Adrian Sparkes is making some outstanding reds off this great vineyard. 2017 was an amazing vintage.
Winner of three Trophies and a Gold at the NSW Wine Awards, the fruit for this wine is sourced from the vines planted by the great Maurice O’Shea.
Old Hill, planted in 1880 beneath the Brokenback Range, is one of Australia’s most historic vineyards and the site that first shaped Maurice O’Shea’s vision for Mount Pleasant. Just 500 metres away, Old Paddock was the first vineyard O’Shea established, planted in 1921 using cuttings from Old Hill. Despite their shared origins, the distinction between the two is remarkable.
Reflecting O’Shea’s mastery as a blender, this wine is a seamless expression of two legendary vineyards. Old Paddock brings dark fruit and powerful tannin, while the cooler Old Hill contributes bright, complex red fruits and a softer tannin profile. Matured in French oak, it shows red and blue fruits, spice and a beautiful fine tannin structure.
OP & OH is short for Old Hill and Old Paddock, this vintage opens with blackcurrant and wild raspberries. Nicely ripe with a candied orange rind high tone. Some rugged brown spices, cumin and mace. It is stitched together with fine lacey tannins and a good whip of graduated acidity. This embraces you with its friendly red and black fruits but continues to impress with long flavour length and memorable chiselled edges, almost gravelly stoney features across the finish. This will play nicely with meats like flank steak or venison. Drink now or cellar for another 8-10 years further.
95 points | Shanteh Wale, Winepilot
