Craiglee Shiraz 2021

An excellent dark red shot with purple. Restrained aromas with charry oak and hot bitumen, then a faint flutter of baking spices and florals follow. Lots of secondary flavours making an impact with lashings of sweet and toasty, cedary oak infusing the fuller-bodied palate, soy sauce, charred radicchio, some aniseed and pops of squishy plums, too. Then firm if gritty tannins to close.- 93 pts, Jane Faulkner, 04 April 2025, the Wine Companion.

This wine has white pepper and spice flavours, more intense in cooler years, with red fruits prevalent in warmer years. Subtle oak flavours complement the fruit. The wine ages gracefully and gives pleasure over many years.

About the Winery

One of Australia's most constantly and criminally under-rated wineries. Doesn't help that Craiglee is located in the 'never-on-trend' region that is Sunbury but don't let this distract - Pat Carmody produces cool climate classics of the highest order. The vineyard was originally established in the 1860s and Pat replanted back in 1976. The Shiraz is, I think, Australia's best 'pepper and spice' example of this cool climate style, whilst the Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are proven long-lived styles albeit in a refined and elegant mould.