Quorom Shiraz 2011

Quorom Shiraz 2011 (McLaren Vale, SA)
14%, Cork, $50

The quorom here is Nick Haselgrove, David Watkins and Warren Randall, with the last two the new owners of the old Boars Rock winery in McLaren Vale (where Nick is the winemaker and this wine was made).

Given that both Boars Rock and Warren have no shortage of vineyard resources to draw on, its probably unsurprising that this looks seriously rich for the vintage. Still, when I first sniffed this blind I was convinced that this was a 2010 not 2011.

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Part of what gives this wine its weight is oak – there’s just no escaping that this is a Quercus driven wine, with cappuccino heavy toast wood on nose, palate and finish. Little wonder really given that it spent a huge 26 months in 60% new French demimuds.

Still, underneath all that oak there is real fruit weight, which saves this from just being an oaky husk. You’ve got to like wood though. Then again, this might not have much of a presence locally as the cork, oak richness and heavy bottle suggest this might be an export focused style..

Source: Sample
Tasted: July 2014
Drink: 2016-2024
Score: 17.5/20, 91/100
Would I buy it? No. I just don’t like the taste of oak enough for that.
Buy online: Adelaide Winemakers