THORN-CLARKE, EDEN TRAIL SHIRAZ

EDEN VALLEY, AUSTRALIA 2015

When it comes to an incredible value, with rich tannins and ripe berry fruit, Thorn-Clarke’s Eden Trail Shiraz is almost too good to be true (almost). Though most Shiraz is guaranteed to make an impression, I can’t recall a time where a wine at this price point has ever had this much stuffing – a full-throttle wine, bursting with primary fruit and notes of coffee, earth, clove and gingerbread spice, all enveloped in a body of plush and velvety tannins. Coming in at 92 points - for a sub $20 price point – it doesn’t get much better than this.

Rich and aromatic, this blackberry-scented red comes from grapes grown in the southern Barossa Ranges where the long ripening periods and cool nights are well suited to this stunning grape varietal. With significant vineyard holdings in Barossa and Eden Valleys, Thorn-Clarke has consistently made excellent wines over the last 10 years, and if today’s wine is any gauge on how they’re doing, I can confidently say they’re hitting it out of the park. Established by David and Cheryl Clarke, Thorn-Clarke is one of the largest family-owned estates in the Barossa Valley and for 6 generations, the family has been intimately involved in producing wines in the region. Their winery is tucked into the beautiful rolling hills of the Barossa Ranges with a view of their vineyards over the Little Para River. With their reputation as one of the most consistent, top quality producers in Barossa Valley, they continue to garner accolades for their wine from critics across the globe – including their 2015 Eden Trail Shiraz which showcases the best from Eden Valley. 

A rich, aromatic Shiraz with black fruits, cedar and spice, the fruit for their 2015 Eden Trail was sourced from their “Auction” block, Angaston, which surrounds the winery. Fermented with a small percentage of whole clusters in small open fermenters and hand turned twice daily, the wine is then aged in oak barrels for 12-16 months (each parcel is aged separately for varying lengths of time depending on the parcel) and experiences minimal fining and filtering prior to bottling. The perfect wine to drink now or lay down for the next 5-6 years, this is one of the best bang-for-your-buck wines you can find. So if you’re looking for something lavish but don’t want to break the bank, I can’t think of a better answer than Thorn-Clarke’s 2015 Eden Trail Shiraz. For as low as $18.47 a bottle, I’d take this opportunity to stock up and then some before this offers ends…