Champion shiraz born amid Covid chaos

The crazy rollercoaster ridden by the makers of this gold-medal shiraz shows why Australian shiraz is celebrated across the wine world.

The Australian Wine Club’s line up of stellar shiraz.

If there’s a story to every wine, the 2020 vintage of Taylors Heritage Release Clare Valley Shiraz has a plot line worthy of a thriller. As Taylors managing director Mitch Taylor says, the 2020 was born in a time of challenge, disruption and turmoil.

That this child of chaos would go on to win three international gold medals illustrates the class of Clare Valley shiraz and the value of winemaking experience going back 50 years.

The Taylors Heritage 2020 heads our line-up of six quality Australian shiraz from six regions this week in a special offer that showcases our country’s ability to consistently produce award-winning, go-to shiraz at affordable prices.

The Heritage release shiraz was one of the Taylor family’s first two wines released in 1973 – the other was a cabernet sauvignon – after work began planting their Clare estate four years earlier. The 2020 vintage would prove to be one of family’s crazier experiences, with the season starting with challenging weather events that included spring frosts at budburst, then hot and windy conditions during flowering. Although this weather doesn’t affect quality, it does reduce yields.

By the end of 2019, Australia’s southeast was in the grip of a summer bushfire emergency, wreaking devastation across several winegrowing areas. While Clare was spared, wild weather reared its head across the valley. “One minute we were experiencing searing heat and the next heavy rain and chilly, gusty wind,” says Mitch, who has been managing director of Taylors for almost 25 years. Thankfully, weather conditions return to normal in the critical months of February and March.

The next plot twist came in the form of the Covid pandemic, sending the winery into a strange world of social distancing and rapidly instituted safety measures at the height of vintage.

“There was a lot of disruption and a lot of chaos,” Mitch says. “While it was a very tough year for growers, the quality of the fruit was high, which was heartening for everyone.”

When you taste the intense flavours of the 2020 and enjoy that characteristic softness of Clare shiraz, you’ll be reminded why Australian shiraz has come to be regarded as one of the wonders of the wine world – no matter what Mother Nature has in store.

Taylors Heritage Release Clare Valley Shiraz 2020

Created from two of the Taylors’ favourite estate blocks, the older Lodden Shiraz L11 and Angela Shiraz G60. You’ll revel in this rich and concentrated shiraz, showing aromas of plum, blackberry, warm coconut cake and vanilla. The palate is a sumptuous treat of luscious fruit, spice and oak, with Clare’s trademark blueberry flavours flowing through to a long, layered finish. The wine contains 3.8 per cent malbec, bringing in a wild berry character. Matured in French (10 per cent) and American (90 per cent) oak for 12 months. Won three international gold medals. 14.5 per cent alc; RRP $35 a bottle.

SPECIALS $22.99 a bottle in any dozen; $19.49 a bottle in regional shiraz dozen.

Heirloom Vineyards Barossa Shiraz 2019

A standout shiraz from an outstanding winemaker. Elena Brooks has crafted a Barossa classic loaded with dark fruit flavours – blackberries, black cherries, mulberries and satsuma plums – with touches of violets, olives, licorice and chocolate. Impressive depth of flavour with fine tannins transporting you to a heavenly state. Tyson Stelzer, writing for the Halliday Wine Companion, described this as “dashing, slick and transfixing”. It scored 96 points and a red star for exceptional value. A grand bargain. 14.5 per cent alc; RRP $40 a bottle.

SPECIALS $29.99 a bottle in any dozen; $19.49 a bottle in regional shiraz dozen.

Redman Bill & Arthur Coonawarra Shiraz 2021

Created from vines with an average age of about 50 years and includes a portion of grapes from a row planted in the 1890s. Made exclusively for The Australian Wine Club, the Bill & Arthur celebrates the friendship between Coonawarra pioneers, winemaker Bill Redman and grape grower Arthur Hoffmann. Hand-plunged and basket-pressed, the 2021 exhibits generous blackcurrant, violet and bramble aromas, leading to a savoury flavour profile with a touch of pepper and Chinese five-spice playing in the background. Medium-bodied. Just add barbecued ribeye with black pepper sauce. 13.9 per cent alc; RRP $40 a bottle.

SPECIALS $23.49 a bottle in any dozen; $19.49 a bottle in regional shiraz dozen.

Mr Riggs The Gaffer McLaren Vale Shiraz 2Mr Riggs The Gaffer McLaren Vale Shiraz 2020

Ben Riggs’ The Gaffer (named after his great-great-great grandfather) has become a go-to wine for McLaren Vale fans. The 2020 elevates aromas of black coffee, chocolate, thyme and rosemary before mulberry and plum flavours kick in on the palate, with a sprinkle of pepper and spice in the background. Firm tannins; matured in seasoned and 15 per cent new oak. Gold medals in San Francisco and Frankfurt. 14.5 per cent alc; RRP $25 a bottle.

SPECIALS $19.99 a bottle in any dozen; $19.49 a bottle in regional shiraz dozen.

Bleasdale Bremerview Langhorne Creek Shiraz 2019

Another example of why Langhorne Creek shiraz is regarded by many as delivering Australia’s best-value reds, vintage after vintage. Intense aromas of blackberries, plums and Asian spice. Juicy dark fruits define the medium-to-full palate, with clove and licorice notes dancing up back. Soft tannins. 14 per cent alc; RRP $22 a bottle.

SPECIALS $17.49 a bottle in any dozen; $19.49 a bottle in regional shiraz dozen.

Tyrrell’s Hunter Valley Shiraz 2019

Juicy, mid-weighted wine with Hunter proudly stamped across its flavour profile. Strawberry and raspberry aromas mingle with earthy and peppery notes. A tangy acidity drives the palate, with red fruits shining through gentle tannins. Subtle oak. Easy drinking pleasure. 90 points from Team Halliday. 13.5 per cent alc; RRP $26 a bottle.

SPECIALS $21.99 a bottle in any dozen; $19.49 a bottle in regional shiraz dozen.

Order online or telephone [phone] Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm AEST. Deals are available only while stocks last. The Australian Wine Club is a commercial partnership with Laithwaites Wine, LIQP770016550.