S.Smith & Sons
O'Leary Walker Clare Reserve Shiraz 2016 x 6
Fruit is sourced from dry grown Shiraz vines approximately 130
years old at Martin and Joan Smith’s vineyard in the Polish Hill
River. Grey loam acid soils over sandstone and slate make up the
profile with much of the top soil littered with rock, hinting at just
how tough the vines need to be to sustain growth and produce
quality fruit. Despite growing these vines organically since their
planting in the 1880s, 2012 marked the first year of NASAA
Organic Certification for these vineyards.
Handmade in a two tonne fermenter, the fruit is de-stemmed and
fermented using natural yeast. Hand plunged up to four times
daily to control temperature and maximise flavour and tannin
extraction. Left on skins post fermentation for fifteen days, then
lightly pressed and transferred to French oak barriques for thirty
months. One hundred percent new French oak for twelve months
and eighteen months in five year old French oak.
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The West Australian
97 Points
Nothing is spared from fruit sourcing to winemaking. The fruit comes from a Polish Hill River vineyard that is more than 100 years old, and it eventually finds its way into 100 per cent new French oak for 12 months. It’s pretty obvious such a concentration of fruit can handle the oak and the end result is a wine revealing great poise and balance. Massive concentration with the chalky tannin, ironstone character supporting it through a very long finish. There is real cellaring potential here.
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Halliday Wine Companion 2022
96 Points
“The new black packaging works a treat. Hailing from 100yo vines in Polish Hill River, the concentration is literally breathtaking. You can sense the power on the swarthy/leathery/black fruit of the bouquet, the palate doubling down on all that goes before. Its future will be measured in decades not years – needs the optimism of matriarch Claire Marie O’Leary.”
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International Wine Challenge 2022
95 Points