Stockman’s Ridge top tier Shiraz from Orange has garnered a fair bit of praise recently – Best Red Wine in the NSW Small Winemakers Wine Show, 93 big ones from Mike Bennie in WBM’s Wine 100 magazine and a glowing review from Julian Coldrey at Full Pour – so I was keen to check it out.
I can certainly see where they are coming from. It smells of vivid purple and black fruits, white pepper, roasted coffee beans and vanilla. Perfectly ripe mulberries and blackberries are given a counterpoint by meaty, savoury qualities. Really vital. Rolls out in a truly delicious manner with nice dissolving tannin.
The oak here fascinates me. It seems to contribute a superior elegance to the texture but its dominant vanillin character had me guessing that it was American. As it turns out, that’s not the case. The website refers to maturation in French Heinrich Côtes du Rhône barriques for 18 months. Whatever the case, it works.
I’m less enamoured by a mentholesque coolness which distracts from an otherwise compelling profile. And I could ask for a little more length (couldn’t we all?). Still, I can’t say I’m not impressed. Very Good
Region: Orange
Alcohol: 14.8%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $35
Tasted: September 2011