2001 Shingleback Shiraz

A RELATIVE newcomer to the McLaren Vale scene, Shingleback has attracted praise locally and abroad. Brothers John and Kym Davey planted their family property to vineyard in 1995 and released the first wines from the much-lauded 1998 vintage. The fourth-release 2001 is rich, juicy McLaren Vale shiraz incarnate, a testament to both the effort invested in this undertaking and what has turned out to be a pretty spectacular vintage for Mclaren Vale shiraz across the board. The nose opens with big plum fruit, sweet milk chocolate and spice. Caramel-scented American oak is present in force but fairly met by the fruit, from fragrant raspberry to ripe prune. It’s a similar tale in the mouth with lots of very sweet, dark fruits, black olive and chocolatey, creamy, assertive wood. Massive concentration, high in extract and full of ripe, velvety tannin, it almost takes on the texture of dark chocolate, as well as the flavour. The finish brings a wave of mocha, roasted coffee bean and savoury, smoky flavour as the wood momentarily takes the upper hand before being washed over by a long, juicy, blood plum aftertaste. It has masses of everything, including value.

-Nick Stock, Adelaide Review