2020 Dalwhinnie The Pinnacle Shiraz

The 2020 vintage was led by good winter rain. A heatwave during early summer was then followed by very cool, dry conditions, which led to low yields and superbly concentrated fruit across the board.

• Top Rated by Variety – Halliday Wine Companion 2024

The Pinnacle vineyard is the highest, steepest site on the estate. Fruit is hand-picked and 100% destemmed, allowing the fruit purity to really shine. The fruit from this site is the earliest ripening and most concentrated of the single site blocks at Dalwhinnie. Aged in 20% new French oak puncheons for 15 months.

The wine is very deep dark purple in colour with fragrant aromas of warm spices that complement the dark plum fruit intensity of this single vineyard wine. The palate is perfectly balanced with layers of flavour. Concentrated ripe fruits of dark plum and cherry, along with warm baking spices and a touch of peaty, earthiness from the tannins. A persistent long finish ensures that this wine will be long remembered. Cellar for 2–10 years.

The 2020 The Pinnacle Shiraz is succulent, luscious, and mineral. The wine exudes volume and padded fruit weight, without the tailing density and weight that this style can often possess. Planted to the BV12 clone (from Barossa), the Pinnacle block is impressive, as is this wine, which is defined, spicy and superb. This is a great release of this wine; it’s ripe but absolutely in check. 96 points. Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate 2024