The 2019 Singularis Shiraz was crafted for extended cellaring, requiring time for its powerful tannins to integrate and soften. At five years of age, the wine has developed beautiful secondary characteristics like leather and tobacco notes while maintaining remarkable freshness. This patience-rewarding approach is typical of premium McLaren Vale Shiraz, where the best examples can evolve gracefully for decades.

McLaren Vale's Mediterranean climate and diverse soils create perfect conditions for full-bodied Shiraz with intense fruit concentration and structured tannins. The region's proximity to the ocean moderates temperatures, allowing grapes to ripen slowly while retaining natural acidity. This terroir combination enables producers like Ulithorne to craft wines with both power and elegance, explaining why this Singularis has such remarkable depth and aging potential.

Blood plum represents the wine's concentrated dark fruit core, which becomes more complex and nuanced with age, developing jammy richness without losing freshness. Violet notes are classic markers of quality Shiraz, often emerging more prominently as the wine matures and primary fruit integrates with oak influences. These floral elements add elegance to the wine's power, creating the sophisticated flavour profile that earned this wine its outstanding 97-point rating.

This powerful Shiraz demands equally robust flavours - think slow-cooked lamb shoulder with rosemary, aged beef steaks, or rich game meats like venison. The wine's oaky backbone and leather notes make it exceptional with barbecued meats, while its structured tannins can handle strong cheeses like aged cheddar or blue cheese. The blood plum fruit provides enough richness to balance spicy cuisines, making it surprisingly versatile with well-seasoned dishes.

Given its current evolution at five years and the description of 'more lives than a cat still to live', this Singularis likely has another 10-15 years of development ahead. The remarkable freshness of its tannins suggests excellent cellaring potential, with the wine gradually developing more complex tertiary flavours while maintaining its fruit core. Premium McLaren Vale Shiraz of this calibre often peaks between 8-12 years but can drink beautifully for two decades or more when properly stored.