2022 BLEWITT SPRINGS Shiraz
Whilst McLaren Vale is not a large region it is geologically diverse. The Blewitt Springs sub-region is known for deep sandy soils on yellow clays. Shiraz typically ripens later here than other parts of McLaren Vale and displays different characteristics. The sandy soils typically produce shiraz of lifted dark fruit, floral and meaty notes, the tannin is fine yet chalky and the wines are often medium bodied rather than full.
Dark yet glossy fruits, sweet herbs, demerara sugar and stained cherry juice. Medium bodied and savoury textured , plush sweet fruited palate , fine and long , nice density of tannin, unfurling layers of flavour, mulberry and cherry juice, dark spice, little smoky and incense, cured meat and a little gravelly texture to finish.
Silver Medal - Royal Adelaide Wine Show
"Deeply coloured; full, rich flavours of velvety black cherry, blackberry and spice all-sorts, with tannins so round they disappear in the black fruits. Oh-so-easy to swallow if that wasn’t forbidden. 95 points"
James Halliday, The Australian
Notes on the 2021 DUNE Blewitt Springs:
"A mixture of whole bunches, whole berries and crushed fruit; matured in used oak for 12 months. Dense, deep purple-crimson hue. A full-bodied wine with all manner of dark, if not black, things. Black peppercorns, black licorice, dark chocolate, plum, cherry allsorts and leather old and new ... yet it doesn't taste full bodied, just complex and shapeshifting. 96 points" - James Halliday, Wine Companion
Gold Medal - Perth Royal Wine Show
Gold Medal - Melbourne Royal Wine Awards
Notes on the 2020 DUNE Blewitt Springs:
"Fermented with a mix of whole bunches, whole berries and crushed fruit, and matured in used oak for 12 months. A harmonious array of red and black cherries whipped together with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon, all of which linger on the finish and aftertaste. 94 points" - James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion.
Notes on the 2019 DUNE Blewitt Springs:
"A sumptuous floral nose and undercarriage of impeccable finesse speak of the elevated sands of the Blewitt Springs subregion. Violet and bergamot; licorice and dark cherry. Clove and ground pepper-doused acidity tow the flavours long. Compelling contrasts of light and shade; depth and weight; richness and bright aromatics. Succulent and absolutely delicious." - Ned Goodwin, Halliday Wine Companion
96 points and Top 100 wines of 2020: "A remarkable wine" - Halliday Wine Companion
Gold Medal - 95 points - 2020 McLaren Vale Wine Show
"Perfumed, nutty, meaty, black fruit. Medium to full-bodied, again quite umami with some nori flavour, choc-hazelnut and juicy dark cherry, dry spice, fleshy and creamy tannin, good length with it. Quite ferrous, but also floral. Lovely wine. I often ponder the absurdity of assigning scores to wines, so this is either 93 or 94 points. I can’t quite decide."
Gary Walsh, Winefront
Notes on the 2018 DUNE Blewitt Springs:
Top Gold Medal 19/20 - 2019 Royal Adelaide Wine Show
"Fermented with a combination of whole berry and some whole bunch. It's only medium-bodied, but packs a punch from its cleverly pitched black fruits, spice, licorice and cherry. Value+ is a Dune consistency. 95 points - James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion
Notes on the 2017 DUNE Blewitt Springs:
"Continues the quality and style of the previous Dune Shiraz releases. It has a near wanton display of exotic spices that morph into the structure of the palate. The tannins bring another tribute from the Dune team. 95 points" - James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion
Notes on the 2016 DUNE Blewitt Springs:
"Bright crimson-purple; a seriously good medium-bodied shiraz, with a foresty/earthy/twiggy bouquet, letting fly on the very long and complex palate with its sinuous mix of dark berry flavours on entry, a turbo charger lifting the finish and aftertaste with a whirl of red, purple and black fruit flavours. 95 points" - James Halliday, Wine Companion
"Here’s a shiraz that delivers the earthy, choc-berry character expected from McLaren Vale, but with a softness and freshness that makes for easy drinking. It’s a succulent, medium-weight red with a smudge of dusty tannins offering good length of flavour, some concentration of fruit character, yet an inherent vitality. It feels superbly balanced in a classic sense, too." - Mike Bennie
"You often find spicy, perfumed characters in shiraz wines grown in the sandy soils of Blewitt Springs, and this is a terrific example: vivid, brambly and peppery." - Max Allen