Parous Stonehouse Shiraz 2016 – EOFY Deal

The 2016 vintage in McLaren Vale was exceptional, producing wines with remarkable concentration and balance. This Parous Shiraz has been carefully cellared since then, allowing the tannins to soften and the complex flavours to integrate beautifully. At seven years of age, it's hitting its drinking window where the primary fruit characters have evolved into more sophisticated secondary notes while retaining the power that made 2016 such a standout year.

Matt Head is known for his intuitive, hands-on approach that prioritises expressing the true character of McLaren Vale fruit. His philosophy of creating wines with 'spirit and soul' means he allows the vineyard to speak rather than over-manipulating in the winery. This results in a Shiraz that showcases the region's signature warmth and richness while maintaining elegance and drinkability - a hallmark of his work across both Parous and Big Easy Radio labels.

The savoury, tarry notes and black cherry fruit make this Shiraz incredibly food-friendly with rich, hearty dishes. Think slow-cooked lamb shoulder with rosemary, barbecued beef ribs, or aged hard cheeses like vintage cheddar. The wine's full body and structured tannins can stand up to bold flavours and fatty meats, while the fruit sweetness provides balance to spicy or smoky preparations.

The 95-point Wine Orbit rating reflects the exceptional quality achieved in this vintage, where McLaren Vale's warm climate produced fruit with perfect ripeness and concentration. The combination of Matt Head's skilled winemaking and the region's ideal conditions for Shiraz created a wine that balances power with finesse. Critics particularly noted how the wine expresses classic McLaren Vale characteristics while maintaining elegance and age-ability.

This 2016 Shiraz is drinking beautifully now after seven years of careful cellaring, but has the structure to continue evolving for another 5-8 years. McLaren Vale Shiraz typically peaks between 8-15 years of age, so you're entering the prime drinking window. If you prefer more primary fruit flavours, enjoy it now, but if you like more developed, earthy complexity, it will reward further cellaring in proper conditions.