2022 Primo Estate Joseph Angel Gully Shiraz, McLaren Vale

Primo Estate Joseph Angel Gully Shiraz from McLaren Vale is a rich, opulent red that blends Italian soul with Australian power. Made from a single vineyard in Clarendon at the northern edge of McLaren Vale, Angel Gully is the highest and coolest of Primo Estate’s sites, giving this Shiraz a lift and elegance that balances out its deep, dark core. This is a wine that’s all about intensity with polish, showing why Joe Grilli and the Primo team have become known for their bold but beautifully crafted reds.

The fruit is hand-picked from low-yielding vines, grown on ironstone and clay soils that build concentration and natural structure. Joe Grilli applies the same philosophy to this wine as he does to his flagship Joseph red blends — ripe fruit, generous texture, and carefully judged French oak (around 18 months in barrel, with a mix of new and seasoned). The result is Shiraz with depth, energy and unmistakable McLaren Vale generosity, but without the overextraction or heaviness that can plague lesser examples.

In the glass, it opens with dense aromas of blackberry, black plum, mocha, aniseed, dark chocolate and a flicker of smoked meats. The palate is full-bodied and mouth-coating but not clumsy — rich black fruit framed by velvety tannins, with lifted acidity and a long, savoury finish laced with spice and graphite. It’s seductive and structured in equal measure.

Food pairing: Ideal with chargrilled ribeye, beef short ribs, roast lamb with rosemary and garlic, or eggplant parmigiana. It also pairs beautifully with aged hard cheeses like Parmigiano Reggiano or Manchego.

Cellar potential: Impressive already with decanting but will age gracefully over the next 10 to 15 years, developing leather, earth and tobacco complexity.