Danelion Red Queen of the Eden Valley Shiraz Great packaging!

Dandelion Red Queen of the Eden Valley Shiraz 2008
(Eden Valley, SA)
14.5%, Screwcap, $85
Source: Sample
www.dandelionvineyards.com.au

Sourced from a 97 year old (in 2008) vineyard, it’s hard to fault the providence of this wine. Open fermenters, natural yeasts, serious oak and some of the smartest labelling/packaging around. In fact there’s only one thing working against it – the vintage. The grapes for this were picked post heatwave and, although everything else is top shelf, the fruit itself does appear to have been slightly clipped by the heat. You can see it in the simple richness and lack of real phenolics through the back end, of a fruit profile that looks rich and plump (and probably pressed off early to keep that juiciness) but doesn’t quite have the depth of the very best from Eden Valley.

The net result is an unquestionably attractive, soft and slightly sweet style with very well managed oak and no shortage of chocolatey Shiraz fullness, yet one without the tannic thrust (or natural acidity) of the best Eden Valley Shiraz, which, given the price point, is where this is pitched at. Good but not great. 17.3/91