"A beautifully styled red; the inviting bouquet shows blackcurrant, dark chocolate, olive and cedar characters with nuances of bay leaf and warm spice. The palate delivers excellent palate weight and roundness, brilliantly supported by fine texture and chalky tannins. Excellent balance and harmony, and offers terrific drinking already. At its best: now to 2023." Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, July 2017.

"Full, very dark, black-huedred colour with slight purple hues, a little lighter on the rim. The nose is fresh with bright and primary, aromatic fruit, showing blackcurrants, cassis liqueur, minty herbs and subtle notes of spices and plums. The aromatics possess depth and presence. Full-bodied, the palate has a firmly
concentrated heart with deeply packed, bright and vibrant flavours of blackcurrants, blackberries and cassis, with nuances of spice and plums. The fruit is underlined by fine, grainy tannin structure and grip, providing depth and linearity with acid energy and tension. The wine leads to a long, elegant and sustained finish of blackcurrants, cassisand herbs. Thisis an elegantlyconcentrated, bright fruited Cabernet/Shiraz blend with lively blackcurrant, cassis and herb flavours with a grainy-structured palate and fresh mouthfeel. Match with herb-marinated lamb and beef dishes, and semi-hard cheeses over the next 7-8+years. McLaren Vale fruit, a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Shiraz and 12% Merlot, fermented to 14.5% alc., the wine aged 18 months in 70% French and 30% American oak barriques and hogsheads, 10% new." Raymond Chan, July 2017

"A classic among this quintessentially Australian category, Church Block always comes up trumps. Shiraz’s generous blue to dark fruit spectrum is melded to the structural pillars of cabernet, the leader of the blend. Detailed tannins and marked acidity are its trademarks. Merlot serves as a filler." James Halliday, August 2017

"It’s one of the more reliable ‘go to’ red wines on the Australian market. Quality is always there or thereabouts. It’s a McLaren Vale blend of cabernet sauvignon, shiraz and merlot. This release cuts the mustard. It’s dusty and leafy but curranty too, its flashes of boysenberry and blackcurrant offering more than enough flavour. Oak isn’t really a part of the flavour profile, or not overtly, but dry, dusty, well-played fruit most certainly is. Balance is spot on here. What I particularly like is how “cabernet” this wine feels. If you store this well I suspect it will mature well over the medium term or longer – if you so desired. Top value." Campbell Mattinson, May 2017

"This is a cracking wine. Such clear and expressive flavours and along harmonious palate.There is brightness and richness. The three varieties of cabernet sauvignon, shiraz and merlots it side-by-side in perfect balance. Ripe, gently drying tannin. At this price, you don’t get much better. Ageing: now to 2023. Food: Lamb backstrap with herbed fregola and olives." Toni Paterson Master of Wine, May 2017

Deep plum in clour, with a scarlet edge. The Wirra Wirra Church Block has a complex nose that displays the instant appeal and fragrances of shiraz and merlot, but is truly driven by the lifted cassis, blackberry and leaf of cabernet. Dried thyme, sandalwood, cedary oak and earth follow to add layers of interest. The palate rewards instantly, packed with bright berries, dark cherries and generous, deep plum fruits. This fruit sweetness combines with dark chocolate, mocha notes and supple, fine grained tannins to build a full and even palate. It has a succulent core of ripe cassis and black fruits which fills the mouth and are balanced with subtle spicy oak characters and velvety tannins. This wine has a wonderful balance of intense rich fruit, fine tannins and refreshing acid structure.

Church Block was the first wine the late Greg Trott produced under the Wirra Wirra label back in 1972. He took the name from one of the original vineyards, which runs next to the small Bethany church, established in 1854, across the road from Wirra Wirra’s century old ironstone cellars. Over four decades, the Church Block label has become not only a favourite at home in Australia, but one in New Zealand also.

The fruit profile for this blend is: Cabernet Sauvignon 52%, Shiraz 36%, Merlot 12%. This fruit was gently crushed and destemmed before fermentation. In general, ferments were pumped over two to four times daily to assist in sufficient flavour and colour extraction. Post pumping the wine completed malolactic fermentation in tank or barrel as individual vineyard parcels and then finally matured in oak before blending. The oak maturation took place in a combination of French (70%) and American (30%) oak including barriques and hogsheads, of which 10% were new. For cellering purposes this wine can be drunk from release date or cellared for up to 15 years from vintage.

Food Pairing: Great when enjoyed with seared Scotch Fillet served with mash potato and rosemary butter.