2006 Adelina Shiraz

• By Josh Raynolds
  July/August 2007, IWC Issue #133, (See more on Vinous...)

  (Adelina Wines Shiraz Clare Valley) Login and sign up and see review text.

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  6/24/2008, (See more on Garagiste...)

  (ADELINA Shiraz) Adelina Dear Friends, A final parcel of the 2006 Adelina Shiraz has been confirmed, one of the only Shiraz that our customer base still seems to care about with zeal. This is the ex-Wendouree vineyard parcel originally planted by AP Birks and next to the namesake icon's winery in the Clare. This fruit used to go into Wendouree. If you admire subtlety meshed with power and would rather have the contemplative rather than the obvious - this is one Shiraz that will make most tasters ponder their interpretation of what "Shiraz" is. The 2006 has even more feminine grace than the 2005 but the Birks-esque minerality and SA impact are there in spades to remind you that this still Shiraz. Northern Rhone meets the Clare? Only 15 cases available at this point for the US. Don't you wish every top South Australian winery priced their best Shiraz under $30? Kudos to Adelina for considering the consumer first: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - we can't get more of the 2006 after this parcel. This lot is directly from the source with perfect provenance 2006 Adelina Shiraz Clare Valley Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Aus7410

• By Jon Rimmerman
  1/4/2008, (See more on Garagiste...)

  (ADELINA Shiraz) Adelina Dear Friends, This wine has one of the more fervent followings among our customer base, rivaled in Shiraz by only the Tatiarra stable and Mount Langi Ghiran (two wineries Adelina is very happy to be mentioned with). With what is arguably Australia’s most famous and historic terroir at its base, this offspring of AP Birks original Wendouree stock and winemaking philosophy has one of the brightest futures in Australia. Planted circa 1900-1910 and used by Birks for Wendouree’s Claret and other wines, this vineyard is akin to one of California’s most historic (such as the original Inglenook vineyard). Prior to Adelina bottling their own wines in 2000, the fruit was used by neighbor Tim Adams in his Aberfeldy Shiraz (you can check WA scores on the 1994/1995 Aberfeldy et al - if memory serves, they were some of Parker’s highest rated wines of each vintage). From the get-go, the young winemakers at Adelina have tried to do everything right by doing nothing - only wild yeast is used no matter how long the fermentation takes, no additions and minimal contact is the mantra with as traditional an approach as they can muster in science-wine crazy Australia. The results speak for themselves with wines that are not very approachable in youth with a rock-like stature that requires almost 24 hours of air to show itself (the opposite of most Shiraz). The wines are big in style but mineral-rich and still supremely elegant with outstanding natural acidity that only the Clare can provide. Unique and worth the effort to find: The Adelina wines are for explorers of passion and commitment to terroir in a country that does not always make that their first commitment. If the Wendouree examples from the early 1970s that I just tasted are any indication, this should age like a piece of stone - for a very long time. Another reason to support this winery is their pricing philosophy, one of the most consumer oriented in Australia. This is their top wine and it is priced like mid-1990s top-end Shiraz. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - only 50 cases for the entire US ONE SHIPMENT ONLY directly from the source with perfect provenance 2006 Adelina Shiraz Clare Valley Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Aus4579