Mount Pleasant Wines
Maurice O'Shea Hunter Valley Shiraz
Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia
Even though this wine is 27 years old I might have opened this a little early. This will cruise to its 40th birthday without a problem. This was the period when Hunter Valley decided to emulate the big ripe oaky styles of South Australia instead of sticking to the HV medium bodied savoury style which Maurice O’Shea himself pioneered back in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. A palate staining and concentrated palate of profound intensity with a black fruited perfume. An impressive wine but thankfully the Maurice O’Shea Shiraz of the last 10 to 15 years have returned to their medium bodied roots.
Even though this wine is 27 years old I might have opened this a little early. This will cruise to its 40th birthday without a problem. This was the period when Hunter Valley decided to emulate the big ripe oaky styles of South Australia instead of sticking to the HV medium bodied savoury style which Maurice O’Shea himself pioneered back in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. A palate staining and concentrated palate of profound intensity with a black fruited perfume. An impressive wine but thankfully the Maurice O’Shea Shiraz of the last 10 to 15 years have returned to their medium bodied roots.
Apr 13th, 2025More fruit derived than the 1994 with plum and cherry but also a little more astringency with acid and grainy tannins.
More fruit derived than the 1994 with plum and cherry but also a little more astringency with acid and grainy tannins.
Oct 29th, 2016This thing must have been nothing but oak on release. It's still very noticeable but the fruit is giving it a good run. Savoury red and black fruits, black olives, herbs and classic Hunter earth. If only there was less oak, this could have been a great wine. I had the same vintage last year which was almost dead but this one had plenty of life left despite the cork crumbling into a million pieces trying to extract.
This thing must have been nothing but oak on release. It's still very noticeable but the fruit is giving it a good run. Savoury red and black fruits, black olives, herbs and classic Hunter earth. If only there was less oak, this could have been a great wine. I had the same vintage last year which was almost dead but this one had plenty of life left despite the cork crumbling into a million pieces trying to extract.
Apr 2nd, 2017