2023 Keith Tulloch Shiraz, Hunter Valley

Keith Tulloch Shiraz from the Hunter Valley is a refined, medium-bodied red that pays homage to one of Australia’s most distinctive regional expressions of Shiraz. Forget the blockbuster style—this is Hunter Shiraz at its most elegant: savoury, spicy, and built on balance rather than brawn.

The Tulloch family has been part of the Hunter Valley wine story for over a century, and today the estate is led by fourth-generation winemaker Keith Tulloch, who brings a modern, thoughtful approach rooted in classic techniques. Sustainability, precision viticulture, and minimal intervention are at the core of his philosophy, with a clear focus on producing wines that express their site and season.

Sourced from estate and select grower vineyards across the Hunter, the Shiraz is fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged in a mix of large-format old oak and seasoned French barriques. The goal is to highlight purity of fruit and savoury complexity without overt oak influence.

In the glass, it shows lifted aromas of dark cherry, mulberry, black pepper, and dried herbs, layered with subtle earth and leather. The palate is supple and structured, offering medium weight and fine-grained tannins with flavours of plum, spice, and a whisper of smokiness. There’s a real sense of restraint and charm—this is the kind of Shiraz that doesn’t shout, but rewards close attention.

Classic Hunter, through and through. Ideal with roast lamb, game birds, or a slow-braised mushroom stew.