96pts James Halliday | Single-Vineyard Adelaide Hills Shiraz from the Home Block — "Superb"

The 2018 Shaw and Smith Balhannah Vineyard Shiraz is a single-vineyard masterpiece from one of the Adelaide Hills' most celebrated estates — precise, complex, and built with the extraordinary depth and gastronomic appeal that only the home vineyard can deliver. Described by James Halliday as a superb wine with stunningly attractive ripeness, this is cool-climate Australian Shiraz at its most compelling. 7 years old and drinking magnificently.

My Wine Man on Shaw + Smith

Shaw + Smith was founded in 1989 by cousins Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith MW — two of Australia's most respected wine figures — with a focus on cool-climate varieties from the Adelaide Hills. The Balhannah Vineyard is their home block — the vineyard that surrounds their winery and cellar door, farmed with the kind of attention and precision that only a home block receives. This is single-vineyard Adelaide Hills Shiraz of real complexity and gastronomic appeal, made with a distinctly European sensibility: whole bunches, open fermentation, and French oak puncheons. In my view, one of the finest Australian Shirazes available at this price.

Tasting Notes

Stunningly attractive ripeness on the nose — dark blue and purple fruit with dark mint, fennel, and rocket pepperiness adding a layer of herbal complexity that is completely unique to this vineyard. The palate is medium-bodied with delicious structure and fine tannins providing an equally sophisticated mouthfeel and finish. Superb, complete, and utterly compelling. 96pts James Halliday.

Style & Drinking Window

Medium-bodied with fine, sophisticated tannins and fresh acidity providing elegance, depth, and a long, refined finish. Drinking beautifully now with decanting, with continued development over the next 8–10 years. Decant for 1 hour. Ideal with duck, lamb, venison, or truffle dishes.

Why This Is a Smart Buy

At HK$449, the 2018 Shaw + Smith Balhannah delivers 96pt single-vineyard Adelaide Hills Shiraz from the home block of one of Australia's most admired estates. Single-vineyard precision, gastronomic complexity unique to the Balhannah site, and cool-climate elegance that rivals the best Shiraz in the world.

Looking for a Different Style?

Explore more from Shaw + Smith Balhannah:

• 2015 Shaw and Smith Balhannah Vineyard Shiraz — same vineyard, 97pts Halliday, 10 years of bottle age — drinking at its peak now
• 2016 Shaw and Smith Balhannah Vineyard Shiraz — same vineyard, intermediate vintage between the 2015 and 2018
• 2018 Shaw and Smith Shiraz — same producer, same vintage — the estate-wide Adelaide Hills Shiraz at a lower price

Life's too short for bad wine.