95 Points James Halliday — Old-Vine McLaren Vale Reserve Shiraz from the 1948 Planting

The 2016 Oliver's Taranga HJ Reserve is a flagship McLaren Vale Shiraz drawn from the estate's oldest parcels — some dating back to 1948. The winery background speaks of “Reserve” but is not mentioned on the label. Three days cold soak, open-fermented, matured for 24 months in French hogsheads (35% new). Clever packaging, with a bottle number (no total) and planting date (’48). Archetypal full-bodied Shiraz, deeply coloured and densely packed with black fruits, dark chocolate, licorice and ripe, balanced tannins.

Food Pairing

A 95-point old-vine McLaren Vale Reserve Shiraz like this deserves the finest beef. 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 HJ Reserve’s black fruit, dark chocolate, licorice and ripe McLaren Vale tannins.