2023 Wirra Wirra Catapult Shiraz, McLaren Vale

Bold and plush, exuding boundless plummy fruit and dark chocolate generosity upheld by bright acidity and a delicate violet lift on the finish. Well done.

95 points (Gold) Decanter World Wine Awards 2026

In a proprietorial bottle with 'certified organic' now on the front label. The fruit sources are from across the region; 12 months in seasoned French oak. A cool year, yet a good bit of regional power, which is held well in check. Blackberry, mulberry, judicious spice, coffee and bitter chocolate, some maritime notes, iron oxide and earth. The palate has some saline slip to the supple mid-palate, tannins built to accommodate cellaring, even at the modest sticker price. Value plus. Drink to 2031.

92 points (Special Value) Marcus Ellis for Halliday Wine Companion, March 2026

Rich ruby with a full purple tint at the rim. Mulberry and mocha aromatics. Dense and powerful but doesn’t overbear the palate. Ripe blue fruits, dusty earth and mocha notes are all in harmony. Tannins are quite gravelly, ensuring there’s a contrasting tension to the fruit's generosity. Flows long and finishes with a bone-dry crunch. A lot of bang for buck and will offer cellaring rewards. Drink to 2035.

91 points Stuart Knox for The Real Review, October 2025

The 2023 Catapult Shiraz is juicy and bright, populated by red and black fruits and shaped by fine, spicy tannins. I like the freshness and airiness of this wine and find it to be wholly more cohesive and harmonious than the last vintage tasted. The cool, wet 2023 season has produced a Shiraz here of leafiness and spice, and these characters contribute to the overall feeling of levity. This is an attractive wine. Drink to 2030.

90 points Erin Larkin for The Wine Advocate, September 2025

Wirra Wirra Catapult Shiraz from McLaren Vale is a vibrant and expressive take on one of South Australia's most beloved varietals. Named after the giant medieval-style trebuchet that sits in front of the winery (yes, a working catapult), this wine reflects the spirited personality of the Wirra Wirra team as much as it does the region’s generosity of fruit.

Founded in 1894 by Robert Strangways Wigley and revived in the 1960s by Greg Trott, Wirra Wirra has long been one of McLaren Vale’s most iconic producers. Today, the estate is known not just for its wines, but for its creativity, cricket pitch, and genuine devotion to both craftsmanship and quirk.

The Catapult Shiraz is made primarily from fruit grown in the cooler, elevated vineyards of McLaren Vale’s foothills and ranges. These sites bring freshness and spice to the wine, balancing the plush dark fruit that the region is famous for. A small percentage of co-fermented Viognier is often included to lift aromatics and add a subtle floral edge.

Fermented in open fermenters and aged in a mix of French and American oak, the wine is deeply coloured with aromas of blackberry, plum and liquorice, layered with hints of white pepper, vanilla and violets. The palate is rich and smooth but not heavy, with juicy black fruits, soft tannins and just enough acidity to keep it lively and food-friendly.

It’s made for chargrilled steak, smoky eggplant dishes, sticky barbecue ribs or a wedge of aged Gouda. Drink now for its youthful fruit or cellar comfortably for up to eight years.