Highlights: Wirra Wirra Church Block 2022 McLaren Vale, Australia
Church Block is one of those important wines that we need more of. It’s affordable, and accessible, but it’s a proper wine, and it can even age. Back in 1972, when this wine was first launched, it had 70% Grenache in the blend. In the 1980s, after consultancy advice, Wirra Wirra replaced this with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. I’d have said this was a bad idea, but this is actually a superb wine at a good price.
Wirra Wirra Church Block 2022 McLaren Vale, Australia
14.5% alcohol. This is a blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Shiraz and 7% Merlot. It was the first wine made by founder, the late Greg Trott, back in 1972, so this celebrates 50 years since then. It’s supple and sweetly fruited, with some blackcurrant and cherry fruit, and no sense of heaviness. There’s a sweet core to the fruit, moderate tannin, nice freshness and a lot of drinkability. There’s such and ease to this wine. It’s pure drinking joy, but there’s also a hint of complexity. 92/100
Older notes
Wirra Wirra Church Block Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz Merlot 2021 McLaren Vale, Australia
14.5% alcohol. 50:41:9 blend. This is fresh, supple and shows lovely fruit with some nice green hints and a core of bright blackcurrant and blackberry fruit, with a chalky edge to the fruit. This was a warm vintage and so there’s a bit more fruit sweetness, but this should age really well. The Shiraz works well to fill the hole in the mid-palate that Cabernet often has. 91/100
Wirra Wirra Church Block Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz-Merlot 2020 McLaren Vale, Australia
14.5% alcohol. This is a juicy, bright blend from the McLaren Vale with a distinct green edge to the blackcurrant and berry fruit, as well as a hint of mint that adds freshness. There are some spicy, savoury notes in the mix, and it has a touch of amaro character on the finish. A really digestible, drinkable red, with a bit of grip and sternness on the finish. It’s an affordable wine for extended cellaring, as I reckon this has a decade of ageing ahead of it if you are so inclined. 91/100
Wirra Wirra Church Block Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz Merlot 2009 McLaren Vale, Australia
14.5% alcohol. 51:29:20 blend. Nice spicy, slightly earthy development on the nose. This has a lovely concentrated, mellow palate with ripe black fruits, a nice sweet core, subtle earth and leather, with a hint of mint. Ripe and delicious, and has evolved really well. 92/100
