By James Atkinson
Adelaide Hills winemakers Shaw and Smith are excited about the release of their 2012 reds, while the company's new Tolpuddle Vineyard wines continue to win favour with the critics.
Shaw and Smith recently released their 2012 Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir and 2012 Shiraz, which they declared were the product of a "dream vintage" in the region.
"Crops were below average with mild temperatures through February and March producing grapes of excellent flavour coupled with good levels of acidity," co-founder Martin Shaw said.
Both the Pinot Noir and Shiraz were fermented in open fermenters and included a small percentage of whole bunch that Shaw said "added a savoury note to the pure fruit character of the 2012 vintage".
Meanwhile, the debut releases from Shaw and Smith's Tolpuddle Vineyard in Tasmania seem to have delivered on the hype, with one wine writer even giving the Chardonnay a 102 point rating.
The Tolpuddle Vineyard Chardonnay 2012 is a wine of finesse and poise with delicate flavours of lime, green apple peel, a savoury biscuit note, and a firm seam of acidity that bodes well for ageing.
The Tolpuddle Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012 shows alluring floral and red fruit aromatics. On the palate, strawberry compote and blueberry notes and a touch of cardamom are framed by fine, soft tannins, and there is a succulence that belies its power.
"Our aim is to showcase one of Australia's great vineyards. The many facets that combine to create a unique terroir make this one of the pre-eminent sites for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir anywhere in the country. We hope we have done justice to the site," Martin Shaw said.