Mount Ida Heathcote Shiraz 2001

87 points

Heathcote, Victoria, Australia 14%

Heathcote is one of Australia's greatest shiraz regions. Small in production compared with great regions like Barossa and McLaren Vale, but excitingly different. It tends to produce huge wines but with tighter, finer, more tannic structure than these hot climate regions - I think part of the difference is colder night (in the same way that Clare riesling stands out), but also the soil matters.

This wine is a little more traditional than some. Slightly more mellow, slightly more like Great Western (another great Victorian region), more mild and straightforward. Probably has a long life ahead of it, but lacks character at the moment. Nice balance though.