Adelina Estate Shiraz 2021

The Adelina vineyards are situated in Spring Farm Valley, just south of the township of Clare. Their neighbours include the vineyards of Wendouree, Aberfeldy and Sevenhill Cellars. The small Adelina plantings were originally established around 1910; mostly Shiraz and Grenache with small plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. The vineyard is right next door to Birk’s Wendouree so we know the terroir is good! The Gardner family has owned the Spring Farm Estate, which is the site of both the Adelina winery and vineyards, since 1986. Prior to the inception of Adelina Wines in 2000, the property was managed by Will and Elaine Gardner, and the fruit was sold to Tim Adams. In 2002, Col McBryde and Jen Gardner, Will and Elaine’s daughter, took over responsibility for the vineyards and launched Adelina wines which are made exclusively from the Estate vineyards. The pair has been involved in winemaking and research since the mid-90s.

The Shiraz vines at Adelina were probably planted circa 1910, no one knows exactly, and the vineyard is sandwiched between two of the Clare’s greatest sites, Wendouree (which lies just 150 metres from Adelina) and the Aberfeldy vineyard. So this is an undeniable sweet-spot terroir for Shiraz. The gnarled old vines here are now managed organically and grow in shallow red loam soil that sits over a base of limestone and slate. This soil (and the low yields of these ancient vines) bring both power and mineral freshness.

Region/ Country: Clare Valley, Australia

Rating: 98 points by Nick Stock & James Suckling

Tasting Note: Wow, this is a rich, complex and super focused edition with a spice-laced, dark-plum and blackberry nose, together with cassis, blueberries, anise, violets, forest wood, hints of tar and some savory, wet slate-like aromas. The palate has essence-like purity and focus with long, polished tannins carrying blackberries, plums, blueberries, nuances of cocoa and a very long, elegant and unwavering run to the finish. A great wine, this should be on every contemporary Australian wine collector’s hit list. Drink over the next twenty years.