2014 Maxwell Ellen Street Shiraz, McLaren Vale

What was originally known for over 100 years as Ellen Street runs along the southern boundary of the Maxwell vineyards. Situated between this road and the winery is a small vineyard of craggy, gnarled Shiraz vines planted in 1953. Every year these vines bear some of the best fruit on the estate, however in very small quantities, with an average crop of less than 2 tonnes per acre. The 2013 vintage produced wines of great depth. This wine is rich red in colour, showing aromas of plum, blackberry and spice with subtle oak notes of vanilla and cigar box. Shiraz flavours of chocolate, aniseed and ripe blood plum fill the palate, yet more subtle and complex notes fill the flavour spectrum with coffee, cinnamon, vanilla, raspberry and a hint of mint. This is a generous mouth filling wine yet refined and elegant with soft velvety tannin to complete this wine. Drink over next 3-6 years.

95 pts - JHalliday From vines planted '53, yielding 2 tonnes/acre, matured for 24 months in American and French oak. Deep colour; the bouquet has attractive sooty blackberry aromas that swell on the classy palate as satsuma plum, blackberry, bitter (70%) chocolate and finely pitched tannins join the party. Most impressive is the agility of a wine a whisker away from full-bodied.