2022 Coriole Estate Sparta Shiraz, McLaren Vale

Solid full-bodied shiraz. Baking spices with blue and red fruit notes and a snap of freshness in a wiry finish. This is an exceptional value for those seeking regional fidelity, ample flavors and poise in a highly versatile package. Drink or hold.

91 points Ned Goodwin MW jamessuckling.com

Our Sparta Vineyard is the only Coriole vineyard to face due North and produces a vibrant red fruited and rich style of Shiraz. It is largely planted with a very old Shiraz clone called the ‘Bob Hardy’. Sparta is made to highlight the fruit and floral notes of McLaren Vale Shiraz with good density and medium structure. 
Winemaker Duncan Lloyd

Coriole was started  in the 1960s. It is a beautiful spot looking south towards many McLaren Vale vineyards, the old Willunga Range and the Fleurieu Bight. The estate has a lot of Shiraz vines, the oldest planted in 1919. We have also had great interest in finding new and exciting varieties for the Australian table, starting with the Sangiovese vineyard planted in 1985, the Fiano vineyard (2001) and the Piquepoul vineyard planted in 2010, all three varieties pioneered in Australia by Coriole.

Vines were first planted in the McLaren Vale region in 1838. The McLaren Vale wine companies have formed a close and supportive community that work on cooperative wine and marketing projects together to make this region what it is today. McLaren Vale has a long history as a wine district and records show that vines were first planted at the Coriole site as far back as 1873. 

The Chaffeys road estate was purchased in 1967 by Hugh and Molly Lloyd and a small collective of friends naming it 'Coriole', which began as 12 acres under vines with the original Shiraz vineyard planted immediately after the first world war in 1919. Hugh and Molly became sole owners of Coriole in 1969 and released the first Coriole vintage 'Claret'.  The Lloyd family continues to manage and develop the Coriole estate with the third generation now at the helm.

The first wine, produced by Coriole in 1970, was from Shiraz grapes and called Claret which was the tradition at the time. Interestingly the very next year the tradition had changed and the same wine was labelled with its varietal name - Shiraz. After over a decade of success with traditional varieties at Coriole, and driven to find completely different wine and food experiences for the Australian table, Mark Lloyd made the move to alternative varieties with one of the first Australian plantings of Sangiovese. The 2016 release was Coriole's 30th vintage of this wine. This motivation has continued as many other varieties and new clones have been tried and tested...some of these have been rejected and others have flourished and are being increased.

Coriole is now responsible for introducing the nation to white varieties Fiano and Piquepoul, and are the longest continuous producers of Sangiovese.