94+ Points - Mike Bennie
Craiglee is one of the most important historic vineyards in Australia, with vines planted there since 1863. Located in Sunbury, on the outskirts of Melbourne, Craiglee continues to produce some of Australia's finest cool-climate wines under the ownership of Pat and Dianne Carmody.
Craiglee Shiraz is produced from entirely Estate grown fruit and made on site by winemaker, Pat Carmody. The 2021 Craiglee Shiraz opens with an enticing bouquet of fresh raspberries intertwined with subtle notes of musk lollies, creating a charmingly aromatic profile. The palate offers a nicely rounded entry and mid-palate, showcasing a beautiful balance of red fruit and savoury elements. The tannins are refined and chalky, providing a sophisticated texture that complements the fruit's vibrancy. An impeccably structured Shiraz with a long finish, this is a release that should develop further depth and complexity over time.
"94+ Points. Benchmark stuff, right? It does its things its own way and doesn’t follow fad or fashion. And yet in its medium weight, perfumed, spicy and floral kinda way, it sure does. I’m sure Pat and Dianne Carmody don’t worry too much about what’s vogue, keeping on and on with their verity to site and winemaking approach. Very cool. Spicy, dark fruited, supple texture, a glint of shale and slate tannin there, lots of perfume, game meat, exotic spice, woodsy notes, smoke, sweet berry, chocolate and roast meat drippings. A big swish and slosh to texture and yet a sheath of silt and crushed rock minerality there too. Lingering flavours of woody spice and sweet fruit, some mocha and mint too. It’s very proper, very good. Tasted: Jan 26. 13.5% alc. $60 Screwcap Drink: 2026 - 2038+"- Mike Bennie, The Wine Front.
"An excellent dark red shot with purple. Restrained aromas with charry oak and hot bitumen, then a faint flutter of baking spices and florals follow. Lots of secondary flavours making an impact with lashings of sweet and toasty, cedary oak infusing the fuller-bodied palate, soy sauce, charred radicchio, some aniseed and pops of squishy plums, too. Then firm if gritty tannins to close. 93 Points. Drink: 2025 - 2031. Screwcap"- Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion.
