POSTED: 18 AUGUST 2010

Mount Pleasant 2007 Maurice O'Shea Shiraz

A stellar 2007 vintage in the Hunter Valley has resulted in a stellar wine for McWilliams with one of its flagship reds — the Mount Pleasant 2007 Maurice O’Shea Shiraz.

Created in 1987 in honour of the legendary Mount Pleasant founder and winemaker, this latest release of the line highlights the earthy, full-flavoured fruit characteristics of Hunter Valley Shiraz and the magnificence of the extraordinary old vines from which it is made.

The bulk of fruit for this wine came from low-yielding vines on Mount Pleasant’s Old Hill Vineyard, which was first planted in 1880 by the King family and bought by the late Maurice O’Shea in 1921. The remainder was sourced from Maurice O’Shea’s Old Paddock Vineyard which he planted the same year.

This is an exceptional wine from an exceptional vintage. Loaded with rich sweet-berry fruit flavours, mocha, chocolate and fine, velvety tannins, it's one to linger with over a good prime rib and roast vegetables. Or, if you can resist the temptation to open now, put it in the cellar for anything up to 10 or 12 years.

Pay $65 andf enjoy with that special-occasion dinner.

— DAVID ELLIS