Dandelion Lioness of McLaren Vale Shiraz 2019 750ml

Dandelion Lioness of McLaren Vale Shiraz 2019 750ml

Lioness of McLaren Vale is sourced from the foothills of McLaren Vale. Here mature Shiraz vines ‘populate or perish’ in the ironstone pebble laden clay loam, over ancient Kurrajong Formation geology, a silica cemented conglomerate most suited to grow Shiraz. After hand picking whole bunches of our Lioness of McLaren Vale in the first week of March our winemaker Elena Brooks let the whole bunches ferment together in open top fermenters with ambient yeasts and hand plunging for 12 days, before basket pressing into some new but predominately older French Oak barriques, to then mature for a further 18 months in the same oak, before bottling without fining or filtration to capture the essence of the vineyard. Although ready to drink the Lioness of McLaren Vale will also reward cellaring and decanting.

Tasting Notes

Colour

Medium bright deep-purple, alive and pure. Young.

Nose

Classic McLaren Vale shiraz: white chocolate and berry aromatics, with that savoury twist. Liqueur chocolates, cocoa, milk chocolate and bay leaf and clove. The leading aromatics suggest a dustiness and dryness, in the best possible way. Violets and rosemary and minerals, as if alchemized directly from the vineyard’s soil.

Palate

The dry and savoury profile continues. Tannins are pillowy, like grated white chocolate on cooled summer berries. The tannins add to the graininess and the graphite quality, bringing balance and attentiveness to the darker ripe berry fruit flavours and textures. Smoked bacon, pastrami. A full mouthful of generous red wine, yet also as deft as it is dry. Savoury undertones start and finish.

ABV: 14.5%

Whiskeyonline | Whiskyonline NZ