Here’s a wine that I know will brighten up a dour pub list. The Wirra Wirra Church Block 2017 is another reminder that making good $25 wine isn’t hard. You just have to overdeliver.
As ever, this red is sourced from McLaren Vale fruit. This year it’s 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Shiraz and 9% Merlot, which is close to the standard blend ( I think). Years ago I did a blending game at Wirra Wirra where we had to put together a Church Block blend. Our team (led by me, it was my fault) went light on the Merlot and came second as a result. Screw you McLaren Vale Merlot!
Now, back to this ’17. In my mind, the Cab component seems particularly dominant this year, with a whiff of cedar and dark berries. Between that and the richness of the Shiraz it’s makes for a chunky, substantial red that is a little rough edged (and plenty of acidity), but long and genuine. You come away satisfied by the saturation, the McLaren Vale width and the real tannins. It’s a lot of wine at a very fair price. 17.5/20, 91/100. 14.5%, $25. Would I buy it? Worth a few glasses as a start.
Help keep Australian Wine and Drinks Review free
Rather than bombard you with ads or erect a paywall, I simply ask for a donation to keep this site running.
Donate here and help produce more brutally honest drinks reviews
2 Comments
I have not bought a Church Block since the 2001 vintage. A couple of friends of mine liked it so much that they proposed we share a case. They were more keen than I but it was a good wine so I thought it might be a good bet for mid-term cellaring. Well time flies and here it is 18 years later and the bottles are stil unopened. I don’t even know which box they might be in so they might make the two decade mark.
I’d be interested to see how they look now. Likely still alive. Always have tannins and structure – especially in a vintage like 2001.