Single Vineyards are the jewels Andrew Thomas, but there’s always a little bit left over from the various barrels from the vineyards. Here we get the “Lips and arsholes” (L-n-A = Elenay), which has fast made a following in its 7 years. This year the components are Kiss (66%), Belford (14%), Cote d’Or (12%) and the Dam Block (8%).

Thomas Wines, Elenay, Shiraz, Hunter Valley, 2018

Deep garnet colour with electric purple rim with broad legs that take a long time to run down the glass. Hefty aromas of blue fruit, rich plum, clove, drying grass clumps and oak that dances from woody spice to vanilla and back. The palate is concentrated and silky yet muscular and tense: fruit squeezed tight by somewhat raw, powerful oak with a chary tang. Leaving things with distinct peppery, woody spice. It flirts with hedonism now and will all come together in time.

RRP: $55
Alc: 14.2%
Rating:  18.5/20 (93/100)

Wine sample courtesy of Thomas Wines