Exclusively estate grown, the majority of vines are approximately forty years old. Coriole know from Shiraz, having grown the varietal since 1919 and receiving Langtons Classification for their Lloyd Reserve. Coriole is sylistically strong, showing good concentration and flavour, without any excessive weight.

Winemaking at Coriole is very traditional and always labour intensive, fermentation is in open tanks with hand plunging and pump overs. The estate's Shiraz vines are rooted in relatively shallow, generally classic Terra rosa red brown earth over limestone soils. The climate is quite maritime and windy, with cool winters and warm to hot dry summers. Ripening periods continue steadily throughout autumn until the picking. Each vintage is an opportunity to experiment with new techniques and evaluate their role in achieving the evolving Coriole style. Maturation takes place over the course of a year in a combination of new and seasoned French and American oak barrels.

Deep scarlet colour. The nose displays sweet red fruits, raspberry, plum and mulberry with nutmeg and cinnamon. The palate is soft and rich with blackberry and plum. The oak is well integrated and the finish is long with ripe, chocolate tannin.

A return to the form of 2004 I think, and a good result from a torrid vintage. Press release is refreshingly honest with none of the old ‘picked before the heatwave’ stuff – this was picked after with strict fruit selection. Savoury and ferrous with black fruit and a bit of chocolate. It’s dry and largely savoury but has a juicy blackberry pastille flavour in the mix. Dry, hot year tannins,  offer a bit of grip and chew, but it feels good in the mouth – rugged and authentic. Touch of bitterness on the finish but an all round excellent wine. Really enjoyed drinking it. It’s a good example of the more ‘adult’ style of McLaren Vale Shiraz – the kind I like best. Rated : 92 Points Tasted : Sep10 Alcohol : 14% Price : $28 Closure : Screwcap By Gary Walsh; The Wine Front