• Complex oak
• Sweet spice
• Dark berry & plum
• Velvety tannins

"Wonderfully fruited and perfumed, the wine shows black and purple fruit richness together with vanilla, cedar, game and olive notes on the nose. It's weighty and flavoursome on the palate, offering terrific fruit power combined with velvety tannins, making it highly enjoyable. At its best: now to 2029" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Apr 2020

"Made from 30-year-old shiraz vines at Heathcote. You gotta love The Drake. - A whole lotta purple here. Black fruit, chocolate, liquorice, some vanilla and perfume. It’s fleshy and ripe in fruit, with chocolate, something a bit ferrous, ripe silty tannin, and a good long finish. It’s a very convincing example of Victorian Shiraz, and offers complexity and immediate appeal. Bargain" Gary Walsh, WineFront, Apr 2020

A satisfying opulent nose of berries tempered by sweet spice and a subtle earthy savouriness. The palate continues with a supple core of dark berry and blood plum fruits, underpinned by oak in the background, before velvety tannins and bright acidity shape the finish. A beautifully lush expression of Heathcote Shiraz that is a great by the glass option and perfect for mid-term cellaring.

A cool start to the growing season with plenty of rain events throughout Spring ensuring vine health and vitality was at an optimum. Although the Summer temperature was higher than normal, the region didn’t experience any extreme heat days. The late start and the warm days delivered exceptionally complex, intensely flavoured berries whilst maintaining a fine natural acidity in most cases. Tannins and flavours achieved optimum ripeness and this should be considered a very good year.

Drake was created by a motley group of winemakers and sommeliers, born from a shared belief in creating thought-provoking wines of individual character and expression. When looking for a satisfying rich and rewarding Shiraz to warm us on a cold Melbourne night winemakers looked no further than the moderate climate and ancient Cambrian soils of Heathcote in Central Victoria.

Food Pairing: It would partner well with a barbecued rib-eye steak with a peppercorn sauce.