Fifteenth release of HJ Reserve Shiraz is dark maroon colour. Flavours of Chocolate pudding, blackberry pie, mocha spice and vanilla oak dominate. Savoury spice, mocha and plummy sweetness through the palate. Full flavoured, the tannins are silky and integrated, with sage and black currant characters, framing this more restrained vintage of McLaren Vale Shiraz.
Part from the oldest estate block (planted '48), and Rayments clone 1654 (planted '96), destemmed, berry-sorted, lightly crushed, 3 days cold soak, wild yeast-open fermented, pressed at 1 degrees baume for primary and mlf in French oak (35% new). Great fruit, great vintage, great winemaking.
98 points James Halliday winecompanion.com.au August 2020