Shaw + Smith 'Balhannah Vineyard Adelaide Hills Shiraz 2021

Get to know: Shaw + Smith 'Balhannah Vineyard Adelaide Hills Shiraz

Tasting Note

A top-tier Aussie Shiraz that’s more elegance than oomph. 

This is not your blockbuster Barossa Shiraz – the Shaw + Smith Balhannah Vineyard 2021 is all about finesse, spice and structure. On the nose, you’ll find layers of dark cherry, blackberry and blackcurrant, alongside cooler notes of violets, cracked black pepper and clove. The palate is sleek, medium-bodied and precise, with juicy black fruit, lifted acidity, and superfine tannins that promise longevity.

It’s a modern, cool-climate Shiraz with real sophistication – and the kind of freshness that makes you go back for another sip.

Top food pairings:

• Herb-crusted rack of lamb with mint yoghurt
• Vegan mushroom and lentil wellington
• Hard cheeses like aged Comté, mature cheddar or Manchego

This is one of the best Australian cool-climate Shiraz wines out there – polished, precise, and built to last.

Kate Says

“If you think Aussie Shiraz is all jammy fruit and big booze, this’ll change your mind. It’s cool-climate, so it’s got lift, perfume and elegance in spades. The fruit is ripe but not overdone, and there’s loads of savoury spice too. This 2021 is drinking beautifully now, but I’d stash one away – it’s got a good 10+ years in it. Seriously classy stuff.”

Producer Info

Shaw + Smith are a benchmark name in the Adelaide Hills – and the Balhannah Vineyard Shiraz is their flagship single-site wine. It all started back in 1989 when cousins Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith (Australia’s first Master of Wine) decided to combine their winemaking and business brains. Since then, they’ve helped put Adelaide Hills on the world wine map, championing a cooler-climate style for Aussie classics.

The Balhannah Vineyard itself was planted in 2000, sitting 420 metres above sea level on a mix of loam and schist soils. The elevation and microclimate here give the Shiraz a natural freshness and more European structure – think Syrah finesse, not Shiraz swagger.

How it’s made:

• Grapes are hand-picked, sorted, and partially destemmed for gentle extraction
• Wild fermentation kicks off naturally in small fermenters
• A portion is matured in French oak (30% new) for 14 months, adding subtle spice and texture
• Bottled without fining, and with minimal filtration to preserve character

This hands-on, minimal-intervention approach brings out the purity of fruit and the sense of place – making it a true reflection of the vineyard and vintage.