2016 Mitolo Jester Shiraz McLaren Vale

Drawing inspiration from his Italian heritage and horticultural background, Frank Mitolo established Mitolo in 1999. After partnering with acclaimed winemaker, Ben Glaetzer, Mitolo quickly became one of the finest producers in McLaren Vale! Frank and Ben have shared an uncompromising dedication to producing wines that express purity of flavor, show elegance of structure, and maintain a rich, powerful complexity. The combination of Ben's winemaking skills and Frank’s vision have led Mitolo to international recognition and acclaim!

Jester Shiraz is a blend of several blocks within the Lopresti vineyard in the Willunga district, all the way at the southern tip of McLaren Vale and on the coast. The vineyard soil types are heavy grey loam over sandstone soils, with black cracking Biscay clay intermixed. Being so close to the coast the vines experience warm summer days that contribute to fruit intensity and excellent tannin ripeness. Cooling afternoon and night sea breezes maintain good acid levels in the grapes, allowing extended maturation on the vine and resulting in complexity of the flavor profile.

Aging: 18 months in 10% new oak barrels

The wine has fresh, vibrant, lifted and pure aromas and flavors, with attractive cassis, pepper and licorice on the nose with a hint of nutty spice. The flavors explode with blackcurrant, plums and cinnamon layering over silky tannin and superb length.

A very approachable and medium-bodied shiraz that offers red plums, raspberries and a lightly spicy character. Fresh and flavorsome. ~91JS

Always a crowd-pleaser, the 2016 Jester Shiraz is a medium to full-bodied, creamy-textured beauty for drinking over the next few years. There are just enough savory/meaty notes with good complexity and hints of mint to keep the plush blackberry fruit interesting from nose to finish. ~90RP