More years than not, Heathcote produces the best Shiraz in Victoria, and in the right vintages, it’s a contender for the best Shiraz region in all of Australia. Something about the specific combination of soil and climate in Heathcote leads to a majestic Shiraz – broad and powerful in its breadth of flavour abundance, but elegantly restrained so that the more delicate flavour nuances get their moment in the sun as well. At its peak, Heathcote Shiraz is the truest sort of wine magic.
With the above in mind, not long before all the COVID madness, we led a mission of red wine-lovers into this beloved region to visit a handful of its best producers to see if we could uncover Victoria’s best Shiraz in 2020 (it bears noting that there are a few titans we could not visit like Condie Estate – Heathcote and Burke & Wills Winery due to itinerary limitations). Alas, while we hoped that everyone would land on one or two specific bottles, there is just too much mind-blowing Shiraz there. So below, we offer five glorious wines, one of which is definitely Victoria’s best Shiraz at the moment 
We’ll leave it to you to try amongst them and choose for yourself.
Domaine Asmara Vineyard Infinity Shiraz – Somehow boisterous in its cornucopia of lusty flavours, and yet exhibiting a ballerina’s grace in their dance across the palate. This is a big, brash rewarding wine but simultaneously such very suitable companionship for pondering the world’s meaning alone on a stormy day – in a word, Heathcote.
Idavue Estate 2012 Shiraz – The wine may have a few years, but it is vibrant, glowing, and punchily alive on the palate. On the more powerful end of the spectrum, this one casts strong fruit and spice flavours assertively across the palate as it passes along its journey. The wine can barely contain itself, so eager to share its bounty. A “big red” Shiraz and a damn satisfying one at that.
Sanguine Estate Wines 2017 Inception Shiraz – An instant classic, this is hallmark Heathcote Shiraz, with a broad and silky-smooth textural web of gorgeous black fruit flavours. The wine glows alive on the palate. So much flavour, so perfectly and confidently balanced on a tight rope. Small wonder Sanguine has risen to such prominence in Heathcote.
She Oak Hill Vineyard 2015 Shiraz – One of our 2019 Wines of the Year. What we said in that write-up: “Where to begin describing a soaring wine such as this? The quintessential Heathcote Shiraz. Restrained power, layers and layers of flavour with the perfect textural balance. Ultimately satisfying but more than that – inspiring – magic and beauty in a bottle. Probably the best Shiraz value we found in 2019.”
Silver Spoon Estate The Hallmark Shiraz – This aptly named wine actually bears several hallmarks: the hallmark of impeccable quality, premium dry-grown fruit; the hallmark flavours that only Heathcote brings out in Shiraz, and the hallmark of astute winemaking to get that fruit and those flavours singing in such harmony as they do in this heaven-sent bottle. Truly a revelation.
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The wines listed above are as good as wine gets. They fully capture #WhyWeLoveWine