By John Rozentals.
Shaw Estate: truly a family affair.
Shaw Wines is a family-owned-and-operated business located in Murrumbateman NSW, the heart of the Canberra cool-climate wine region — locally produced wines from the family’s estate-grown fruit.
The Shaw Family first moved to Murrumbateman over 30 years ago, and in 1998 purchased Olleyville, a historic 700-acre fine wool producing property dating back to the mid 19th century.
The estate is truly a family affair headed by Graeme and Ann Shaw, who oversee the operation.
Their two children, Tanya and Michael, are both fully employed in the family business as well as Tanya’s husband Michael.
The business, produces a full range of top quality estate grown fruit which has enabled the Shaw family to consistently make superb-quality wines year after year.
Located in a prime position at an elevation of around 640 metres within what is described as a cool-climate region, the estate is quite unique in that several of the sites, with appropriately sloping aspects and superb soils, have microclimates perfectly suiting the production of outstanding cabernet sauvignon.
With around 70 acres of riesling, semillon, merlot, malbec, shiraz and cabernet sauvignon under vines, the property supplies Shaw Wines with its entire production and can lay claim to the fact that they produce 100 per cent estate-grown wines.
In the last five years, Shaw Wines has collected over 300 medals and trophies from various Australian and International wine shows including the title of Best Australian Cabernet Sauvignon from the London International Wine Challenge in 2018.
WINE REVIEWS
Shaw Wines 2017 Reserve ‘Isabella’ Riesling ($40): Isabella Anderson was born in 1919 and lived and worked on the Olleyville property until her retirement in 2007. The 2017 vintage was set up by good winter rain and a cooler spring. The grapes were picked at 11.5 Beaumé and only the free-run juice was used. Being high in acid, the wine was kept to mature for a couple of years prior to release. It shows fresh lime and citrus, and has a more rounded palate than an early-release riesling.
Blue Pyrenees Estate 2018 Section One Shiraz ($38): Dark fruits and cinnamon mingle with toasty vanillin oak and a long-lasting peppery and spicy tannin finish. The red is medium- to full-bodied, with firm tannin, fruit vibrancy and many possible food matches, including my suggestion of roast beef with country vegetables.
WINE OF THE WEEK
Shaw Wines 2016 Reserve ‘Merriman’ Cabernet Sauvignon ($65): Each vintage Graeme Shaw selects his favourite red wine and gives it the title of ‘Merriman’ in honour of pioneer George Merriman who championed the cool-climate Murrumbateman region through the production of world-class wool. The 2016 vintage is showing great promise and will be good for cellaring for many years to come. Match with prime lamb.
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