Wirra Wirra Church Block McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz Merlot 2020 (Australia)

Wirra Wirra Church Block McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz Merlot 2020 (Australia)French & American oak Blackcurrant Dried thyme Fine tannins "The 2020 is the 51st vintage of this wine, one of the Vales most consistent brands. The composition has varied a bit over the years but now seems settled as a cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, merlot blend. Deep ruby coloured with purple tinges, the 2020 has appealing savoury barrel matured characters with notes of mocha, coffee and charcuterie. Its remarkably complex and mellow for its age. A

• French & American oak
• Blackcurrant
• Dried thyme
• Fine tannins

"The 2020 is the 51st vintage of this wine, one of the Vale’s most consistent brands. The composition has varied a bit over the years but now seems settled as a cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, merlot blend. Deep ruby-coloured with purple tinges, the 2020 has appealing savoury barrel-matured characters with notes of mocha, coffee and charcuterie. It’s remarkably complex and mellow for its age. A trace of ‘eucalypt forest floor’. Full-bodied, rich and fleshy in the mouth, it concludes with a satisfying length. This is a triumph in its category and price range" Huon Hooke, Real Review, May 2022

"Once again this is in a very good place. It’s not screaming value but it’s well worth buying and drinking. It delivers sweet, fresh, berried fruit with just enough bay leaf, floral and general savoury herb notes to give it a bit of breadth. It also has a gentle firmness to it, always a positive. But it’s the fruit, juicy, almost boysenberried, that really does the trick here" Campbell Mattinson, Wine Front, Mar 2022

"Year after year Wirra Wirra’s Church Block is one of Australia’s most reliable “go to” red wines for affordable quality - and the new-release 2020 is no exception. A blend of cabernet sauvignon (48%) shiraz (42%) and merlot (10%), all sourced from McLaren Vale, this is a perfect choice for a barbecue or a steak dinner. Think dark blackcurrant and black plum flavours, subtle oak, dark olive, black chocolate and some spice hints. Lovely balance here, plenty of savoury appeal, good balance and even some cellaring potential" Windsor Dobbin, gourmetontheroad.com, Mar 2022

Deep plum with a ruby rim. A heady lift of blackcurrant and plum is threaded with notes of cedar, black olive, and dried thyme. A full flavoured palate with delicious ripe blackberry, blackcurrant and dark chocolate with fine tannins. Generous fruits and savoury character come together in a long, even, and balanced palate.

Wirra Wirra sources fruit from a selection of grower vineyards across McLaren Vale,  including our own blocks adjacent to the winery.

Fruit was gently crushed and destemmed en route to fermenter. Early temperatures were maintained at 20-22ºC, rising to 25-28ºC at peak of ferment. In general, ferments were pumped over two to four times daily to assist flavour and colour extraction, as well as spreading heat through the cap and body of the ferment. Nearing completion and having achieved the desired flavour and tannin extraction, pump-overs were reduced to once or twice daily to keep the cap moist. Close to dryness, wine was drained from the fermenter and the remaining skins were pressed via tank or basket press. Wines completed their secondary malolactic fermentation in tank or barrel, with oak selection and maturation times tailored to each wine and grape varietal – parcels showing a more powerful structure receiving a longer maturation time in oak before blending. Combination of French (70%) and American oak (30%) barriques and hogsheads of which 10% is new.

Food Pairing: Try with lamb tagine or vegetarian moussaka.