95 Points – James Halliday | A Legendary Clare Valley Shiraz of Supreme Elegance

The 2005 Wendouree Shiraz is a rare and extraordinary wine from one of Australia's most mythologised estates — now 20 years in bottle and drinking at the peak of its powers.

My Wine Man on Wendouree

Wendouree is Australia's most reclusive fine wine estate — farming ancient dry-grown bushvines in Clare Valley since 1892 with a philosophy of zero compromise. The Bradys allocate almost entirely through a private mailing list. A 20-year-old Wendouree on the open market is genuinely rare.

Tasting Notes

Deep garnet with developing brick rim. The nose is profoundly complex — dark plum, dried fig, leather, tobacco, dried herbs, ironstone and a haunting mineral thread. The palate is medium to full-bodied with fully integrated tannins and a long, elegant finish. 95 Points — James Halliday.

Style & Drinking Window

Medium to full-bodied but elegant and resolved. Drinking magnificently now at peak maturity. Decant 1 hour. Drink within 7 years.

Food Pairing

A 20-year-old Wendouree at peak maturity deserves the finest match. We love it with Australian Grass-Fed Cape Grim Rib-Eye Steak from My Meat Man — dry-aged and char-grilled medium-rare with bone-marrow butter, a magnificent match for the 2005's leather, tobacco and ironstone mature complexity.