Chapel Hill The Vicar Shiraz 2022

Chapel Hill The Vicar Shiraz is a richly concentrated yet beautifully refined McLaren Vale Shiraz, showcasing some of the finest fruit from this celebrated South Australian wine region. Expect generous layers of blackberry, dark plum, and black cherry, complemented by aniseed, dark chocolate, cedar, and savoury spice. Full-bodied and wonderfully expressive, it delivers impressive depth without sacrificing elegance, thanks to its fine, chalky tannins and fresh acidity. Carefully selected vineyard parcels and gentle winemaking give this flagship wine its distinctive balance of power and finesse. A superb match for slow-roasted lamb, beef cheeks, or a perfectly grilled steak, it's drinking beautifully with food and has the structure to reward patient cellaring.

What the winery says:

The Vicar showcases the most outstanding and expressive parcels of McLaren Vale Shiraz, carefully selected to capture the region's distinctive character. Gentle winemaking preserves the purity and concentration of the fruit, followed by approximately 20 months of maturation in French and American oak. The 2022 vintage displays ripe blackberry and dark plum aromas alongside brambly spice, aniseed, and subtle cedar. The palate is generous and richly textured, with concentrated dark fruit, fine yet firm tannins, and refreshing acidity providing excellent balance. Savoury complexity and a long, persistent finish complete this powerful but polished Shiraz, which has excellent potential for further development in the cellar.

What the experts say:

Ray Jordan, WinePilot, 96/100 (2022)
“Opulent and super concentrated Shiraz that’s been made using winemaking that is gentle and persuasive to coax and protect the qualities of the fruit. It’s balanced as it brings together a line of chalky tannins and a decent lick of oak from the 20 months it spent in the barrel. A polished and controlled Shiraz that is still in its infancy with a strong cellaring life ahead of it.”

Andrew Caillard MW, The Vintage Journal, 95/100 (2022)
“Medium deep crimson. Lovely pure dark plum, blackberry aromas with brambly/ aniseed notes. Well balanced and elemental with abundant dark plum, blackberry fruits, fine slinky firm tannins, lovely mid-palate richness, underlying savoury hint cedar notes and fresh long indelible acidity. Finishes claret firm with bittersweet notes. Bright, vivacious and plush with great drinking ahead.”