Dandelion Lioness of McLaren Vale Shiraz

Dandelions are encouraged between the vines to suppress winter weeds and provide mulch in summer. Impressive purity of fruit showing scents of summer pudding with lifted red fruit, berries and a hint of cinnamon.

McLaren Vale, South Australia

Unfined/unfiltered, vegan/veggie.

14.5%

75cl  

Please note: technical information such as vintage and ABV are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, please get in touch.

MORE INFORMATION

Producer

Dandelion Vineyards is the venture of self-titled ‘typist’ Zar Brooks and his winemaking wife Elena, with wines made from the Barossa and Eden Valleys, Fleurieu, the Adelaide Hills and McLaren Vale. Nick Stock, one of Australia’s leading journalists, has described Dandelion as follows: “Brooks has teamed up with his winemaking wife Elena, a woman whose talents are outweighed only by her tolerance, in an exciting new venture called Dandelion Vineyards. The approach is remarkably simple and sees Elena making wine from a suite of beautiful old vineyards across that blessed curve that runs from the Barossa, up through the Eden Valley and Adelaide Hills and down into McLaren Vale.” 

Viticulture

The ‘Lioness of McLaren Vale’ is sourced from a single vineyard in the foothills of McLaren Vale. Here mature Shiraz vines are planted in the ironstone pebble laden clay loam, over ancient Kurrajong Formation geology, a silica cemented conglomerate most suited to grow Shiraz. 

Winemaking

After hand picking, the grapes were kept as whole bunches and fermented in open top fermenters with ambient yeasts and hand plunged daily for 12 days. The wine was then basket pressed into predominately older French Oak barriques, to mature for a further 18 months before bottling without fining or filtration. 

Taste

Deep purple with hints of violet on the edges. this wine has aromas of white chocolate, cocoa, boysenberry, blackberry, wild strawberries and cherry. On the palate, the dry tannins and refreshing acidity support the blackberry, plum and wild raspberry fruit flavou

Food Pairing

Fantastic with roast beef, braised lamb and grilled pork chops. Or, try with a mature cheddar.