2021 Boxhead Shiraz

100% sustainably and dry farmed Shiraz (Shiraz instead of Syrah due to Boxhead's Australian origins). The 2021 vintage in the Swartland saw cooler overall temperatures, which slowed ripening and created a steady accumulation of flavor compounds. The parcels were harvested, primarily destemmed and placed whole-berry into stainless- steel fermenters. Native yeast carried out the fermentation with routine pumpovers and after seven days on the skins, the lots were dry and then basket-pressed. The wine then went to neutral oak for aging. Malolactic fermentation occurred naturally and after 9 months of aging the lots were selected and blended back to tank to settle. The wine was bottled without fining and just with a coarse filtration and addition of sulfur. 13.1% alcohol. 1,500 cases made. 

Fruit forward and full bodied despite the modest alcohol, this is a fantastic value!  Black cherry, fig, boysenberry, and brambly vibes, all tied together with a kick of pepper and nutmeg. Smooth structure, round tannins and balanced acidity- what’s not to like?

Boxhead winemakers is a collaboration between renowned winemaker Mick Craven (of Craven wines, who we love!) and their American Importer Vine Street Imports. For 14 years, Boxhead ruled the red, fertile soils of McLaren Vale and the Barossa Valley, delivering Shiraz that was as smooth as it was unapologetically bold. But in year 15, the trailblazers behind Boxhead had other plans and other lands in mind. They took the leap to South Africa’s Swartland, a region packed with granite and shale, ready to reimagine what this wine could be. The result? A familiar, comforting flavor profile—ripe fruit, supple texture, chewy tannins—wrapped in a new story. The wine is still fermented with native yeast, and the bottle still bears that iconic cubic mascot, but inside is something entirely fresh.