2024 MMAD Shiraz

MMAD is Martin Shaw, Adam Wadewitz, Michael Hill-Smith and David LeMire – two winemakers, two Masters of Wine – who bought this Blewitt Springs vineyard in 2021 for its rare old vines. This Shiraz comes from vines planted in 1941, dry-grown in the vineyard's fine Maslin sand over ironstone, handled gently with some whole bunch and a mix of concrete and large-format oak. A wet winter and mild ripening season made for near-perfect conditions here. The result is perfumed and delicate, layers on layers of blue fruit at the fore, with an unexpected lightness on the palate. Ripe, resolved tannins, subtle spice and a graphite edge give it frame, with a mineral pulse from the sand and ironstone below. Not a wine looking to be loud. As pretty as ever – bright, sinewy, and built to age. 97+ points "This has been the surprise packet of the MMAD wines, with it duelling for position with the grenache and chenin blanc... This is blisteringly good, again." - Marcus Ellis (Halliday Wine Companion) 97 points "Quite a stunning array of fruit concentration and intensity with real energy in those savoury firm and integrated tannins." - Jeni Port (The Wine Pilot) 97 points "This is a tremendously concentrated and power-packed shiraz that needs time and will be very long lived. Incredibly impressive." - Huon Hooke (The Real Review) 97 points "This is full flavoured, detailed with its own distinctive character but sits in a medium to full body for its freshness and brightness. You won’t forget this experience any time soon." - Shanteh Wale (The Wine Pilot) 96 points "This is a sublime shiraz in anyone’s language. It’s a wine of power, it’s a wine of finesse, it’s a wine of perfume and it’s a wine of beauty." - Campbell Mattinson (campbellmattinson.com)