Mount Pleasant 1921 Vines Old Paddock Shiraz 2014
- Producer
- Mount Pleasant
- Alcohol
- 13%
- Volume
- 750ml
- Price
- $200.00 AUD
Hand-picked, destemmed and crushed into small open fermenters with a short cold soak, then an 8-day fermentation, matured in large-format French oak. A powerful, but immaculately balanced shiraz, blackberry fruit within a gauze of ripe, positive tannins. The breed and lineage of the wine is razor sharp, the length and balance impeccable. Like its siblings, it's easy to say the flavours have some savoury characters, much harder to condense and describe their unique nature. James Halliday
First planted by Maurice O'Shea in 1921, the Old Paddock vineyard enjoys an elevated easterly aspect overlooking Mount Pleasant estate and some of the oldest shiraz vines in the world. Fruit from these low-yielding vines is blended with shiraz from the nearby Old Hill vineyard, first planted in 1880, to deliver a complex, brooding wine, rich in character and steeped in heritage. This distinguished partnership between these two highly celebrated vineyard sites, the Old Paddock and Old Hill vineyards deliver a small parcel of just 10 hectares of old gnarly shiraz vines. Planted in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these vines have buried their roots deep into the ancient volcanic soil of the site.
Shiraz from this historically significant vineyard, planted in deep red volcanic loam by Maurice O'Shea in 1921, over-delivers on character and appeal. The nose has mind-blowing intensity with ripe mulberry and licorice aromas accented by nutty oak and baked cherry pie. There is superb mid-palate density with dark fruit flavours and a plush, supple mouthfeel. The flow of the finish is hypnotic in the way it intensifies instead of diminishes, and although laden with fruit, it still manages to finish with freshness. It has the flavour, acidity and tannin profile for decades of cellaring.
