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The best wines from McLaren Vale

South Australia

Home Wine Wine Regions Australia McLaren Vale
McLaren Vale is not only an important wine-growing region of Australia, it is also of particular historical value. Here stands the oldest known vineyard on the continent, planted in 1833 by John Reynell, founder of Reynella. The winery's historic cellar, which still exists, is something of a sanctum for Australian viticulture. McLaren Vale borders the metropolis of Adelaide directly to the south and the Adelaide Hills to the east. Situated between the Mount Lofty Ranges in the hinterland and the sea, the region offers excellent conditions for viticulture. Although the region is not particularly high, at about 200 meters above sea level, the climate is rather cool. The nearby sea provides sufficient precipitation, and the sea air cools the vineyards. Frost is only very rarely a problem, but mostly it is cool in the fall during harvest, which greatly benefits the quality of the wines. The very different soils also contribute to this, sometimes consisting of brown loamy sand, sometimes of gray loamy sand with calcareous clay subsoil. This is matched by the unique and enormously impressive collection of cult producers and iconic wines, representative of which are the names d'Arenberg or Clarendon Hills. Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon are in great form here, and Merlot has joined them in recent years.

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Best wines from this region

29 entries
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2012 Astralis
Clarendon Hills
Australia
Fleurieu,  Australia
Red Wine
Syrah
14,5%
Astralis Red Wine
98
2013 Shiraz Reserve
Noon Winery
Australia
Fleurieu,  Australia
Red Wine
Syrah
14,5%
Shiraz Reserve Red Wine
97
1995 Astralis
Clarendon Hills
Australia
Fleurieu,  Australia
Red Wine
Syrah
14%
Astralis Red Wine
94
2020 »Smart« Clarendon Grenache
Pannell Winery
Australia
Fleurieu,  Australia
Red Wine
Grenache
14%
»Smart« Clarendon Grenache Red Wine
93+
2013 The Derelict Vineyard Grenache
d’Arenberg
Australia
Fleurieu,  Australia
Red Wine
Grenache
14,2%
The Derelict Vineyard Grenache Red Wine
93+
2014 Lily’s Garden McLaren Vale Shiraz
Two Hands Winery
Australia
Fleurieu,  Australia
Red Wine
Syrah
14,2%
Lily’s Garden McLaren Vale Shiraz Red Wine
93
2009 Shiraz
Chapel Hill Wines
Australia
Fleurieu,  Australia
Red Wine
Syrah
Shiraz Red Wine
92
2012 Hardys »OOMOO« Shiraz
Accolade Fine Wines
Australia
Fleurieu,  Australia
Red Wine
Syrah
Hardys »OOMOO« Shiraz Red Wine
91
2001 The Dead Arm Shiraz
d’Arenberg
Australia
Fleurieu,  Australia
Red Wine
Syrah
15%
The Dead Arm Shiraz Red Wine
91
2015 Shiraz G.A.M.
Mitolo Wines
Australia
Fleurieu,  Australia
Red Wine
Syrah
14,5%
Shiraz G.A.M. Red Wine
90
2013 Hardys »William Hardy« Chardonnay
Accolade Fine Wines
Australia
Fleurieu,  Australia
White Wine
Chardonnay
Hardys »William Hardy« Chardonnay White Wine
90
2011 Hardys Nottage Hill Cabernet Shiraz
Accolade Fine Wines
Australia
Fleurieu,  Australia
Red Wine
Cabernet Franc
Hardys Nottage Hill Cabernet Shiraz Red Wine
88
2011 Hardys OOMOO Shiraz
Accolade Fine Wines
Australia
Fleurieu,  Australia
Red Wine
Syrah
Hardys OOMOO Shiraz Red Wine
88
2012 Hardys Crest Cabernet Shiraz Merlot
Accolade Fine Wines
Australia
Fleurieu,  Australia
Red Wine
Merlot
Hardys Crest Cabernet Shiraz Merlot Red Wine
87
2012 Hardys VR (Varietal Range) Shiraz
Accolade Fine Wines
Australia
Fleurieu,  Australia
Red Wine
Syrah
Hardys VR (Varietal Range) Shiraz Red Wine
87
d’Arenberg
Winery
Australia
Mclaren Vale,  South Australia,  Australia
d’Arenberg
Accolade Fine Wines
Winery
Australia
Melbourne,  Fleurieu,  South Australia,  Australia
Chapel Hill Wines
Winery
Australia
Mclaren Vale,  South Australia,  Australia
Clarendon Hills
Winery
Australia
Blewitt Springs,  Fleurieu,  South Australia,  Australia
Coriole Vineyards
Winery
Australia
Mclaren Vale,  South Australia,  Australia
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