During the transition of ownership a couple years back we were able to secure a healthy slice of their back-vintage wines, much of which have since gone to good homes. Last week saw us present an array of recent release Mount Pleasant wines at dinner with winemaker Adrian Sparks, all of which are also available behind the big red button below.
There were two standout reds on Wednesday. The first was the Mount Pleasant Old Paddock & Old Hill Shiraz 2019 (JS 98) @ $59 net. I must confess a certain cynicism when I fist saw the Suckling rating. Amongst the mayhem of hosting the fiercely contested competition for "Best Bondi Beach Look" , a sprinkling of huffy vegans at the platters of BBQ and an ailing aircon system that produced more than a few sweaty boob issues, I really didn't give too much credence to the wine until I got my paws around the glass...
Its outrageously good - with or without Suckling's anointment on high. Clean, precise and effortlessly resolved - its everything that makes Hunter shiraz so very good when under the hands of the right people.
Turning to the heritage end of the wines, we tasted the 2014 Maurice O'Shea on Wednesday and its undoubtedly worth every cent of the price tag and then some. Adrian mentioned at the dinner that James Halliday once wrote that he believed O'Shea to be the only 100 year cellaring wine in Australia. Its soaring architecture and seamless construct is to be experienced - if only once - as a benchmark for the Hunter's capacity to produce super-premiums.
He choked a little when he saw our order form on the night at $199 - saying that the O'Sheas are now A$500 a bottle at cellar door, making this a seriously good acquisition idea of the long term.
The Lovedale Semillon 2017 was masterful and totally deserving of its own pitch one of these Saturdays if we end up with any left. Look for a briney, minerally lemon parfait of a wine. Its surprisingly more approachable at this early stage that many of its previous iterations, which is both a delight and cause for concern because I have little doubt that these will be allowed to linger very long once they are tasted.
All the other Mount Pleasant wines are also available behind the big red button ...
The Wines:
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Mount Pleasant Old Paddock & Old Hill Shiraz 2019 [JS 98]
Top Ten Best Selling Wines - December 2022 Under $60 James Suckling 98 points. "
"This very old-vine blend of two parcels is a classic of Hunter Valley elegance and power..."
Suckling
20 Bottles Left
$59 net
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Mount Pleasant Maurice O'Shea Hunter Valley Shiraz 2014 [JH 99]
Mount Pleasant Maurice O'Shea Hunter Valley Shiraz 2017 [GF 97+]
Mount Pleasant Maurice O'Shea Hunter Valley Shiraz 2018 [JH 99]
""An utterly stupendous wine, in the same league as Penfolds 1962 Bin 60A...."
James Halliday
Cellar Door: A$500
Our Price: $199 net
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Mount Pleasant Cellar Aged Lovedale Semillon 2017 (JH 97)
James Halliday 97 points, Top 20 whites of 2023.
Bright, but deep, straw-green; from Block LO-07. The wine immediately presses the pleasure button. While it will continue to develop for years, the balance of youthful freshness and the honeyed toast is impeccable now. The price is totally justified.
97 points
Cellar Door: $90
Our Price: $75 net
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Cheers,
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