The Hunter Valley's Mount Pleasant will release its highly anticipated red wines on Monday June 13. The release includes the 2019 Maurice O'Shea Shiraz – a celebration of the history, evolution, and diversity of Mount Pleasant’s unique vineyards – along with a suite of reds produced from the historic Old Hill, Old Paddock and Rosehill sites.
Chief winemaker Adrian Sparks, who is only the fifth chief winemaker in the winery's history (this year marks 101 years of Mount Pleasant), says the Maurice O'Shea embodies time and place.
"Unmistakably Hunter Valley, this wine is classically medium bodied with fruit to the fore. Displaying all the hallmarks of a wine that sits alongside the best of Mount Pleasant’s releases, it sings of fresh fruits and spice with a palate that is sophisticated, brilliantly balanced with length and poise and cellaring potential well beyond 50 years."
The O'Shea, a wine that is 100 per cent shiraz, is only made with the best grapes, in the most exceptional years. “Rich and vibrant with beautiful tannin structure and natural acidity – the backbone of wines that have the pedigree to outlive their makers,” Adrian says.
Mount Pleasant was founded in 1921 by Maurice O'Shea. In 2021, the Medich Family Office took over the reigns from McWilliams, and have since invested heavily in the winery's offering. The brand new Mount Pleasant cellar door is set to open on Thursday June 16. Guests can taste award-winning wines across five themed tasting flights while they take in the views of the rolling vineyards and the Brokenback Range in the background.
The refurbished contemporary cellar door was designed by Luchetti Krelle, and is set within the original homestead buildings. It's complete with an expanded tasting area, a private tasting room, a lounge for members in the barn and bottle shop (home to some of Mount Pleasant's oldest wines, including back vintages of museum releases).
Alongside the famed O'Shea is the release of the 2021 reds: Old Hill 1880 Shiraz, $140; Old Paddock 1921 Shiraz, $140; Rosehill Shiraz, $55; OP&OH Shiraz, $55; and the Old Hill Pinot Noir, $55.
Tasting Team member Ned Goodwin MW has scored the 2019 Maurice O'Shea Shiraz an exceptional 97 points.
2019 Mount Pleasant Maurice O'Shea Shiraz
The flagship, crafted with the finest fruit from the famed proprietary sites: Old Hill, Old Paddock, Rosehill 1946 and 1965 Vines. As with the other reds in the stable, maker Adrian Sparks has lightened the structural lattices to impart greater freshness and joy. Full and plummy, the wine spent but 10 months in large-format French wood, less than 20% new. The result, almost as pulpy and vital, as it is dense and torqued. Wonderful tannins, alloyed and finely knit. A textural opus. Anise, loamy wet earth scents and flavours of sarsaparilla, clove and cardamom, too. Better after two days in the bottle, indicating just how well it will age. Stellar wine. Ned Goodwin MW, Halliday Wine Companion, 97 points.RRP $275 | Drink to 2039 | mountpleasantwines.com.au
Mount Pleasant’s annual reds release is available from June 13. Visit mountpleasantwines.com.au for more information.
