LECONFIELD McLAREN VALE SHIRAZ 2020

Here's a label we haven't seen for a few years but it's about to make a big comeback round here. The previous vintage was narrowly pushed out of the No.1 spot in Cuisine by a wine literally selling at ten times the price of this, Leconfield Shiraz 2020 is an absolute beauty, especially if you like them big. It's dark and dense with super ripe and concentrated fruit that soaks up those lovely meaty tannins.

Winery notes (2020 Vintage)
"Our 'Farm' block just to the south of McLaren Vale township provides the black loam soil over clay that limits yields and encourages small berries to produce the rich Shiraz fruit for this wine. Harvesting was at night to take advantage of cooler temperatures. Bunches were de-stemmed then allowed to ferment for 7-10 days on skins before pressing. The oak used for maturation was predominantly new and used French with some second use American to aid in the perception of fruit sweetness and a light fining polished the soft tannin structure.

Bright, vibrant nose showing red plum and olive nuances overlayed with subtle oak that provides an element of coffee mocha. Lovely rich. full, concentrated ripe shiraz palate with fine tannins that provide persistence and length. Round acidity provides elegance and grace."

Reviews for the 2019 vintage below…

92/100 Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front, January 2021 (2019 Vintage)
"Sure the mid-palate is hearty with cherry-plum-choc flavour but it’s well-controlled from there, almost to the point of elegance. So you get something of the best of both worlds. It’s both sizeable and sensible. It feels and tastes as though it’s been both well grown and well made."

5 Stars & Number 2 Cuisine Shiraz Tasting, June 2021 (2020 Vintage)
"Leconfield wines (and the Hamilton family, of which they are part) have a history almost as long as that of wine in South Australia itself – dating back to 1838, although Leconfield itself, which is in the Coonawarra, was actually established in the 1970s and was reunited with the main branch of the family recently. In a confusing twist, this shiraz, from McLaren Vale (yes, not Coonawarra), hails from the Hamilton family's own Farm Block and is a dark fruited, chewy and spicy wine. A real mouthful of robust decadence, it bursts forth with Christmas cake and vanilla flavours from some American oak influence (as well as some French). One of the most full-bodied of the line-up, it really calls for slow-cooked or grilled red meat to stand up to its concentrated flavours."