Briar Ridge Stockhausen Signature Shiraz Hunter Valley, 2017

While Shiraz is ubiquitous with Australian wine, the traditional style produced in the Hunter Valley is more restrained and linear rather than big round fruit. Stockhausen Signature Shiraz 2017 has chocolate and raspberry aromas offset by mineral graphite notes. It has quite a light mid-palate followed by a tangy acidity with a long grippy finish. Grown at Mount View, it is a blend of different blocks: Dairy Hill block and Red Hill block sitting on opposite slopes on either side of the vineyard. It was matured in large French oak casts with around 35% new oak.