Somerled 2012 Shiraz McLaren Vale

Cloistered in the warm, aromatic kitchen of Rilka’s Real Food in Hahndorf, we introduced to a superb wine as the South Australian Drink Of The Week in episode 98.

It was a Somerled 2012 Shiraz McLaren Vale, from two doors down along Mount Barker Road in Hahndorf.

Rilka Warbanoff waxed lyrically about Somerled and its winemaker, Rob Moody, who was given his start in winemaking by the one and only Max Schubert, the ‘father’ of Penfolds Grange, back when Penfolds was still a family owned company in 1969.

The 2012 surprised Steve from the moment it left the starting gate until the finish line due to the way it maintained its consistency and the way the fruit was beautifully integrated with the oak. This is a stayer!

Nigel was experienced with Somerled wines and chipped in with his thoughts which amounted to this: when wanting a good red wine from South Australia, choosing anything from Somerled is like having a bob each way; it’s a safe bet.

Why all these horse racing allusions? It’s because the horse on the label is, Somerled, upon which Rob’s grandfather won the Amateur Steeplechase at the local Oakbank Picnic Races in 1908.

You can hear our live wine tasting about 69 minutes in:

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