2021 Dalwhinnie Moonambel Shiraz, Pyrenees

The fine tailoring of this wine is evident from the first glance, with no thread out of place. Immensely fragrant mulberry aromas are enhanced by subtle smoky oak. Piercing red fruits, spun sugar and cherry pie flavours present harmoniously, slipping through the palate with a satin-like flow. Medium bodied, detailed and immensely enjoyable, now or in the future.

96 points Special Value Toni Paterson MW winecompanion.com.au

Dalwhinnie Moonambel Shiraz from the Pyrenees is one of Australia’s great cool climate Shiraz expressions, built for longevity and shaped by a remarkable high altitude site. The Dalwhinnie vineyard sits near Moonambel at around five hundred metres above sea level, where cold winters, warm days and dramatic diurnal shifts slow ripening and lock in spice, structure and natural acidity. The soils are ancient red basalt mixed with quartz and ironstone, low yielding and perfectly suited to producing Shiraz of depth and savoury intensity rather than overt ripeness. Dalwhinnie was founded in the early nineteen seventies and quickly established a reputation for serious, age worthy wines, with Moonambel Shiraz always at the heart of the estate.

The aromatics are classically Pyrenees in character. Dark cherry, blackberry and black plum sit alongside cracked black pepper, star anise and clove. There is a distinctly savoury layer beneath the fruit, offering ironstone earth, dried herbs and a hint of smoked meat. With air, the wine reveals notes of cedar, cocoa, graphite and dried violet, building complexity rather than sweetness.

The palate is powerful yet disciplined. Dense dark fruit flows through firm, finely grained tannins that give the wine shape and authority without heaviness. Flavours of black plum, mulberry, spice, cocoa and earthy minerality unfold in measured layers, supported by bright acidity that keeps everything balanced and alive. The finish is long, savoury and structured, leaving echoes of pepper, dark fruit and stone. While it shows well with decanting, this Shiraz truly rewards patience, evolving beautifully over fifteen to twenty years into leather, truffle, cured meat and polished spice.

Outstanding with slow braised beef, roast lamb, venison, mushroom dishes or aged hard cheeses. Dalwhinnie Moonambel Shiraz is a benchmark Victorian Shiraz, serious, site driven and unapologetically built to stand the test of time.