Paxton The 19th Shiraz

With commanding views across St Vincent’s Gulf and the valley, there is no better place from which to cast your eye across McLaren Vale than 19th Vineyard. Originally a golf course, the aptly named 19th Vineyard is planted with a variety of Shiraz clones on predominantly deep sands which typically yield fruit in the more floral (think violets) spectrum than the powerful fruit-driven wines from the heavier soils. Another superior site which compliments the current suite of Paxton vineyards. Viticulturist: David Paxton

• RegionMcLaren Vale, South Australia
• Vintage2023
• TypeRed Wine
• VarietyShiraz
• Variety Composition

  Organic | Biodynamic

• Vegan Friendly✔
• Organic Wine✔
• Volume750ml
• Alcohol Volume14%
• pH

  3.56

• Standard Drinks8.3
• Acidity

  5.5

• Residual Sugar

  2.5

• Maturation

  Individual parcels from each vineyard were picked at optimum sugar, acid and flavour balance. These parcels remained separate throughout vinification and blended prior to bottling. Fermentation began after gently de-stemming the fruit into both open and static fermenters. During fermentation, each parcel was plunged and pumped over twice a day for 2 weeks, to extract flavour, colour and tannin compounds. The ferments were then pressed to a combination of new and mature French oak barriques (225 L) and puncheons (500 L), where they were nurtured for 12 months prior to blending and bottling.

• ClosureScrewCap
• Vintage Notes

  Low and slow. The 2023 growing season was a time for viticulturalists to show off their impressive skills. From a cold and wet, seemingly never-ending winter to a Spring which seemed like it was still winter, a long, cool Summer which seemed like Spring, challenges were abound. Numerous climatic challenges including cool and windy weather during flowering, one of the wettest Springs for 30 years and even more windy weather in Summer meant that crops were small but our organic and biodynamic farming methods paid off — our vines showed incredible resilience to whatever came their way. A season that was around three weeks late on average and had a much slower ripening period means that 2023 wines show great acid, complex layers of delicate flavours, lightness, brightness, and longevity.

• Vineyard Notes

  19th Vineyard

• Colour

  Luscious deep rouge

• Bouquet

  Plump blackberries bursting to the touch, crisp wafer cigars oozing with vanilla crème fraiche and smashed raspberries. Hints of chai spices rising from a freshly poured tea cup. Luring you to take respite in a plush, garden view bay window seat..

• Palate

  A medium to full-bodied wine with fresh mulberries on the palate entrance. The texture feels like floating over rolling hills in a smooth convertible, opening up like a view over an expansive valley at the crest of the last hill. Elongated by careful maturation in French oak barriques, the finish is like watching a glowing sunset at the end of an action-packed day

• Peak Drinking / Cellaring Potential

  The 19th Shiraz is an exceptional wine with potential to get even better in bottle over 15 years plus.

• Food Matches

  Roast Rump of Lamb with scallop potatoes

• Winemaker

  Ashleigh Seymour

• Music Match

  Sitting on the Dock of The Bay- Otis Redding