Price Drop: Shiraz 2022 - Marathon Deal #56687

This Shiraz comes from Marananga's family-owned vineyards in the western Barossa, renowned for Australia's finest Shiraz production. The deep, rich soils interspersed with limestone slabs create ideal terroir conditions that concentrate flavours and add mineral complexity. Being the inaugural vintage from a brand-new, state-of-the-art winery, it represents the perfect marriage of traditional Barossa winemaking heritage with cutting-edge technology.

The blackberry notes come from Shiraz's natural fruit intensity, amplified by Barossa's warm climate and limestone-rich soils. Dark chocolate and mocha flavours typically develop through careful oak integration and the wine's full-bodied structure, creating layers of complexity. These flavours work synergistically - the blackberry provides fresh fruit backbone, while chocolate and mocha add depth and richness that will continue evolving with proper cellaring.

A 96-point Decanter rating places this wine in the 'outstanding' category, representing exceptional quality that's achieved by less than 1% of wines reviewed. Decanter's rigorous tasting panels assess wines blind, making this score particularly meaningful as it reflects pure quality without brand bias. Combined with Peter Dixon's matching 96-point score, this dual recognition suggests the wine demonstrates remarkable consistency and excellence across different expert palates.

The 2022 vintage marks a pivotal moment as the first wine produced in the winery's new state-of-the-art facility, allowing for more precise winemaking control. Wine expert Peter Nixon from Wine Libertine has declared it potentially 'the finest Black Market Shiraz release to date', suggesting optimal growing conditions combined with enhanced winemaking capabilities. The 'Killer Vintage' designation further confirms that 2022 delivered exceptional fruit quality in the Barossa region.

Serve this full-bodied Shiraz at 16-18°C to showcase its rich blackberry, chocolate and mocha complexity without overwhelming the palate. The wine's power and structure make it perfect for robust dishes like grilled red meats, aged cheeses, or rich stews that can match its intensity. Consider decanting 30-60 minutes before serving to allow the wine to open up, revealing the subtle interplay between fruit, oak, and the distinctive Barossa terroir characteristics.