Wirra Wirra’s Church Block has turned forty years old. We’re now the same age. Fitting considering I grew up with the wine – after I was of a legal drinking age of course. 49% Cabernet, 35% Shiraz, 16% Merlot. That’s a lot less Cabernet and a lot more Merlot than my winning team chose to use in the blending competition at the Woodhenge Cup a couple of years ago. The 2011 vintage didn’t seem to suit McLaren Vale Merlot very well. But this is a lovely release.
Sweetly fruited and fleshy yet fresh. Not a simple wine by any means and I suspect it will age well over the medium-term at least. Mulberries, blueberry, aniseed, milk chocolate, toasty clove studded oak and long tannins with reach. Murmurs of root vegetables and roasted capsicum. Widely available and you’ll often get change from a twenty when you buy it. A wine that deserves its place in Australian vinous folklore. Happy birthday to ya! 91
Region: McLaren Vale
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $20
Tasted: March 2014