Paxton Vineyards EJ Shiraz

Wine information: Paxton Vineyards was formed in 1979 by Viticulturalist David Paxton, it is a family-owned business located in the McLaren Vale on the Fleuriel Peninsula. The McLaren Vale is renowned for the production of super premium quality wines – particularly red wines. In 2000 Paxton released their first wine, the 1998 Shiraz. Today, under the direction and guidance of Michael Paxton – David’s son and Paxton winemaker – Paxton produces seven estate grown wines under the family label. Paxton’s vineyards are spread across a wide range of sites and soil types and are managed by Senior Viticulturalist Toby Bekkers. All of the vineyards are managed using biodynamic principals (and are classified as organic as well) – a system of farming without the use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides with a focus on promoting healthy, living soils through the use of natural compost preparations. Paxton Vineyards is also a member of One Percent For The Planet. 2006 Paxton Vineyards EJ Shiraz is the second release of Paxton's flagship wine, named after and in admiration of David Paxton’s mother and family matriarch Elizabeth Jean – who celebrated her 100th birthday on June 22nd. 2007. The EJ Shiraz is made from the low lying, Thomas Block vineyard. The low yielding, 100+ year old Shiraz vines are amongst the oldest in McLaren Vale and are carefully hand pruned and thinned to ensure the low and uniform yields required for super premium Shiraz.

Tasting Notes: Paxton Vineyards EJ Shiraz is bright crimson in colour. There a spicy, floral, earthy, briary fruit notes on the nose. It is an elegant wine, with highly concentrated savoury and fruit characters. Minerality is a characteristic of this vineyard, supported by silky tannins.

Reviews: “An elegant wine from start to finish, in no way reflecting any alcohol heat or dead fruit characters; supple black fruits have a touch of spice, the tannins are fine but persistent, the oak entirely persistent. Rating 95” James Halliday, James Halliday Wine Companion 2010< br />
“This has character. Despite its obvious power it has both a lightness and an elegance, unusual among the big-hitter brutes grown on old shiraz vines. It tastes of earth and comfy old leather chairs, raisins and citrus – you might even say it smells of a McLaren Vale orchard. It reaches long through the finish and has balance written all over it. Drink 2011 – 2020.” Campbell Mattinson, The Big Red Wine Book, May 2009

 
     

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