2021 Kirrihill Regional series Shiraz 14.5%
Clare Valley, South Australia, RRP $19

"It’s said that the first duty of wine is to be red. But regardless of colour, I want my wines to be memorable, not nondescript. Ordinary wines are deflected for cooking, lesser wines for the sink.

The scenic Clare Valley produces numerous flashy Rieslings, but many other thrills, red and white. Sometimes their reds have a whisp of regional mint/gumleaf/eucalypt, but that sometimes happens in other areas too! Wendouree’s red wines are in high demand (with a waiting list for their mailing list, and even then no guarantee of allocations). 

I know little of Kirrihill except its large vineyard holdings and the worthy bling on this bottle. Anyway, my third cheapie in a row taunts with a regal, serious purple/crimson colour. Vibrancy continues with blackberry, coffee cream, and a hint of choc-mint. Thankfully, oak is restrained allowing full fruit expression and this wine presents very smoothly with deep savouriness, spices, and texture. Terrific tannin management! Just a winner.

Happy days are here; it’s not a wine for extended cellaring, but an admirable value-for-money full-bodied wine with a touch of class, to go with gourmet snags, pasta, pizza, or slow-cooked meats where the honest flavour team will be completely satisfying. Splash it in a big glass and revel". - Richard Slater, Melbourne's Westsider.