Crossing Shiraz 2017

From the original dry-grown plantings, this is a reminder that Margs Shiraz can be pretty and approachable. Includes 10% whole bunches. Spends 14 months in 10% new oak. Purple red and unmistakable cool climate Shiraz, with cranberries and soccer ball ham. Real tannins too. Finely grippy, the style just mid weight but not unripe. This is a great $25 red. Best drinking: now to 8 years plus. 17.7/20, 92/100. 14%, $25. Would I buy it? Sure would. A relative bargain.

Hal Bibby, Juniper Distribution and Marketing Manager, is a generous soul and good for a yarn.

The accompanying info for the sample pack this wine was included in was preceded by a great summary (though perhaps that word itself undersells it) of the vintage conditions in Margs.

Behold, to the wine in question, and from the get-go it truly is a riot of berry derived aromatics that sits over an underlying edge of spice, a nod to the 10% whole bunch inclusion.

Even unto the palate, it's a soft and succulent wine initially, before more of that spice character makes itself very well know, with an assertiveness that almost masks some fine tannin on a decent tail of flavour.

Margs Shiraz is overlooked with its more famous Bordeaux influenced friends, on this showing the crowd may well think differently. 91