Again, Shaw + Smith deliver the goods with this new 2019 Shiraz & 2020 Chardonnay. Both wines are too young, the Chardonnay positively pre-pubescent, but that’s probably the only quibble. Class though, which is the S & S motto. Buy with confidence.
Shaw + Smith Shiraz 2019
Love the combo of fruit generosity at moderate alcohols here. More. More. Adelaide Hills Shiraz, built mid weight, but plump, with cooked ham, blackberry compote and black pepper. It’s joyful fruit too. It’s bright-fruited, spice-flecked, maybe a bit too primary, but very pleasant. Inviting. Not complex, but ah so affable and generous, and there’s capacity for more given the late spice tannins. Very good. Best drinking: now, but better in 2-3 years and for the next decade. 18.5/20, 94/100+. 13.5%, $52. Would I buy it? Yes.
Shaw + Smith M3 Chardonnay 2020
Aching young. Ultra fine, delicate and yet has a buxom beauty to it. I opened it too cold, and the banana post ferment esters were very prominent. But underneath its fine, filigreed, arguably too much so. White peach, tangy acidity, it’s a bit disjointed with the fruit competing with oak and some very delicate vanilla bean. Detailed, and plenty of latent power, just needing time. 18/20, 93/100+. 13.5%, $49
4 Comments
Hey Andrew, you say “ Again, Shaw + Smith deliver the goods with this new 2019 Shiraz & 2020 Chardonnay” but I couldn’t find any other reviews of the Shiraz on your site, unless I missed them? Perhaps you tried them when out of ‘review mode’?
True that. I see the Shiraz every year at the Shaw + Smith yum cha lunch event, not in review mode. There are some older vintages up on site here: https://ozwinereview.wpcomstaging.com/page/2?s=Shaw+%2B+smith
I thought the chardonnay was particularly good considering the vintage!
Agreed. It just needs some time to come together. Felt barrel sample-esque.