The damp 2011 vintage was often condemned by many local wine writers, often it seems, without the wines having had sufficient opportunity to flesh out in bottle and reveal their true potential. Western Australia’s key regions and the Hunter Valley in New South Wales enjoyed excellent vintages, a point sometimes lost here in Melbourne,
2011 was a vintage that, in South Australia and Victoria, presented certain challenges and tested the diligence of our vignerons, not the least in making a very strict selection and being prepared to declassify. Margaret River and the Hunter Valley enjoyed excellent harvests and have perhaps suffered slightly by association
Almost four years on, we can safely say that some outstanding Chardonnays were produced in 2011. Reds are considerably patchier, some lacking concentration and prone to herbaceousness. It is fair to say that very few of the best red wines from 2011 are likely to make old bones, but there are good wines to be found.
Giaconda McClay Road Shiraz is an excellent outcome from this much maligned vintage. It is in a very good spot now (especially alongside food) and possesses and alluring prototypical northern Rhône Syrah nose. Quality-wise, it is perhaps more Crozes than the hill of Hermitage (leave that to the bigger, denser Giaconda Estate Shiraz) and is a mid-term proposition. There’s a lot to like here, though one would suggest drinking now and in the next year or two.
2011 GIACONDA MCCLAY ROAD SHIRAZ
Producer: Giaconda
Variety: Syrah/Shiraz
Vintage: 2011
Region: Beechworth, Victoria
Alcohol: 13.0%
Closure: Screw cap
Retail Price: $40.00
Date tasted: 21 December 2014
Tasting Note:
Deep crimson. Attractive nose of freshly milled black pepper, roast game juices, truffle, ink, touch of raspberry. Dry, medium bodied, savoury and elegant. Very stylish. Showing well now, though powdery tannins on the finish suggest there may be sufficient structure for mid-term cellaring. Excellent outcome from the vintage.
Score: 17/20
2011 was a vintage that, in South Australia and Victoria, presented certain challenges and tested the diligence of our vignerons, not the least in making a very strict selection and being prepared to declassify. Margaret River and the Hunter Valley enjoyed excellent harvests and have perhaps suffered slightly by association
Almost four years on, we can safely say that some outstanding Chardonnays were produced in 2011. Reds are considerably patchier, some lacking concentration and prone to herbaceousness. It is fair to say that very few of the best red wines from 2011 are likely to make old bones, but there are good wines to be found.
Giaconda McClay Road Shiraz is an excellent outcome from this much maligned vintage. It is in a very good spot now (especially alongside food) and possesses and alluring prototypical northern Rhône Syrah nose. Quality-wise, it is perhaps more Crozes than the hill of Hermitage (leave that to the bigger, denser Giaconda Estate Shiraz) and is a mid-term proposition. There’s a lot to like here, though one would suggest drinking now and in the next year or two.
2011 GIACONDA MCCLAY ROAD SHIRAZProducer: Giaconda
Variety: Syrah/Shiraz
Vintage: 2011
Region: Beechworth, Victoria
Alcohol: 13.0%
Closure: Screw cap
Retail Price: $40.00
Date tasted: 21 December 2014
Tasting Note:
Deep crimson. Attractive nose of freshly milled black pepper, roast game juices, truffle, ink, touch of raspberry. Dry, medium bodied, savoury and elegant. Very stylish. Showing well now, though powdery tannins on the finish suggest there may be sufficient structure for mid-term cellaring. Excellent outcome from the vintage.
Score: 17/20
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