Product Description
Structured, mineral and quietly expressive from 80-year-old vines in Blewitt Springs. The 2023 MMAD Shiraz comes from vines planted in 1942 on deep sands over ironstone, in one of McLaren Vale’s most elevated and distinctive subregions. This site, cooled by sea breezes from the Gulf St Vincent, produces a style of Shiraz defined by perfume, purity and texture rather than weight.
Fermented with a portion of whole bunches and matured in large-format seasoned oak, the wine offers a detailed view of the vintage. Long, cool and slow to ripen. The MMAD team, made up of Martin Shaw, Adam Wadewitz, Michael Hill-Smith MW and David LeMire MW, take a minimal-intervention approach that prioritises vineyard character. The 2023 release is built on balance and finesse, with dark fruit, fine spice and a structural line that speaks clearly of place.
Tasting Notes
NOSE
– Perfumed and spicy
Cherry, plum and rose with clove, star anise, black pepper and herbal complexity.
PALATE
– Silky and refined
Blackberry and purple fruit with spice, cacao, and fine herbal detail. Ironstone edge and bright acidity frame the palate.
FINISH
– Long and mineral
Powdery tannins carry graphite, dark fruit and savoury spice to a poised, persistent close.
Reviews & Accolades
“An absolute stunner … cool climate-inspired spiciness … black cherry, plum, cassis with lifted aromatics in rose and pressed flowers … dusty cacao … an intense youngster that will age a beaut.” – Jeni Port, The Wine Pilot, 97 pts
“Saline with blackberry pastille, olive, cacao nibs, violet, black cherry … fine powdery tannins … hints of graphite and ironstone … splendid shiraz for the cellar.” – Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion, 97 pts
“Deep, dense red-purple … mixed spices, dried herbs with sage to the fore, purple fruits too, violets and blueberry … elegant with fine, powdery tannins … long lingering finish.” – Huon Hooke, The Real Review, 96 pts
“Blue fruited, blackberry and lavender tones … savoury herbs … sandy tannins … salted licorice note with fine lines of trilling acidity … a real beauty.” – Shanteh Wale, WinePilot, 96 pts
Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Shiraz
Country - Australia
Region - Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale, South Australia
Vintage - 2023
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 12.5%
Closure - Screw Cap
Cellaring Potential - Up to 15 years from vintage