Officially from the Heathcote region in central Victoria, around 90 minutes north west of state capital, Melbourne. The vineyard is located near the township of Tooborac which is at the southern end of the region, close to the cool climate Macedon and nested against the central wetlands dominant region of Nagambie. Fermented in small stainless open fermenters. Half de-stemmed, while the other half had 10–25% whole bunches in the ferment. Maturation for 12 months in 500L French oak puncheons (1/3rd new).

Handpicked Wines, Collection, Shiraz, Heathcote, 2021

Deep garnet to ruby. Red currant, meaty pâté, fennel spice, white pepper, blueberry, blackberry pastille, fresh leather, torn fig, pink salt, roast beetroot and a little cedar. Full, but with a flowing and smooth action the glides with purpose. Replete with blackberry, ferrous steel tang, meaty depth, peppery piquancy and a focus of firm, fine tannin. Elegant and collected through a subtle, but persistent tail with echoes of char and bitumen. An exemplar of how Heathcote Shiraz should be best represented.

RRP: $60
Alc: 14.2%
Rating:  94/100

Wine sample courtesy Handpicked Wines