Evans & Tate Shiraz (75cl, 14.5%)

A Margaret River Shiraz from Evans & Tate, bottled at 14.5% ABV in a 750ml format. The fruit is drawn from vineyard sites in the northern and north-eastern reaches of the Margaret River growing region, where a more temperate climate coaxes the varietal toward a perfumed, medium-bodied style. Grapes are harvested during the coolest part of the night, then undergo cold soaking before fermentation. After pressing, the wine is racked off yeast lees and matured in seasoned large-format 500-litre French oak puncheons for nine months. The nose shows ripe cassis and red plum, salted liquorice and black olive tapenade, cedary oak, a violet high note and graphite-like minerality. The palate brings mulberry and dark plum, then peat, cracked pepper and deep cassis, with fine-grained powdery tannins and a spicy plum and cherry core. The finish is medium-to-long, with powdery tannins, peppery spice and a subtle graphite undertone.