This wine is named after Robert Strangways Wigley, a noted South Australian eccentric cricketer who established Wirra Wirra in 1894. He produced a much-acclaimed shiraz, which was exported to England and the Empire until his death in 1925. The cellars fell into disuse after the 1936 vintage, until first cousins Greg and Roger Trott rebuilt the ironstone winery by hand in 1969. McLaren Vale, as well as being home to some of the oldest shiraz vines in the world, is blessed with climatic conditions and soil types which are ideal for growing this variety. These factors contribute directly to the regions’ reputation for producing shiraz of world acclaim and have a profound influence on the style and quality of this wine.

100% Shiraz. 100% McLaren Vale, South Australia. Each vineyard batch was matured separately in oak for 22 months prior to blending. Of the final blend, 95% of wine was stored in French oak and the remaining 5% in American oak barrels. New oak consisted of 70% of the blend. Deep plum with a bright garnet rim.  Lifted plums and blueberries fill the aroma with subtle violets and perfume notes. Smoky oak and savoury characters add a wonderful complexity to the fruit character. The palate is mouth filling with rich plums and black cherry fruits. Fine cedary oak with aniseed and dark chocolate add layers to the fleshy red fruits. A wine with great balance of power and style.

It is hard to visualise a wine with more regional character than this, dark chocolate a translucent veil for the blackberry fruit; has outstanding texture and structure on the back palate and finish. 14.5º alc. Rating 95 Points Drink 2021 $60 Date Tasted Mar 08 James Halliday Wine Companion