Eleana Anderson and Bryan Martin don’t make a lot of wine, but what they do make in their tiny, meticulous vineyard in Porepunkah is exceptional. Tucked beneath the Victorian Alps, Mayford is one of the most distinctive, high-quality Shiraz producers in the state.The 2023 release is being hailed as the “shining light” of the vintage. Born from a mild, “European-style” season – the third in a cool cycle – it is a wine of elegance, structure, and immense perfume.The secret weapon here is the clonal diversity. The Mayford vineyard is home to 14 different clones of Shiraz, ranging from rare heritage selections to perfume-driven modern cuttings. This gives Eleana an incredible palette to work with, blending the power and depth of the 28-year-old vines with the fragrance of the newer plantings.Vinified in small batches with wild yeast and aged for 18 months in French oak (30% new), it is plush, svelte, and silky. Expect a complex nose of pink peppercorn, anise, and blood plum, followed by violets and a savoury streak of fresh leather and soy. It is a brilliant, multifaceted Shiraz that will reward those with the patience to cellar it.
96 points“Crafted along ripe tannins, the spice, licorice and chocolate notes add that extra level of interest against a solid background of generous fruit and oak. Impressive now; it’s also got a long future ahead.”– Jeni Port (Halliday Wine Companion)
96 points“This wine looks both very young and very good. It’s a wine of finesse, and flavour, and polish, and finish… It’s a new-fashioned – and arguably more elite – version of an old-fashioned Ovens Valley Burgundy. There are few higher compliments that can be bestowed.”– Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)
