I mentioned last year that this wine was in development, so I'm excited to let you know that it is now available to order! A blend of Shiraz (70%) and Pinot Noir (30%) it a homage to the Hunter Valley 'light dry red' style which wine writer Max Allen describes thus:
‘…the pinot shiraz blend dates back to at least the mid-20th century, thanks to pioneering vignerons like Maurice O'Shea at Mount Pleasant… The wines that this brilliant French-Irish-Australian winemaker produced from the 1930s to the 1950s at Mount Pleasant – in a shed with a dirt floor and no electricity for most of that time – have inspired generations of younger grape-treaders.’
To my mind these blends, whilst having some heavy duty history behind them, are a very modern take on blending - using the spice and generosity of Shiraz with the natural perfume and bright fruit of Pinot Noir to create a lithe and slinky red with plenty of juiciness, but enough tannin to be taken seriously.
