilot.com

As it always is, this is a popular release, offering value and flavour. From a fine vintage, and given the benefit of several years ageing before release, the fruit from the vineyard is largely destemmed, but there is a component of whole bunches. Natural fermentation in open slate fermenters, the wine then spends 18 months in French oak puncheons. Deep magenta in colour, the nose offers notes of cloves, leather, spices, black fruits, dry herbs and a hint of dark chocolate. Real depth of flavour here, this is a fine Clare Shiraz. Good concentration, poised balance and excellent length, there are very fine tannins with more chocolate notes emerging. This has a good decade ahead of it, but lots to enjoy over that time.

92 POINTS

Jeni Port - winepilot.com

It’s a delight to see an aged Aussie Shiraz hit the market at such an affordable price and the Peppertree Vineyard Shiraz comes with a strong track record. It has been a mainstay of the Mitchell brand for years and is well known to many, that said, the 2018 appears finer and more elegant than some previous releases. The benefits of bottle age are there to be enjoyed from the integration of fruit and toasty oak through to the seamless line of fine tannin that continues to hold strong, providing length and endurance. Ripe plum fruits, black berries with a sprinkling of lovely spice notes are deep, inviting and still so fresh. Peppertree captures Clare Valley Shiraz as the attractive, approachable, medium-bodied, spiced up, black fruited, warm-hearted wine that we know and enjoy. It has to also be noted that age has been more than kind, and it’s set to enjoy many more birthdays.

90 POINTS

Gary Walsh - The Wine Front

Good on Mitchell for releasing a five year old Shiraz at a modest price. Well, there’s no mistaking it’s from the Clare Valley. Blackberry, mint, truffle, some spicy cedar oak. It’s medium to full-bodied, minty black fruit with plenty of grainy chocolaty tannin, a little blood orange in the mix, coffee bean and a rich silty tannin finish of good length. Nice wine all up. You can certainly sink your teeth into it.