A Cult Clare Valley Icon — Old-Vine Shiraz Malbec from Australia's Most Mythical Producer

My Wine Man on Wendouree

Wendouree is one of Australia's most cult and mythical wineries — a tiny Clare Valley estate that produces some of the most concentrated, structured and age-worthy reds made anywhere in the country. The vineyards include vines planted in 1893 — over 130 years old — and the winemaking is uncompromisingly traditional: small batches, no irrigation, no shortcuts. Wendouree wines are notoriously hard to find, sell out instantly on release, and develop magnificently over decades in the cellar.

Tasting Notes

The 2017 Shiraz Malbec, tasted just after the Shiraz Mataro, comes across as more assertive and less floral. Bold black-cherry notes dominate the nose and palate, showing the Malbec influence in its crisp, bright delineation. It's medium to full-bodied, despite weighing in at just 13.2% alcohol, with lingering, complex notes of black tea on the long, dusty finish.

Style & Drinking Window

Medium to full-bodied with the trademark Wendouree structure — firm tannins, restrained alcohol, and the kind of architecture that demands time. Drink now with extended decanting (2 hours minimum), or cellar through 2040+ for the full development.

Food Pairing

A structured, old-vine Clare Valley Shiraz Malbec of this depth needs a serious cut. We love it with Australian Grass-Fed Cape Grim Rib-Eye Steak from My Meat Man — dry-aged and char-grilled rare, the rich marbling and beefy depth are a magnificent match for the Wendouree's bold black-cherry, dusty tannins and long, complex black-tea finish. A pairing for the serious cellar dinner.

Why This Is a Smart Buy

Wendouree is the wine that serious collectors of Australian red wine chase. Allocations are tiny, mailing lists are closed, and bottles like this are increasingly hard to source on the open market. At HK$999, this is one of the rarest and most age-worthy wines in the store — a cellar essential for anyone serious about Australian reds.

Looking for a Different Style?

• 2016 Wendouree Cabernet Malbec — 96pts Halliday, sibling Wendouree blend, more Cabernet-driven.
• 2018 Grosset Gaia Clare Valley Cabernet Blend — 95pts Halliday, peer Clare Valley benchmark from another revered producer.
• 2013 Torbreck RunRig Shiraz Viognier — 97pts Halliday, iconic Barossa Shiraz with 13 years of bottle age.