Product Description
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Finch’s Line, 5th Mile, Shiraz, 2009, Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia
Producer Profile
Finch’s Line is a small, high-end wine producer in Australia’s Hunter Valley in New South Wales. It’s run by our very own Miles Corish MW. Although we describe Finch’s Line as “embryonic at this stage and its size, very much limited to finance and time,” we hope to one day to expand this range.
Finch’s Line produces handcrafted, small batches of wine from special old vineyards throughout the Hunter Valley. One particular favourite is a 70-year-old vineyard near Pokolbin that Miles discovered while he was doing vintage at Tyrrells. The wines are made at Château Pato, one of the Hunter’s leading boutique wineries which is owned and run by Miles’s best mate, Nick Paterson. For 4 weeks during Australia’s harvest, prior to having a family and running a business, Miles spent time working as Nick’s assistant winemaker in exchange for Paterson “babysitting” Finch’s Line when Miles returned home to the UK.
The ‘Finch’ in the name comes from Heneage Finch, who was the original surveyor of the road from Sydney to the Hunter Valley – The Great North Road.
Miles points out that contrary to popular opinion, the distinctive earthy/spicy flavour of some Hunter reds isn’t Brettanomyces, but rather a Hunter terroir character. “I really like his wines, which show a good deal of elegance.” -Jamie Goode, The Wine Anorak-
“Personally, I’d like to see more Hunter Valley wines in the UK, not just because it’s Shiraz and Semillon, chock full of character and being Australian classics, but also because of a new generation of winemakers, there’s plenty to excite.” – Miles Corish MW –
Viticulture
The Fruit for the 4th Mile Shiraz is from the Maluna Vineyard, planted in 1968 by the Maxwell family. At an elevation of 250 metres, it faces northeast on dark brown clay loam soils mixed with limestone and sea fossils. Low yielding, at around 1.5 tonnes per acre, this vineyard makes a Shiraz that is generous, complex, and elegant.
Sourced from a 70-year-old, dry farmed vineyard resulting in miniscule yields and concentrated, balanced fruit. The vineyard is farmed as sustainably as the trying Hunter Valley conditions allow.
Winemaking
The Fruit for the 5th Mile Shiraz is from the Maluna Vineyard, planted in 1968 by the Maxwell family. At an elevation of 250 metres, it faces northeast on dark brown clay loam soils mixed with limestone and sea fossils. Low yielding, at around 1.5 tonnes per acre, this vineyard makes a Shiraz that is generous, complex, and elegant.
Tasting Note
Goes well with
Chargrilled Ribeye.
Cellaring
When this wine was produced it was suggested up to 10 years…still going strong!
Features
Varieties: Shiraz 100%
Colour: Red
ABV: 14.5%
Closure: Screw cap
Style: Still Wine
Case Size: 12 x 75cl
Country: New South Wales
Region: Hunter Valley
Vintage: 2009
Don’t just take our word for it…
GOLD 96 pts James Halliday Wine Companion, published 11 July 2021
“Medium red-purple: the complex, fragrant bouquet has black cherry and hints of sage, the intense palate with multiple layers of flavour building further on the bouquet, line, length and balance impeccable. This is a remarkable wine.”
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