Castle Rock Estate Shiraz 2015
Porongurup. Polish Hill River. Eden Valley. These three sub-regions are the dress circle of Australian Riesling. But Eden is the only one of those three that can also deliver top flight Shiraz for mine.
Why? Or maybe Shiraz just isn’t the companion variety to Riesling in Porongurup?
This Castle Rock Shiraz certainly has character but it’s not going to change minds either. It’s mushroomy, sappy, bacony and not short on flavour, but there is a rawness too, as if the ripeness isn’t quite there.
Definitive style (and quality), but maybe not the cohesiveness to win hearts and minds. Best drinking: Wait. Wait for 2-3 years to see if those tannins integrate. 17.5/20, 91/100. 13.5%, $30. Would I buy it? A glass.
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3 Comments
Do you usually re-visit your samples on day 2, Andrew?
Day 2 and regularly day 3.
What I like doing is putting reds into the fridge and trying them again cold the next day. Even now in winter I often prefer reds sub room temp.
A few hours is useful too. Today I tried a Pinot at 8pm and then just now again at almost 11pm. The difference was palpable (it tastes better now).
I would argue that the dress circle of great Australian Riesling extends well beyond the three regions you have highlighted. Canberra, Tasmania, Western Victoria and the broader Great Southern all produce outstanding Riesling IMHO, I would also argue that all of those regions, with a possible argument about Tasmania, also produce top shelf Shiraz..