Strikes me as a superhero type label. And for a producer I’m unaware of it’s a superhero type price. Will it be Iron Man or the Green Lantern?
Has all those Hilltops blueberries on the nose and palate. Black cherry, plums, pepper and star anise too. Violet mouth-perfume. Like the oak treatment, like the architecture. Voluminous. Big and muscular with a bit of warmth. Were I to be rescued I’d prefer someone more svelte – say The Black Widow – but this’d do the job. 92
Region: Hilltops
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $45
Tasted: July 2014
I do like my Canberra/Hilltops shiraz but is it me or are they (generalisation) priced quite high?
Living in the Adelaide Hills, whose shiraz I also like a lot, I find very good wines that are significantly less expensive. Maybe I am deluded, dunno.
Nobby – From the Hilltops you’ve got Clonakilla and the McWilliam’s Appellation Series at under $30. Moppity as well although I haven’t tasted any of their Shiraz for quite a while. Canberra has Ravensworth for sub $30 and Clonakilla’s O’Riada for just over $30. Collector wines might still have something in that range. There’s also Capital Wines and probably others I’ve forgotten to mention. You’d want to be careful when it comes to your producer for the wet 2011 and 2012 vintages.
For an in-Hilltops maker at sensible prices & value, Chalkers Crossing is also worth a look. The wines tend to be made in a more understated fashion than the Moppity bottlings, but age nicely. Celine Rousseau is an excellent winemaker.