This is a great follow up to the highly touted 2020 Mother’s Milk Shiraz, which last year was awarded a Wine Spectator Top 100 (#26). First Drop Mother’s Milk Shiraz is no fluke and the newly released 2021 keeps its amazing streak alive with its 5th consecutive year of receiving a 92 pt Wine Spectator score. What sets this apart from many of the traditional styled Barossa Shiraz that many associate with the Barossa Valley is the wine’s vibrancy and freshness. This is an intriguing take on a Barossa Shiraz and will bring you back for a second or even, a third glass. There’s always a place at the table for an over delivering and very polished Shiraz and the 2021 Mother’s Milk Shiraz is a gorgeous engaging drop that has the makeup to show well now but the structure to hold for a number of years. Not bad for a wine that sells for way south of $20.
$16.99
92 pts James Suckling Dec 2022
Aromas of black fruit, pepper, dark licorice and overturned earth. Medium- to full-bodied with creamy texture and fine tannins. It has a savory fruit character with some salinity to it. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
92 pts Wine Spectator – 2023 Top 100 #38
A compelling red on a juicy, fresh frame, with smooth, polished tannins and fresh pomegranate and maraschino cherry flavors at the core, showing details of milk chocolate, nutmeg and white peppercorn, plus an appealing hint of toasted herbs and fresh earth. Reveals tannins that firm up on the finish, which packs a spicy kick. Drink now through 2033.
91 pts Wine Advocate Sept 2022
2021 was a lovely vintage in Barossa—cool, long and with a return to moderate yields after two years of aggressively low yields and warm conditions. So here, the 2021 Mother’s Milk Shiraz is fine and detailed, with loads of plush, voluminous fruit, in keeping with the style of the wine, but it is imbued with a little extra focus and precision, courtesy of the vintage. Nicely done. 2022-2030
Not a sledgehammer style, this Barossa Shiraz is made for drinking! Soft, slurpy and textured it is balanced with good acidity, which refreshes the palate and makes you go back for a second / third glass. The wine is matured sur lie for 12 months in 3 and 4 year old French oak hogsheads. Drink up!
North of Seppeltsfield in the west of the Barossa – 285m above sea level on clay over limestone. Matthew and Jono’s vineyard is to the north of Kalimna in the north of the Barossa – 312m above sea level on red clay with sand and ironstone. Milton’s vineyard is to the east of Eden Valley in the east of the Barossa – 460m above sea level on clay over ironstone and quartz.
In 2021 the Barossa Valley experienced mild conditions of generally below-average temperatures for the entire growing season, making for an elegant and classic vintage boasting the best acidities in many years. Good rainfall made for close-to-average crops, a welcome relief after two tiny drought harvests. Extended and unhurried picking proved to be a blessing. Quality exceptional across every variety, with reds showing great density of colour and flavour.
Drink up, but also a 5-8 year proposition.
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Ron –
This is a classic Aussie Shiraz. Well balanced fruit forward with tannins on the back. Very good wine. Should stay together for several years in storage.
Libby G –
Thanks for the feedback Ron, glad you enjoyed it!