Wirra Wirra Catapult McLaren Vale Shiraz 2022 (Australia)

Wirra Wirra Catapult McLaren Vale Shiraz 2022 (Australia)"Wonderfully ripe and enticing, the wine shows black blueberry, spicy oak, cinnamon and rich floral characters on the nose, followed by a concentrated palate offering richness as well as firm structure. Bold and sturdy, yet velvety and comforting. At its best: now to 2036" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Feb 2024 Rich mulberry with plum purple at the edge. Lovely fresh plum and raspberries with notes of cinnamon, cocoa, clove, cardamom, nutmeg and dried ginger.

"Wonderfully ripe and enticing, the wine shows black/blueberry, spicy oak, cinnamon and rich floral characters on the nose, followed by a concentrated palate offering richness as well as firm structure. Bold and sturdy, yet velvety and comforting. At its best: now to 2036" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Feb 2024

Rich mulberry with plum-purple at the edge. Lovely fresh plum and raspberries with notes of cinnamon, cocoa, clove, cardamom, nutmeg and dried ginger. A warm, vibrant and inviting nose. A delicious offering of blueberries, raspberries and plums are layered with pâtisserie-like notes of baking pastry, vanilla bean, butter biscuit and spice. The palate is generous with flavour and supplies an ample measure of tannin that is smooth and fine, with mouth coating persistence.

Fruit was gently crushed and destemmed en route to fermenter. Early temperatures were maintained at 20-22 degrees, rising to 25-28 degrees at peak of ferment. In general, ferments were pumped over two to four times daily to assist flavour and colour extraction, as well as spreading heat through the cap and body of the ferment. Nearing completion and having achieved the desired flavour and tannin extraction, pump-overs were reduced to once or twice daily to keep the cap moist. Close to dryness, wine was drained from the fermenter and the remaining skins were pressed via tank or basket press. Wines completed their secondary malolactic fermentation in tank then filled to oak with barrel selection and maturation times tailored to each parcel – those showing a more powerful structure receiving a longer maturation time in oak before blending.

Approximately 70% French and 30% American. A combination of new and seasoned oak is used, blending to about 20% new oak in the final wine.

Food Pairing: Eggplant involtini.