Red Still Wine | Australia | South | McLaren Vale | 75cl
£135.00
Size: 75cl
Closure Type: Screwcap
Country: Australia
Region: South
Sub-Region: McLaren Vale
Wine Style: Full Bodied
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Nestling between the Mount Lofty Ranges and the white, sandy beaches of the Gulf of St Vincent McLaren Vale is one of South Australia’s oldest, most picturesque wine regions. It is also one of the greenest, with its ongoing water use efficiency strategies and commitment to environmental sustainability.
It was here that the Lloyd family established their winery in 1969, on the predominantly terra rossa soils – soils favouring deep-coloured, well-structured red wines with great capacity for ageing. They released their first Shiraz in 1970, and now regularly win awards – indeed the Lloyd Reserve Shiraz is one of McLaren Vale’s greatest. Coriole have just started the certification process to organic – whilst they’ve farmed organically for many years they have now taken the decision to certify, a process they tell us feels harder and more time-consuming than the organic viticulture itself!
We were met by brothers Peter & Duncan Lloyd who are the second generation of the Lloyd family to look after the winery. After a tour of the vineyards it is clear to see they are doing some amazing work ensuring the vines and grapes are grown and picked in the very best conditions possible.
This quality fruit is then expertly crafted into beautiful, elegant, fruit-forward, balanced wines that will be a joy to drink as soon as they arrive but will last for 10-20 years in your cellar.
We tasted through an array of their wines from Chenin Blanc to Shiraz and these two reds stood out! They’re big but so well-balanced.
The wines will arrive sometime in 2025.
Critics...
The Mary Kathleen is generally sourced from the Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard planted in 1986 that sit just to the side of the cellar door.
"After grenache, it is McLaren Vale cabernet that I enjoy the most of the Vale's reds. The iodine brininess that adds an additional element to the savoriness and gritty feel of the tannins is a winning regional stamp. The sage, bay leaves, black olives and lilt of garden herbs confer lift. There is ample power, yet good cabernet here is faithful to the variety with just a little more roundness. The case for drinking even more of it is a strong one. An excellent example. Drinkable now, but best from 2028 "
Ned Goodwin MW, JamesSuckling.com 96 points
"From 35-year-old vines, 18 months in French oak (20% new). This is a relatively sumptuous rendition of cabernet, a wine with cascading mulberry, blackcurrant and plum fruit notes, but also one with bell-clear leafy and fragrant varietal definition. Cigar box notes, cassia, cedar, cracked pepper and black tea complex further. Eminently approachable, this also has the drive, verve and stuffing for a long life "
Marcus Ellis, James Halliday's Wine Companion 95 points
"Deep ruby colour. Ripe plum, tomato leaf and mocha aromas. A full bodied style, richly weighted purple and black fruits fill the core while tangential lines of dark spice and mocha add character. Great length, tannins finely poised to dry the finish well. Cellar time will be rewarded too "
Stuart Knox, The Real Review 92 points