Shaw and Smith, located in the cooler Adelaide Hills of South Australia, is making some of that countries most compelling wines, and are recognized as a Halliday 5 Star winery. Michael Hill Smith, a Master of Wine, and winemaker cousin Martin Shaw, started their venture in 1989, initially as a virtual operation, but over time purchased their own vineyards, now totaling 55 hectares, as well as building their own state of the art winery in 2000. These vineyards now have the vine age to give the wines the gravitas and impeccable quality that sets them apart from so many other producers in the region and the entire country.

The just released 2019 Shaw and Smith Pinot Noir, sourced from their two vineyards located in Balhannah and Lenswood, planted in 1999 and 2000, shows what the cousins and their formidable team have produced in this beautiful Pinot Noir. Blessed with noted depth of flavor and fruit concentration in the dark cherry flavor spectrum, there’s a touch of spice and a savory edge with an engaging, concentrated textural feel that speaks of the low yielding vintage. It’s lovely stuff and should show well over the next 4-5 years quite easily. Extremely limited.