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SHAW + SMITH
M3 Chardonnay 2012
| Varietal: | Chardonnay | |
Region:
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Adelaide Hills, Australia
| | Price: |
$49.95/ bottle
| | Format: |
6 x 750 ml
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14 six-packs
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93 points - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
"Vivid yellow. A complex, mineral- and spice-accented bouquet displays candied citrus fruits, nectarine and white flowers, with suave lees and honey notes adding depth. Juicy and precise, offering powerful orange zest and white peach flavors plus a late kick of smoky minerals. Closes firm and dry, with excellent focus, lingering spiciness and superb length. This outstanding chardonnay can compete with all of the Aussie big boys without breaking a sweat."
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SHAW + SMITH
Shiraz 2010
| Varietal: | Shiraz | |
Region:
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Adelaide Hills, Australia
| | Price: |
$49.95/ bottle
| | Format: |
6 x 750 ml
| | Available: |
12 six-packs
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93 points - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
"Inky ruby. Sexy, highly perfumed aromas of black raspberry, cola and incense, with cracked pepper and smoky mineral nuances coming up with aeration. Offers an array of juicy red and dark berry liqueur flavors that are brighted by Asian spice and floral qualities. Finishes on a lively note, with silky tannins adding shape and quickly fading into the wine's exuberant fruit. This energetic shiraz is balanced to age but drinks extremely well now after some aeration."
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Shaw + Smith winery was founded in 1989 by Michael Hill Smith and Martin Shaw with the goal of producing elegant, refined, world class wines from the cool climate Adelaide hills region of Australia. That Shaw + Smith have succeeded in spades should come as no surprise given the resumes' of the winery's two founders. Michael Hill Smith was born into wine, a member of the Yalumba family. A Cordon Bleu trained chef, wine writer, wine judge, and Australia's first Master of Wine he relished the opportunity to build and establish something new when he was bought out of Yalumba in 1986. He found the perfect partner in Martin Shaw, his cousin, who Michael refers to as this "third brother". Martin had been Brian Croser's right hand man at Petaluma, which at that point was arguably the most famous Chardonnay producer in Australia. In addition to his work at Shaw + Smith Martin is an in demand consultant who has worked all over the globe.
 | | Shaw + Smith Balhannah Vineyard |
The two cousins' love of structured, lively wines has always informed the winegrowing and winemaking at Shaw and Smith. Now in their third decade of production they share the same passion today as they did in 1989 constantly striving forward. Small improvements have been made year over year by adding new clonal selections, refinement of the oak regime, purchase of new higher altitude vineyards, and recently the addition of Adam Wadewitz to the wine making team - formerly of Seppelts and Best's where he was a finalist for Winemaker of the Year in Australian Gourmet Traveller in 2010 and a Jimmy Watson Trophy winner in 2011. This last addition illustrates the collegial attitude and lack of ego that permeates Shaw + Smith. The only goal is better wine.
The wines perfectly capture the terroir of the region. The Adelaide Hills are significantly cooler than neighbouring Barossa; on average 4 ̊C cooler in the daytime and up to 8 ̊C cooler at night. The wines reveal an elegance that is not often associated with Australia. It is perhaps more reflective of great White Burgundy or the great wines of the Northern Rhône to which the wines are constantly referred in the press. Given the prices, such reference points should come as a welcome sight to savvy consumers.
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