2023 Samantha's Garden Clare Valley Shiraz

COLOUR: Deep plum with concentrated purple hues and a dark crimson core.

AROMA: Aromas of blue fruits, black olive, vanilla spice, dark cherry, warm bark, loganberry and cedar, supported by cracked pepper and a fine slate-like minerality.

PALATE: The fruit presents gracefully on the palate, showcasing a poised and sophisticated expression of Clare Valley Shiraz. Samantha’s Garden carries the region’s hallmark softness and smoothness beautifully, with a gentle, caressing texture and layers of fine, silky tannins. Rich black fruits, spice and subtle tobacco unfold with restraint, while the wine’s natural acidity brings lift and shape. As the palate develops, juicy fruit gives way to a drier, more savoury finish, framed by cracked pepper, slate and a lingering dry spice note. There is much to admire in its evenness, elegance and quiet energy. The 2023 Samantha’s Garden is seamless and finely balanced, never overblown or heavy, instead showing how beautifully Shiraz from a cool, elevated region can deliver both richness and restraint.

The 2023 vintage in Clare Valley was characterised by a cool, extended growing season, producing Shiraz wines of elegance, freshness and regional expression. Above-average winter and spring rainfall replenished soil moisture reserves, while cooler temperatures delayed budburst and flowering. These conditions continued into summer, resulting in a later-than-average harvest and allowing fruit to develop flavour and tannin maturity gradually. The extended ripening period encouraged excellent retention of natural acidity, with Shiraz displaying vibrant dark berry fruits, savoury spice and floral aromatics. Moderate temperatures helped preserve freshness, while the longer hang time contributed to refined tannins and balanced structure. April rainfall presented further challenges for red varieties, making careful vineyard management and selective harvesting essential. The best parcels of Shiraz delivered wines with complexity, purity of fruit and a distinctly elegant profile. Overall, 2023 was a vintage that rewarded patience and precision, producing Clare Valley Shiraz with finesse, structure and promising ageing potential.

WINEMAKING | Crushed and fermented in a five tonne open top fermenter with regular pump overs (twice daily) to control fermentation, extract
colour, flavour and tannins.

Average time ‘on skins’ was 10 days before the fermented juice was drained to tank and the pressings combined. The wine was then racked to barrel, where malolactic fermentation took place.
Samantha’s Garden was bottled unfined and unfiltered.

MATURATION | Aged for 16 months in 2-4 year old French oak hogsheads, with up to 20% new French oak.

CLOSURE | Diam Cork
VOLUME | 750ml
VARIETAL | Shiraz
ALCOHOL (% vol.) | 13.6%
REGION | Clare Valley
SUB-REGION | Armagh, White Hut
VINE AGE | 23-28 YEARS
ALTITUDE | 400m
AVERAGE RAINFALL 480-550mm
SOIL | Grey, silty loam with sandstone, sandy loam on clay with slate/red-brown earth over limestone.

Halliday Wine Companion
95 points
Mike Bennie

"This manages to be rich and powerful and still refreshing and fine boned. A feat! There's concentration of inky blackcurrant, blueberry, with woody spices, clove, cinnamon and cumin. And then the dark chocolate and cola characters kick in. It has a smooth textural profile, a little grip to finish, and yet holds a fine, sleek profile even with all the heft here. A punchy mouthful, done very well." - Published 01 June 2026