Forget Covid, let’s buy McLaren Vale’s Fox Creek winery and its Short Row Shiraz

I’ve bought a lot of wine during Covid, but not as much as Ben Gibson and his mates – they bought a five-star winery.

Four robust reds from Fox Creek, now with new owners.

I’ve bought a lot of wine during Covid, but nowhere near as much as Ben Gibson and his mates – they bought a five-star winery.

While most of us were struggling to get out from under our doonas, Ben and friends Jock Harvey and Dim Georgiadis marched into this brave new world by purchasing one of McLaren Vale’s most respected wine producers, Fox Creek Wines.

Ben and his partner, Karrie-Anne Lawson, were sizing up buying a big-screen television for their three kids in lockdown last April when this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity zoomed into view.

Word came through that Fox Creek owner Helen Watts, 86, had decided it was time to pass on the iconic 45-hectare property she’d begun planting to vines with her husband, Dr Jim Watts, in the 1980s. It took the trio nine months to seal the deal, as the world changed around them. “The change with China (trade freeze) came through last year and the situation with Covid continues so, yes, there’s a little bit of nervousness but this is about the long-term,” said Ben, who grew up in McLaren Vale driving harvesters in vineyards for pocket money before learning the wine business over 20 years with Pernod Ricard.

“Fox Creek is such a strong brand with premium wines that have such a loyal following, it just needs a bit of energy now.’’

A cunning coup: Fox Creek’s new owners Dim Georgiadis, Ben Gibson and Jock Harvey.

Potential certainly abounds: we’re talking five-star Halliday winery; producer of the revered Reserve Shiraz (classified by Langton’s as “exceptional”); winner of scores of gold medals and crowned three times the Bushing Monarch for the highest-scoring individual wine at the McLaren Vale Wine Show.

Fox Creek and robust, richly flavoured reds go hand in hand – and this tradition will continue under winemaker Ben Tanzer, who has already spent a decade at Fox Creek.

My advice for maximum lockdown enjoyment is simple: just let these Fox Creek beauties breathe for a good 20-30 minutes.

 

Fox Creek Short Row McLaren Vale Shiraz 2017

This Fox Creek classic continues to garner gold at wine shows from Germany and Spain to China and beyond. If you enjoy intense, rich McLaren Vale Shiraz, go long on the Short Row. Plums, mulberry and black cherry aromas greet us on arrival, leading along a merry path to what has been described as a “magnificent big ball of fruit”. Four years into its life, supporting characters of spit-roasted meats, cloves, and dark chocolate add complexity to this deep well of flavour. Softening tannins help pilot our ride to a smooth landing. Scored 95 points from James Halliday. 14.5% alc
CLUB SPECIAL $34.20 a bottle

Fox Creek Limited Release Grenache 2018

From old bush vines – varying in age from about 95 to 100 years – comes this elegant grenache, showing light red fruit and spice aromas on the nose, leading to rustic flavours of raspberries and red cherries. There’s a lightness of touch to this wine, culminating in super-fine tannins that linger on. Ninety-four points from Halliday. 14.5% alc
CLUB SPECIAL $34.20 a bottle

Fox Creek JSM McLaren Vale Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2016

For Fox Creek fans, the JSM is a cult favourite, named after army captain James Stanley Malpas, who grew up in what is now Fox Creek’s cellar-door cottage in the late 1800s. The Cabernet Franc gives a spicy lift to the aromatics of this claret-style blend, still bustling with big tasty red and black fruit flavours five years after vintage. Hearty winter companion to Wagyu beef sausages, Paris mash and greens. Won five gold medals, including at the AWC International Wine Challenge in Vienna in 2018. 14.5% alc
CLUB SPECIAL $26.10 a bottle

Fox Creek Jim’s Script Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet Franc Petit Verdot 2015

Fox Creek founder Jim Watts, a professor of surgery, was an unabashed bordeaux fan and planted his estate accordingly. Drinking beautifully now, varietal cabernet flavours to the fore, integrating seamlessly with soft long tannins. Put on a lamb roast and let it breathe! 14% alc
CLUB SPECIAL $26.10 a bottle

SPECIAL DOZEN(2 bottles of each wine above + 2 bottles of Fox Creek Red Baron Shiraz 2018 & Fox Creek Shiraz 2018) $26.25 a bottle

Order online or telephone [phone] Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm AEST. The Australian Wine Club is a commercial partnership with Laithwaite’s Wine People. Offers subject to availability.