2019 Mystery Fleurieu Shiraz Deal No. 03
The Collective Review
This is a juicy red with an abundance of dark fruits, subtle spice and persistent tannins. Hearty fare like a rich stew and creamy mash would be an ideal pairing.
“A wine of finesse and elegance.” That’s what James Halliday has to say about this cellar-worthy Shiraz. Oh, and he gave it 95 points.
This deal is so good we can’t reveal the label. You’ll just have to trust us and rip open the packaging when it arrives on your doorstep!
But we can give you a few hints as to the wine’s origins…
It comes from a region where the Adelaide Hills run into the Fleurieu Peninsula, and an award-winning winery run by international winemaking giants. Part of the year they’re here, running their South Australian operation, and part of the year they’re in Europe, seeing to their seventh-generation family estate. You know you’re in trusted, experienced hands when it comes to what’s in this bottle.
Grapes for this decadent Shiraz come from the family’s Sea Eagle Vineyard, next to which runs the deep Finniss River gorge. Here can be found enormous river gum trees, the tallest of which houses a large sea eagle nest that can be seen from the vineyard.
The Shiraz from this vineyard shows, over several years, such a consistent quality that vintage expression takes on more intrigue than often is the case. That, and perhaps in this 2019 we see a tweaking of a contemporary winemaking style that prompts the suggestion to buy both available vintages, this and the 2018, and explore the journey. Focusing on the 2019: fruit and spice, all the best of Shiraz elements, rise immediately to the forefront here, with a layer of earthiness and minerality to add terroir complexity. Taste the crush of satsuma plums with a sprinkle of baking spices, then note the subtle ingress of gastronomic bitters on the palate, entwined with soft to mid-weight tannin textures. The wine has an engaging energy that comes from all these deftly balanced flavours, textures and structure. Smashing Shiraz drinking in anybody’s terms. Read more
Critic Reviews
The Shiraz from this vineyard shows, over several years, such a consistent quality that vintage expression takes on more intrigue than often is the case. That, and perhaps in this 2019 we see a tweaking of a contemporary winemaking style that prompts the suggestion to buy both available vintages, this and the 2018, and explore the journey. Focusing on the 2019: fruit and spice, all the best of Shiraz elements, rise immediately to the forefront here, with a layer of earthiness and minerality to add terroir complexity. Taste the crush of satsuma plums with a sprinkle of baking spices, then note the subtle ingress of gastronomic bitters on the palate, entwined with soft to mid-weight tannin textures. The wine has an engaging energy that comes from all these deftly balanced flavours, textures and structure. Smashing Shiraz drinking in anybody’s terms.
Matured 18 months in French barrels (33% new). A very expressive bouquet yields immediate waves of licorice, dark earth, leather and black fruits, oak peeping through the curtains. It works very well indeed, picked at (true) optimum maturity, the result a wine of finesse and elegance.
This elegant medium-bodied shiraz is still tight and youthful with fresh plum fruit and plenty of healthy tannins to nicely anchor it. Excellent integration of fruit and oak. As dry at the long cool finish as many European wines from this grape (syrah). Drink or hold. Screw cap.
Technical Attributes
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![Producer]()
Producer: Mystery
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![Varietal]()
Varietal: Shiraz
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![Region]()
Region: Fleurieu
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![Alcohol]()
Alcohol: 14.5%
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![Net volume]()
Net volume: 750ml
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![Vintage]()
Vintage: 2019
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![Cellar to]()
Cellar until 2030
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Style GuideLight Intense
Producer: Mystery
Varietal: Shiraz
Region: Fleurieu
Alcohol: 14.5%
Net volume: 750ml
Vintage: 2019
Cellar until 2030
Tasting Notes
Pure Shiraz fruit with a strong backbone. Intense ruby garnet, violet reflections. Fresh plums and wild herbs on the nose, a hint of liquorice. Elegant fruit filling underlaid with fine chocolate and orange zest. Full-bodied and very good density, but deeply structured with strong, well-integrated tannins. A great wine that blossoms when decanted. Very long finish, aging potential 20 years.
Winemakers Note
Harvest at the end of March 2018; fermented on the mash in open fermentation tanks for 18 days, aged in wooden barrels for 18 months in 300 lt hogheads, approx. 25% new wood; primarily French oak. 100% Shiraz.