Pertaringa 'Belonging to the Hills' Shiraz 2022

McLaren Vale's Mediterranean climate and diverse soils create perfect conditions for Shiraz, allowing the grapes to develop intense concentration while retaining freshness. The region's proximity to the ocean moderates temperatures, preventing over-ripening while encouraging the development of complex flavors like the dark chocolate and coffee notes found in this wine. This terroir expression is why McLaren Vale Shiraz has become synonymous with rich, full-bodied wines that showcase both power and elegance.

The 2022 vintage in McLaren Vale was exceptional, producing wines with remarkable concentration and balance. This vintage allowed Bec Hardy to craft a Shiraz that perfectly captures the region's signature style while maintaining freshness and complexity. The 95-point Wine Showcase rating reflects how well this vintage expressed the terroir, resulting in the wine's impressive layering of preserved plums, dark berries, and that distinctive vanillin softness that makes it so approachable yet sophisticated.

This rich, chocolate and coffee-noted Shiraz pairs beautifully with grilled red meats, especially lamb with rosemary or beef with pepper crusts that complement its dark berry flavors. The wine's full body and vanillin softness also make it excellent with aged cheeses, dark chocolate desserts, or hearty stews. The preserved plum characteristics work particularly well with game meats or barbecued dishes where the wine's intensity can match the bold flavors without being overwhelmed.

As part of the legendary Hardy family wine dynasty, Bec Hardy brings generations of winemaking expertise to modern techniques, creating wines that honor tradition while embracing innovation. Her approach focuses on expressing the unique characteristics of McLaren Vale terroir, as evidenced by this wine's authentic regional character and complex flavor development. The 'Belonging to the Hills' name reflects her philosophy of letting the vineyard site speak through the wine, resulting in authentic expressions that capture both place and vintage.

Store this wine in a cool, dark place at around 55°F to preserve its complex flavors and allow for potential aging over the next 5-8 years. Serve at 60-65°F to best showcase the dark chocolate and coffee aromatics, and consider decanting for 30-60 minutes to allow the full-bodied structure to open up. The wine's rich concentration means it will benefit from breathing time, which will help integrate the preserved plum and dark berry flavors with the vanillin oak influences.