Chapel Hill’s creative winemaking and viticultural team, led by chief winemaker Michael Fragos, continue to make exemplary wines despite the pressures of being owned by vertically integrated retail giant Endeavour Group. The wines are all buoyant, pure and fresh. Underlying ferruginous notes promote energy and flow across the palate while offsetting generous pure fruit flavours and volume. These are both classic and modern wines in style offering a strong and impactful regional voice. Chapel Hill is clearly at the vanguard of winemaking in McLaren Vale.
Chapel Hill is clearly at the vanguard of winemaking in McLaren Vale.
2023 Chapel Hill The Vicar Shiraz, McLaren Vale – South Australialia
Deep crimson. Pure blackberry, cherry aromas with graphite, roasted walnut notes. Inky deep wine with ample blackberry brambly flavours, plentiful fine al dente, dusty textures, very good mid palate volume and underlying roasted walnut notes. Finishes claret firm with fresh mineral/ ferruginous notes. Best to keep for a while to allow elements to fold. Drink now – 2040. 14.5% alc 94 points
2023 Chapel Hill Road Block Shiraz, McLaren Vale – South Australia
Deep crimson. Intense blackberry, panforte, spice, liquorice aromas with hints of black pepper. Generous and open knit with fresh blackberry pastille, cherrystone, panforte flavours, some raspberry notes, lovely mid palate viscosity, looseknit graphite tannins and well-integrated chestnut marzipan notes. Slinky firm and long at the finish with spicy notes. Very attractive wine. Drink now – 2038 14.5% alc 96 points
2022 Chapel Hill The Devil House Block Shiraz – South Australia
Deep crimson. Blackberry, black cherry, roasted chestnut, marzipan aromas with hints of ironstone. Abundant blackberry jam, musky dark cherry flavours, fine graphite firm tannins, underlying marzipan vanilla notes, a touch of ironstone and lovely mid palate viscosity. Builds up muscular firm. A classic McLaren Vale Shiraz with very good volume and torque. Should age well. Penfoldsian in style. 14.5% alc Drink 2028 – 2040 95 points
2023 Chapel Hill Gorge Block Cabernet Sauvignon, McLaren Vale – South Australia
Deep crimson. Intense cassis, earthy ferruginous aromas with bush garrigue/ violet notes. Generous blackcurrant, black cherry fruits, hints of herb garden and well-integrated chestnut/ new oak characters. Sinuous fine-grained, touch muscular tannins. Long and grippy firm at the finish with seductive cassis, Parma violet notes. Buoyant and fresh with abundant energy and flow. Drink now – 2036 14.5% alc 94 points
