2022 Georgia's Paddock Shiraz
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Organic production, vines ungrafted with an east–west orientation. Traditional wide plantings, unirrigated iron-rich Cambrian clay and volcanic basalt soil. Original block planted in 1975, additional plantings in 1987. Low yield, approximately 20 hl/ha. Picked by hand and completely destemmed prior to a maceration of around 5 weeks in stainless-steel tank. The wine is then transferred into small oak barriques, 10% of which are new, for 12 months. Barriques are mainly French with a few Austrian. Cross-flow filtration. 19,000 bottles produced. Deep crimson and deeply scented with sweet black fruit, and sweet charry oak – though the oak is well integrated. Thickly textured velvety tannins. Smells of rich purple. Firm on the palate, a bit tongue-tied in youth but has the freshness to balance. (JH)
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2022 Georgia's Paddock Shiraz leads with blackberry jam and salted licorice, pastrami, tobacco, alpine mint, arnica, coffee grounds and forest berries. It is inky and black, and yet the tannins have a drying effect through the finish. There is an aspect of the luxurious nature of this wine that is very appealing, and this will attract many. However, my concern is that when fruit is picked late enough to achieve the flavors that they do here, it can come at the expense of freshness and suppleness of tannin. While I believe this wine is still very much in balance, it is pushing the line of ripeness, for my palate. Yet it's a style, and it's done very well here—and better than many, I might add, who shoot for this same impact. 15.5% alcohol, sealed under natural cork.
The punchy 2022 Georgia's Paddock delivers a juicy core of black cherry, plump blackberry and warm slate topped by dark chocolate and supported by a well-integrated French oak backbone. This wine has a good heart and soul, although it starts a little wild before settling with a dense core of fine tannins perfectly placed with intense and broody dark berry flavors. Harmonic, supple and approachable, yet with deep set tannins and time on its side. This really came together after a couple of days, so it needs some time in bottle to show its best.