By Christine Salins.
2021 has been quite a year for McLaren Vale’s Shottesbrooke Wines. Back in August, it won a swag of medals in the USA Wine Ratings competition, taking out the top accolades for winery of the year and wine of the year.
A few months later, it was the only Australian wine brand shortlisted for top red wine producer in the prestigious International Wine and Spirit Competition. The award eventually went to South African producer, Vilafonté, but it was a great result for Shottesbrooke, flying the flag for McLaren Vale and its world-class red wines.
The Shottesbrooke journey began in 1981 when Nick Holmes planted vines just outside Myponga on South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula. Searching for a location that ticked all the boxes, he went on to acquire the property at McLaren Flat where the Shottesbrooke winery and cellar door now stand.
Eliza Shiraz
Under the guidance of his winemaker stepson, Hamish Maguire, Shottesbrooke is producing high quality wine from both estate-owned and managed vineyards in McLaren Vale and the Adelaide Hills. Maguire grew up amongst the vineyards in McLaren Vale and as a teenager spent many weekends as a trainee cellar hand at Ryecroft Wines.
The 24-hectare Shottesbrooke estate offers a complete “Drink, Dine and Stay” experience, with a cellar door, restaurant and accommodation all within walking distance. The Currant Shed has forged a reputation as one of McLaren Vale’s leading restaurants, while McLaren Vale Getaways provides accommodation with stunning views of the estate.
Food served in The Currant Shed is sourced from the estate’s own garden and from local suppliers, while Shottesbrooke wines feature extensively on the wine list. Chefs use Shottesbrooke wine in their cooking, including smoked Grenache salt, and Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon lees, in which they brine fish.
The timing of its recent accolades couldn’t be better for Shottesbrooke, which has been actively targeting the U.S. market over the past three years. It has won more than 20 gold medals in international and domestic competitions this year, building on its 2020 success when it was named ‘Best Producer – Australia’ at the 2020 Mundus Vini Grand International Wine Awards in Germany.
The Proprietor
“McLaren Vale wines deserve their place on the world stage, and we hope that by receiving internationally recognised accolades such as these, we are able to really support the wonderful things we are doing as a premium winegrowing region,” Maguire said.
Shottesbrooke Reserve Series ‘The Proprietor’ 2016, $60: Boasting a stylish black and silver label, this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec is released only in years of exceptional quality. Winning a gold medal in the USA Wine Ratings competition, it’s big and rich with intense blackberry and mocha notes and hints of cinnamon and mint. There’s plenty of toasty oak too, so you might want to decant it before serving, or better still, pop it into the cellar for a few years.
Shottesbrooke Reserve Series ‘Eliza’ Shiraz 2016, $65: This voluptuous beauty was named Wine of the Year in the USA Wine Ratings competition, winning 97 points. A deep red/purple colour with firm yet subtle tannins, it has nutty, coffee/chocolate notes and a deliciously long finish.
Shottesbrooke Reserve Series ‘Eliza’ Shiraz 2018, $65: Like ‘The Proprietor’, ‘Eliza’ is released only in years of exceptional quality. The 2016 is a treat and the 2018 vintage looks pretty magnificent too, certainly one that you might want to squirrel away for a few years till it settles and blossoms. With dark plummy, chocolate notes and plenty of savoury spice, it won 95 points and a gold medal in the International Wine and Spirit Competition.
