At present, I’m not really drinking anything much, though I’m tasting a lot. Just having a glass of wine or none per night, although admittedly last night I let a couple through to the keeper while tasting – some wines are more tempting than others. Anyway, the glass of wine I chose to take to bed with me (to stretch a metaphor to breaking point), was this one. The wife went for a small glass of the Rosehill, on the basis that it was the most approachable of the four 09 Hunter Shiraz that were open; she’s smarter than me.
Toasty savoury oak, black pepper, earth, blackberries with notes of raspberry and licorice evolving with time in glass (or decanter). It’s medium bodied, though a little brooding as is often the way with these vineyards, the depth and concentration of the old vine material shining through. Love the gentle earthiness, and the smooth, but subtly assertive tannin that fans through the mouth. Bright acidity holds it tight. Earthy finish with savoury clove spice oak to close. It’s going to live and prosper for many decades. Drink : 2019 - 2039+ 95 POINTS Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
Having produced many classic, memorable wines, the Old Hill and Old Paddock vineyards – established in 1880 and 1921 respectively – have firmly established their places among Australia’s premier vineyards.
Affectionately known as ‘OP&OH’, this wine is entirely sourced from the Old Paddock (planted in 1921) and Old Hill (planted in 1880) vineyards. Hand picked in February, grapes are crushed and cold soaked for 24 hours prior to fermentation on skins, which takes place over 8-9 days in headed-down stainless steel containers, with pumping over twice daily. The wine is then pressed and transferred into new American and French oak hogsheads where primary and malolactic fermentation is completed. Every six months, the wine is racked off and returned to the same oak for a maturation period of 18 months.
Mount Pleasant is situated on the slopes of the Brokenback Range in the Hunter Valley, NSW. The estate was established in 1921 by the legendary winemaker Maurice O’Shea who recognised the special characteristics and longevity of Hunter Valley table wines. To this day, Mount Pleasant continues to bottle-age commercial quantities of wines until they are considered at their peak to release.
