2019 Holy Thirst, Wirra Wirra, McLaren Vale
The historic Wirra Wirra winery, first established in 1894, is one of the larger McLaren Vale producers that manage to deliver quality at all price points. This is one of their top reds and is the classic Aussie blend of Shiraz and Cabernet. It's sophisticated and focused, with powerful cassis and softer purple fruit on the nose and palate. There's lots of cedar, nutty notes and vanilla from oak, which adds to the structure of the wine. With a few years in bottle, it's knitting together beautifully, and has the stature to age well for decades.