2015 McWilliams 1877 Shiraz, Hilltops, NSW

Few have helped shape the Australian wine industry like McWilliam’s Wines. From humble beginnings on the outskirts of Corowa in 1877, the philosophy of putting quality of fruit first has ensured that McWilliam’s continues to be one of Australia’s most popular, respected and iconic wineries.

This prestigious wine takes its name, ‘1877’, from the year 1st generation winemaker, Samuel McWilliam, planted the winery’s first vines in Corowa NSW and McWilliam’s Wines was born. Crafted from vigorously selected, high quality fruit from mature, low yielding vines, the 2015 vintage of McWilliam’s ‘1877’ is a Shiraz from some of the best vines in the Hilltops region of NSW.

Situated on the slopes of the Great Dividing Range, Hilltops wine region provides cool-climate and altitude conditions for Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay to thrive.

The bulk of the Hilltop’s vineyards are lying at an altitude of around 450 metres. The region has a continental climate, with relatively cool winters and rainfall throughout autumn and winter. The summer months bring hot, dry days and cooler nights that complement the ripening season.

The area was first planted to vines as far back as the 1860’s, when Croatian immigrants established vineyards for the refreshment of those involved in the gold mining industry. 

Commercial viticulture eventually began to dominate the region with the establishment of the Barwang winery by McWilliam’s in the early 1980’s. 

McWilliam’s has continued to be the driving force in the growth and development of the Hilltops as a premium wine region.

Since the 1980’s the region has gone from strength to strength. The cool climate conditions, high altitude and diurnal temperature fluctuations provide a perfect environment for the production of premium wines, in particular of the Cabernet and Shiraz varieties.

2015 McWilliams 1877 Hilltops Shiraz

displays aromas of dark cherry, pepper and chacuturie coupled with lifted florals and fresh toasty oak. The palate is medium-bodied with fine acid line and slatey tannins. Perfumed fruits and meatiness continue to the end. The wine will continue to improve with time in the bottles. Drink or cellar over next 10 years. Winner Gold Medal – 2017 Royal Sydney Wine Show.

PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS

97 pts - James Halliday - Published on 01 Aug 2017   

‘Hand-picked, 5 days cold soak, open-fermented, up to 50% whole bunches, 14 days on skins, matured for 9 months in French puncheons (35% new). Fragrance and elegance personified. Juicy cherry fruit opens proceedings, then mouth-watering acidity and fine-grained tannins’. draw out the lingering finish. Amen.’ 13.5% Alc/Vol

Huon Hooke

‘Very deep purple/red colour and a superbly ripe, rich, concentrated bouquet. It's full-bodied - but where's the oak? The oakiness that afflicted these wines in the past is happily absent. Soft, fleshy, supple-textured wine, with great intensity of fruit as well as elegance. Medium to full-bodied, fruit-driven and soft of tannin: a gorgeous wine and will live long-term. (40% new oak, but the power of the fruit dominates the oak).’

Campbell Mattinson – Wine Front

‘Shiraz from the Hilltops wine region. Not sure about calling this ‘1877’, but I’m sure there’s a logic somewhere. It’s a good wine, very good in fact, if not really in line with its price tag. In my opinion. It’s both savoury and fruit-filled at once, a layer of sweet oak slipped over the top. Raspberry, red/black cherry, black pepper, dried herbs. More red than black, as they say. Firm-ish with tannin. Well-balanced. Pimped up, just a bit. Not quite a ‘show style’ of old, but not far off.’