2017 Robert Oatley Vineyards Signature Series Shiraz McLaren Vale 750 ml

The surprise of the 2017 Robert Oatley Signature Series is the price: At just $19 for Wine Access members, this is a massive value for a McLaren Vale blockbuster, especially taking into account the scores, the estate’s pedigree, and the fame of the winemaker, the renowned Larry Cherubino. We have the best price in the country, and for Aussie Shiraz of this glossy density, blending ripe, dark fruit and savory, earthy complexity, we expect the days of availability to be numbered.

Like us, James Suckling was wowed by this Shiraz’s polish and focus, awarding an impressive 94-point score, while Wine Enthusiast called it “vibrant and elegant”—a McLaren Vale expression where “power and elegance play together, wound by dusty, savory tannins.”

That level of acclaim makes sense, given Robert Oatley Vineyards’ 50 years of experience growing grapes in the region, a legacy that led Australian wine authority James Halliday to name it an “outstanding winery regularly producing wines of exemplary quality and typicity.”

Crafted by one of Australia’s most sought-after winemakers, the 2017 Robert Oatley Signature Series Shiraz hums with energy, unleashing a festival of muscular dark plum, anise, and eucalyptus across the palate. With this much silky charm, beauty, and incredible bang for your buck at under $20, we expect this to become a new member favorite.

We’ve known Larry for a few years now, and if you take any interest in the great wines of Western Australia, it’s hard to ignore him. The former chief winemaker at the iconic 184-year-old Houghton Wines, he’s become one of the top consulting winemakers in the country, with a style that’s rooted in tradition but unmistakably modern and creative.

We mentioned to him a while back that our members couldn’t get enough of the fresher Shirazes coming out of the west, the ones emphasizing vivid, bright fruit and tamped-down alcohol levels, allowing the purity of the terroir and clean acidity to shine through. Under-$20 values are great, we added, but we weren’t holding our breath, mindful that we were talking to one of the top viticultural talents in Australia.

Last month, a few bottles arrived, postmarked from Robert Oatley Vineyards in Eurunderee, North South Wales. We were intrigued. A note inside from Larry explained that his work with the estate had yielded some fantastic Shiraz in 2017, and that given the vintage’s yields, we might be able to work out a solid deal.

The grapes were culled from select parcels in Willunga, Blewitt Springs, and McLaren Flat, capturing the precision and varietal typicity of the season, with aging in French oak for 12 to 14 months. At just $19, this is a knockout New World buy with 94-point pedigree. One bottle is definitely not enough.