Winemaker
John Duval
Grapes
Syrah (Shiraz)
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McLaren Vale, Australia
37º40'S -122º21'E
McLaren Vale is the most established of the wine regions in the Southern Vales of South Australia, located directly to the south of Adelaide and near the coast. A relatively warm area, McLaren Vale has a range of different soil types and a wide variety of both red and white grapes are grown here. It is best known for its rich, concentrated, chocolatey reds with a soft, lush texture, with Shiraz the star performer.
Grapes for the Oriel McLaren Vale Shiraz, Sygnet, also come from Coonawarra, one of Australia's most famous red wine regions. Coonawarra is a flat, sparsely populated region in the middle of the South Australia plains. The secret to its success lies in its soil, a special red/brown 'terra rossa' soil, which, coupled with the relatively cool climate, fashions some classy, ageworthy Cabernet Sauvignons that are Australia's best and have more than a passing resemblance to the leading wines of Bordeaux. Good examples tend to display aromatic, pure blackcurrant fruit with a cedary, minerally core, and with smooth, fine grained tannins providing structure on the palate.
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