Detailed information and Tasting Notes

Tasting Notes

McLaren Vale is home to some of the most treasured old vine plantings in the world today, with the earliest known plantings dating back into the 19th century. We affectionately refer to them as “The Old Faithful”. They are a resource we treasure dearly.

The Old Faithful, founded by wine mates in 2005 is an artisan producer of small quantities of exceptional wines from older, exceptional single vineyards. We look for vineyards that are expressive of McLaren Vale, the vintage and the variety and only release our wines when the wines display these finest characters. With the Rhone as its inspiration – Shiraz and Grenache grace our portfolio. Made to age gracefully, we believe in and recommend our wines and hope you can enjoy the magic of ‘The Old Faithful’.

This second release Shiraz (our nickname is ‘Black Tip’) is blended from two expressive sites in McLaren Vale and captures not just select barrels but the context of a regional blend.
After harvesting, the grapes undergo open tank ferment slowly over a week or more. On pressing the wine was transferred to new French oak puncheons to complete fermentation and add structure to the wine and then slowly mature for complexity and tertiary expression.
Only the best barrels were selected for the final wine. Bottled with light filtration, no fining.

Vintage: 2017
Region: McLaren Vale
Variety: Shiraz from Onkaparinga and McLaren Flat
Oak: French oak puncheons for 40 months
Closure: We use DIAM5 cork to provide taint free cellaring.
Bottles made: 1510 in December, 2020
Analysis: 14.5% Alc/vol, pH 3.55 TA 6.0
Winemaking: Nick Haselgrove

Winemaker’s Notes at December 2020:
Colour: Saturated purple. Dark burgundy edges.
Nose: Forest floor, briar bush, black fruits with a redolent currant and strawberry background. Layered cedary oak adds cedar and new leather. Still vibrant with hints of adolescence.
Palate: Firm, full and rich, subtle fruitcake with tidy acidity and a pleasant light bitterness, like dark, high cocoa chocolate. Brooding with well balanced acidity the wine is yearning for the cellar.
2017 Vintage: Whilst technically a wetter and better yielding vintage the season allowed a long ‘hang time’ which has produced wines of distinction.
Potential: Long term cellaring will add layers of complexity