"Another cool vintage with a very late harvest. A bouquet of lavender, Swiss mushroom and boysenberry. There is super concentration, not an ounce has been left behind in the vineyard. Supremely dense and compact the wine delivers from the moment you pick up the glass to the long minutes after you’ve put it back down. If you are looking for pound for pound quality and detail, this is the horse you should back. For those seeking power and finesse this is drinking well now but for those willing to seek the reaches far beyond, this will age glacially and no doubt manifest in its intensity."

– Shanteh Wale, Shaw + Smith Single Vineyard Annual

Style: As always this wine has a unique look that speaks of place and its vintage. A cool year and small yields makes for a wine full of intensity. A complex nose of dried herbs, spice, Kalamata olive brine and smoked meats. Long and ripe tannins built for aging.

Vineyard: From close-planted (5,500 vines/hectare) low yielding vines from block two at Shaw + Smith’s Balhannah Vineyard, planted in 2005. It has a north-facing aspect and the soils are loam over clay, ironstone, quartzite, and shale.

Season: Another cooler than average season with some influence from La Niña weather patterns. The season was cool to begin with, which meant a smaller crop formed during fruit-set. Then it was a mild summer that warmed up towards the end, adding flavour and ripeness to the fresh acidity.

Vinification: Hand-picked and hand-sorted. Aged for 14 months in 500 to 600 litre French oak barrels, 15% new, followed by a further 14 months in bottle.

Cellar: Will reward careful cellaring for up to 15 years.

Alc/Vol: 14.0%