2024 Squid Ink Shiraz – MEMBER RELEASE

Awards

See the awards and accolades on previous vintages – Squid Ink Shiraz Awards and Accolades

Name
With our love for the ocean and the stunning coastline on the cusp of McLaren Vale being the reason for calling this fantastic little town home, it made sense to name our Reserve Squid Ink Shiraz in honour of the ocean. With a deep dark, dye like depth of colour being the first impression of the wine we thought what better name to tie in the much loved ocean and reason for settling here, to our family winery.

Vintage

This was our latest harvest on the Squid Ink block in 25 years on A cooler start to the growing season and later October/ November rains put some pressure on disease in susceptible varieties. Shiraz being less susceptible due to looser bunches combined with the afternoon winds from the nearby ocean allowed us to forge forward and await the warmer weeks. Fortunately, they came, it dried up and we saw the first year in a few, where we broke 40 degrees. It pulled back to milder conditions in March allowing for an ideal slow and steady finish to ripening. Crops were low but a good trade-off for some fantastic quality fruit and a great balanced wine.

Vineyard

This Estate owned vineyard is the epitome of what defines one of the greatest vineyards in Australia where the famous Black Bay of Biscay Clay soil consistently ensures fantastic depth of colour and flavour. Positioned at about 120m above sea level and 8kms inland this North/ South facing vineyard in the heart of McLaren Vale is referred to by some local friends as ‘Mayfair’. Implementing sustainable viticulture and having true respect for the value of our vineyards and the fruit they create.

Winery
In the winery the Squid Ink Shiraz fruit is treated with utmost respect, ensuring quality from start to finish. Machine harvested in the cool of the night the ‘Selectiv’ harvester allows us to seperate berries in the vineyard and go straight to open fermenters as whole berries. The fruit has a 3-day cold soak prior to slow, cool (18 degree) fermentation for gentle extraction of colour flavour, and tannin into the wine. Batches are kept separate where 5 different yeasts strains are used to enhance complexity and mouth feel of the wine. Following fermentation, the wine is then matured in the finest American oak barrels for 18 months. New oak percentages vary from year to year depending on the vintage variations but usually between 55% to 70% new oak.

Winemaker
Campbell Greer.

Vintage
2024

Variety
Shiraz 100%

Maturation
18 Months in American Oak Hogsheads, 60% new oak, 40% 2-3 year old oak.

Region
McLaren Vale 100%

Alcohol
14.5%

Colour: Deep intense dark, almost black with a purple hue.

Nose: Intense, vibrant, expressive and complex, 2024 is an exceptional vintage.

Palate: The fruit here translates to the oak effortlessly. As one, the two components move across the palate with grace and elegance. Your undivided attention is needed here as the complexity deepens with each sip. Settle in this wine has more of a story to tell.

This wine, like our lives, is wonderful in youth, but with patience and development of the wines fruit, along with the integration of the finest of oak this wine will also age wonderfully and reward those that wait.

Potential: 10+ years.