The 2022 vintage was exceptional for McLaren Vale, delivering the rare combination of high yields and concentrated, high-quality fruit. This near-perfect growing season allowed producers like Mitolo to craft wines that truly showcase the region's potential. The ideal conditions resulted in fruit with intense flavour concentration while maintaining the elegant balance that McLaren Vale Shiraz is renowned for.

The oak integration in this Lupo Shiraz demonstrates Mitolo's restrained approach to barrel work, allowing the fruit to remain the star. Rather than overwhelming the wine, the oak weaves seamlessly through the dense plum and cherry flavours, adding structure and complexity without masking the varietal character. This balance is crucial for full-bodied Shiraz, where excessive oak can easily dominate the wine's natural fruit expression.

This rich, full-bodied Shiraz with its black cherry and spice notes pairs beautifully with grilled red meats, particularly lamb with rosemary or beef with pepper crusts. The wine's dense fruit flavours and lingering tannins can stand up to robust flavours like barbecued ribs or aged hard cheeses. The black olive characteristics also make it an excellent match for Mediterranean dishes featuring olives, herbs, and grilled vegetables.

The 95-point Wine Orbit rating reflects the wine's exceptional balance between power and elegance, showcasing what happens when ideal vintage conditions meet skilled winemaking. Critics recognised how this Shiraz captures the essence of McLaren Vale - the region's ability to produce wines with both intensity and finesse. The seamless integration of fruit, oak, and tannins, combined with the wine's authentic regional expression, demonstrates why Mitolo maintains its five-star winery status.

With its full-bodied structure, concentrated fruit, and well-integrated tannins, this 2022 Lupo Shiraz has excellent cellaring potential of 8-12 years from vintage. The wine's dense plum and cherry flavours will evolve into more complex secondary characters, while the tannins will soften and integrate further. McLaren Vale Shiraz from quality producers like Mitolo typically develops beautiful earthy, leather, and spice notes with proper cellaring, though it's equally enjoyable now with decanting.