Past Vintages

Technical Details

"A gob full of rich ripe McLaren Vale shiraz wrapped in a little oak, supple tannins and lashings of punchy fruit. Oak use is well weighted allowing the fruit to trundle along. Current quaffing with some punch." 

Ray Jordan, Best Reds - "Top 100 reds for winter drinking" West Australian, June 24 2010

"The reliability of these wines is phenomenal. Regardless of the season, they seem to get them tasting remarkably similar year on year - in a good way. This one carries a lovely ball of sweet, jammy, liquoricey flavour before trailing off through the finish..it's good value and good drinking. Quaff on - as they say."

Campbell Mattinson & Gary Walsh, The Big Red Wine Book 2010/11

"Shingleback is a relatively recent addition to the list of quality McLaren Vale labels. Red Knot is its budget brand and is always good value. The '08 Shiraz sums up the formula: lush plum and blackberry aromas, touches of marzipan and sweet spices, balanced with vanillin oak, good concentration and texture. The palate is ripe and long flavoured with very soft, easy tannins in support. Drink over 4 years. 4 stars."

Ralph Kyte-Powell, The Age Epicure, May 11 2010

'Savoury with bay leaf and clove aromas, this is typical of the region. The palate starts with sweet fruit and finishes with a wash of tannin and there's a slight dip in the middle. Very good flavour for the price. Hard to beat as a barbeque red. Drink now to 4 years."

Huon Hooke, Sydney Morning Herald, April 20, 2010

"The 2008 vintage was not an easy one in the McLaren Vale but those who picked early (before the lengthy heat wave) and selected carefully have been able to make some smart wines. Shingleback is producing some terrific reds these days: we tasted their flagship 'D Block' Cabernet recently and it's a cracker. For more everyday drinking, this reliable entry level shiraz is once again very drinkable. It is ripe, bright, soft and supple with almost syrupy texture and pleasant rich, concentrated redcurrant and red plum flavours. There are some cedary oak character there but these are in balance, and so the 2008 Red Knot Shiraz is pleasantly approachable. It picked up a silver medal at the Sydney Show which is a pretty good indication of its quality. Rating: Bloody Good."

Peter Forrestal, Wine of the Week, March 26, 2010, quaff.com.au.

"It's been a while since I've had a $15.00 red as satisfying as this little gem from renowned McLaren Vale producer Shingleback. It's a rich, flavoursome wine with plenty of grunt but the oak is nicely integrated and it's beautifully soft on the palate. Every time I looked down my glass was empty - always a good sign. Great value for $14.95."

Winsor Dobbin, winsordobbin.com.au, Feb 19, 2010

"I'll be a happy man if many better $16 reds come my way this year. It's made by Shingleback winery and it's their budget range, designed for immediate drinking. This is the sort of stuff you can break out at the backyard barbie and know it will hit the spot. Nothing too fancy, just soft, balanced wine, medium bodied, with juicy red berry flavours and some coffee showing through also. Excellent value."

Rick Allen, Parramatta Advertiser, March 10, 2010

" Fruitcake nose then fills the mouth with an array of flavours and seem to hit all parts at once rather than a journey; exuberant comes to mind 90 points and a good buy at $15."

Tony Keys, Key Review of Wines No 27                                                                         

Tasting Note

Vibrant magenta red. Aromas of fresh, ripe raspberries and blackberries are lightly framed by nuances of roasted coffee and cashew. The mid-palate is a compote of summer berries contained within a soft tannin and toasty oak lattice. A medium bodied wine with well balanced acidity and length of flavour.

Awards:

• Silver medal - 2010 Sydney Royal Wine Show, Class 9
• 90 pts - James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2011
• Bronze medal - 2010 Decanter World Wine Awards (UK)
• Bronze medal - 2010 Liquorland International Wine Competition (NZ)

Please note, Zork closure is used in Canada & New Zealand.