Iconic Clare Valley Shiraz with dark plum, black fruit, choc-mint and a long, tightly structured finish.
About The Wine
Wendouree Shiraz 2022 is a classic Clare Valley red with the concentration, tension and age worthy structure that have made this label one of Australia’s most sought after names. The 2022 vintage shows a firmer, more tightly wound style, with compact black fruit, savoury depth, zesty acidity and a strong mineral line running through the palate. This is a serious Shiraz built for patience, yet already full of character.
Halliday Wine Companion - 93 Points
All from 1919 plantings. A parcel of fruit set aside singularly. Roasted coffee beans, licorice, then blackcurrants with salted, preserved plum, turned earth, old campfire and choc-stout beer whiffs. The palate an echo of this with a grippy, twiggy oak element in the mix. Feels stern and firm, a bitter note in the wine, zesty-lemon acidity is noted here. More preserved, salted plum follows in taste with choc-mint, espresso and eucalyptus in tow. The wine lingers with a more vibrant, tart cherry character and sweet spice to finish. Tannins are puckering, grippy and stony. Not quite pleasure zone stuff yet, but stay the course as it finds its future balance and flourishes in cellar. Mike Bennie
Tasting Notes
Aroma: Preserved plum, black fruit, choc-mint, cedar, spice and savoury earth.
Palate: Compact and structured, with dark fruit, fine savoury detail, firm acidity and mineral tension from front to back.
Finish: Long, focused and tightly framed, with persistent spice, dark fruit and a firm tannin backbone.
Serving Suggestions
Best suited to richer dishes such as roast lamb, grilled ribeye, slow-braised beef or hard aged cheeses.
About the Winery / Producer / Region
Wendouree is one of the great historic estates of Clare Valley, founded in 1895 and under the stewardship of Tony and Lita Brady since 1974. The estate is closely associated with very old vines, traditional winemaking and reds built on longevity rather than early softness, and its stone winery remains a defining part of the property’s identity.
Cellaring Potential
This is built for the long haul and should reward extended cellaring. Current drinking guidance around comparable 2022 Wendouree releases points to a window beginning from 2026 and running well into the 2030s, while trade notes for the straight Shiraz emphasise decades of development in bottle.
Collector’s Note
The 2022 vintage release drew strong attention because it included both the straight Shiraz and the new 24B Shiraz bottling, reinforcing the continued collector demand around Wendouree’s red wines.
Details
Producer: Wendouree
Vintage: 2022
Variety: Shiraz
Region: Clare Valley, South Australia
Alcohol: 13.6%
Bottle Size: 750ml