2019 Toolangi Reserve Block D Shiraz

After years of (arguably) living in the shadow of the Pinot, Toolangi’s Shiraz is now starting to flex its muscles. The grapes are cultivated and harvested with freshness to the fore and the winemaking has been re-focused along the same lines. In short, with emphasis on elegance, balance and sustained purity, Toolangi’s Shiraz wines have never tasted better. None of this should surprise really, the Yarra has long been capable of producing outstanding Syrah. The inaugural D Block draws on a parcel of 24-year-old vines grown on silty clay loam soil. The clonal material here is PT23 Shiraz—an old Australian clone selected from vines which were descendants of the 1832 Busby cuttings—on Paulson rootstock. The 2019 was 100% whole-bunch fermented, then pressed after three weeks on skins to French oak hogsheads. It spent 10 months on oak prior to bottling. This is a super spicy, bunchy and powdery Syrah of great finesse (don’t come here for ballsy, old school Barossa-style Shiraz—we’re in the Yarra after all). This is for lovers of the Northern Rhone and great Yarra Syrahs of yesteryear (at least in terms of weight, finesse and freshness). Again, a must-taste for those in the trade. Will only get better with at least 5-10 years in the cellar.

After years of (arguably) living in the shadow of the Pinot, Toolangi’s Shiraz is now starting to flex its muscles. The grapes are cultivated and harvested with freshness to the fore and the winemaking has been re-focused along the same lines. In short, with emphasis on elegance, balance and sustained purity, Toolangi’s Shiraz wines have never tasted better. None of this should surprise really, the Yarra has long been capable of producing outstanding Syrah. The inaugural D Block draws on a parcel of 24-year-old vines grown on silty clay loam soil. The clonal material here is PT23 Shiraz—an old Australian clone selected from vines which were descendants of the 1832 Busby cuttings—on Paulson rootstock. The 2019 was 100% whole-bunch fermented, then pressed after three weeks on skins to French oak hogsheads. It spent 10 months on oak prior to bottling. This is a super spicy, bunchy and powdery Syrah of great finesse (don’t come here for ballsy, old school Barossa-style Shiraz—we’re in the Yarra after all). This is for lovers of the Northern Rhone and great Yarra Syrahs of yesteryear (at least in terms of weight, finesse and freshness). Again, a must-taste for those in the trade. Will only get better with at least 5-10 years in the cellar.