Mount Pleasant 1921 Vines Old Paddock Vineyard Shiraz, Hunter Valley
The Mount Pleasant Block series calls on the hallowed vines planted by Maurice O’Shea—the Old Paddock (1921) and Rosehill (1946). The series also showcases limited quantities of wine from vines familiar to those who visit the winery, the Old Hill. Planted 1880, the vines provided fruit to O’Shea as hewed his reputation from and into the bedrock of the Australian wine story.
Maurice O'Shea planted the Old Paddock vineyard when he took ownership of Mount Pleasant in 1921. These original 100-years-old vines produce exquisite fruit for the single-vineyard 1921 Vines Old Paddock Shiraz.
Hand-picked, destemmed and crushed into small open fermenters with a short cold soak, then an 8-day fermentation, matured in large-format French oak. A powerful, but immaculately balanced shiraz, blackberry fruit within a gauze of ripe, positive tannins. The breed and lineage of the wine is razor sharp, the length and balance impeccable. Like its siblings, it's easy to say the flavours have some savoury characters, much harder to condense and describe their unique nature.
97 points, Wine Companion (December 2015)
Look at the crazy dense dark purple colour of this wine! Dark, brooding, intense and tannic – though only medium bodied – with violets and liquorice layered through fresh blackberries and earthy flavours. Superb grip and minerally feel, the gravel in the tannin puts me in mind of great Bordeaux, and the length soars and finishes fresh and crisp. Such personality and charisma: it appeals to me on a number of levels. Great wine.
97+ points, The Wine Front (December 2015)
Deep red/purple hue and a discreet, but attractive, bouquet of earthy, 'forest floor', coal dust and spice aromas. The wine is full-bodied and powerful, penetrating and intense, with incisive flavour and mouth-watering acidity. The palate is tight, firm and long, with a degree of elegance. It has a core of sweet blueberry fruit, buried by a welter of powdery tannins at this early stage of its life. It has high potential for cellaring. Cellar it!
94 points, The Real Review (March 2016)
"A very complex young wine that really draws you in on both the nose and palate. Smells of ripe dark fruits, plum paste, boysenberry and black cherry, redder notes too, then dried leaves and dried woody notes. The palate has enchanting texture, layered and long, the gently grainy tannins ride just above the surface of ripe dark plum and cherry fruit, hints of chocolate and sweet spcies, earth too, really impressive, long and full of promise. Classic power and concentration in a mid-weight frame."
97 points, JamesSuckling.com (August 2016)
