Maurice O'Shea Hunter Valley Shiraz

Deep Ruby in colour. Strong earthy stony aromas with deep ripe plum plus red and black fruits. An example of a Hunter Valley wine trying to be like a South Australian Shiraz - too ripe and full bodied. “Clumsy” HH said when it was first released. Thankfully wine makers lately in the Hunter have returned to the old medium weight, savoury, “sweaty saddle “ style. Returning to this 2005, this is more full bodied and rich but the quality of the very old vines planted by Maurice O’Shea pulls it over the line as a high quality wine. The more recent vintages of Maurice O’Shea are of extreme quality (2014 - 99 points), back to what the Hunter does best, and will live for decades.

Spice, Plum and Earthy aromas with a little mint - typical Hunter Valley aromatics with a bit of sweaty saddle. On the palate more full bodied than the old school Hunter Valley Shirazes. Handpicked from 100+ year old vines where Maurice O’Shea created his famous red wines in the 1920’s, 30’s, 40’s and 50’s in primitive conditions until his death in 1956. Most O’Sheas only hitting their stride after 20 years and this is no exception. I still have some from the late 90’s.

A solid rich Ruby red with no tawny rim. Looks way younger than 27 years. An earthy, plummy leathery perfume with same earthy, plummy and minerally medium to full bodied palate - a sweaty saddle classic old Hunter Valley style. Medium plus intensity of flavour with great persistence. Demonstrates the amazing longevity of old vine Hunter Valley Shiraz. I think you could safely drink this into the late 2020s. Honouring the Hunter Valley legend, Maurice O’Shea, who made great wine in primitive conditions In the late 1940s and 1950’s. About 15 years ago I had a 1952 Mount Pleasant Shiraz made by the great man - just medium bodied and still full of energy.

A rich dark Ruby in colour. Initially a little closed - needed a longer decant. Dense and latent on the nose offering black and blue fruits, black pepper with an earthy minerality. A medium to full bodied palate with much yet to reveal - acid and tannin - everything here for the cellar. In 2015 this wine won the James Halliday Shiraz of the Year and 98 points from James. Honours the legendary Hunter Valley pioneer Maurice OShea when he started in 1921 in Pokolbin. This is the first of 6 and probably too early to be opening. An exceptional Shiraz in its infancy at 10 years of age and destined for a very long life. Had another bottle 117 weeks later on 8th June 2023 with similar notes. Earthy - full bodied on the palate. A much longer drinking window than suggested by Jancis of 2015 to 2025. Crllartrack said to 2046!!

In memory of one of Australia’s finest winemakers, Maurice O’Shea, who made memorable, medium weight long living wines in the Hunter Valley in the 1940s and 50s under primitive conditions. This particular wine has departed from medium weight to be reasonably full bodied. Aromas of earth, minerals Spice and chocolate. Also wood Spice notes. Not typically Hunter Valley. A little unbalanced even at 18 years with a slightly bitter finish. Overall a good wine with a while to go yet.

Deep Crimson with purple rim. Has the colour of a less than 5 year old wine. Earthy tarry aromas. On the palate very savoury and enticing with meaty notes. Old School Hunter Valley Shiraz from Vineyards worked by the legendary Maurice O'Shea in the 1940s and 50s. Like the wines O'Shea made this will live for decades although this wine is more full bodied than these wines from that era. About 10 years ago I was lucky to buy a 1952 (my birth year) at Auction made by the legend. Still holding up at 50+ years of age and barely medium bodied.

Full bodied with plummy earthy notes. Not showing typical Hunter characteristics of sweaty saddle and barnyard. Tannins and acid will propel this for another decade.

Now to the star of the show the launch of the 2014 - generally considered to be the best vintage since the storied 1965 (examples of the 65 Lindemans HR Burgundy still fresh and drinking superbly according to Jim Chatto). Now using up to 66% Rosehill fruit. Bright Ruby with a purple tinge. Primary fruit aromas of plum and cherry with vanillan oak and palate staining intensity. An inner core which will carry this on for decades - Halliday says as close to a 100 year old wine as you are ever likely to see. Most probably but who will be around to check?

Served blind as a mystery wine from the excellent 2011 vintage where elsewhere in Australia was rained out (except WA). I stumbled at the last hurdle picking it as Rosehill when it was actually OShea not thinking it had enough old vine character. Well made nonetheless with elegance intensity balance and length. A big future.

A structural shift in grape source for this vintage now with 20% sourced from the Rosehill vineyard as well as Old Hill and Old Paddock. Chatto said this adds a separate dimension of spice. Not as interesting as pre-Rosehill IMO. Doesn't have the Hunter DNA I think but the Mt Pleasant team are very happy with it. Another very good vintage in the Hunter.