Grapes: 100% Shiraz

Region: Mclaren Vale, Australia

Winemaking: The fruit for this wine comes from the Willunga district of the McLaren Vale. Heavy grey loam soils over sandstone/clay and a maritime climate contribute to the development of rich fruit flavours. Winemaking as follows "Each parcel of fruit for G.A.M. was fermented on skins for 10 days at cool and warm temperatures. The cool temperature assists in making the finished wine more approachable and the warm temperature gives more structure. G.A.M. uses a blend of the two. The wine was then pressed and underwent partial barrel fermentation followed by natural malolactic fermentation before racking." www.mitolowines.com.au

ABV: 14.5% (check)

Tasting Note
Lots of delicious white pepper and spice on the nose, infact the fruits we mildly more restrained than I expected them to be. On the palate I also found it a lovely balance between plums/dark berry fruits and earthy spice. There was a certain elegance to it, clearly a powerful wine but, at the same time, was well balanced with good structure.

Cellaring
This is drinking pretty well now but I think it certainly has a further 5 - 8 years left in it.

If you like this, why not try ... As a bit of a contrast you could try the Cuilleron, Saint Joseph - this is a Northern Rhone Syrah and a compare and contrast exercise is always good. Or if you fancy pushing the boat out we've just got Cuilleron's top St Joseph, Les Serines (another wine fair fave!)