Pertaringa 'Belonging to the Hills' Shiraz 2021

The 2021 vintage in McLaren Vale was exceptional, earning this wine recognition as a 'Killer Vintage'. The season provided ideal conditions for Shiraz development, allowing the grapes to achieve perfect ripeness while maintaining the region's signature intensity. This vintage showcases McLaren Vale's ability to produce Shiraz with both power and elegance, resulting in wines with exceptional concentration and aging potential.

Bec Hardy brings a modern approach to traditional McLaren Vale winemaking, balancing the region's natural intensity with refined technique. Her style emphasises fruit purity while allowing the terroir to express itself through complex flavour development. The Hardy family's generations of winemaking experience, combined with Bec's contemporary vision, creates wines that honour McLaren Vale's heritage while appealing to modern palates.

The exceptional ratings from Ken Gargett (96pts) and Wine Orbit (95pts) reflect this wine's outstanding balance of power and finesse. Critics appreciate how it captures McLaren Vale's signature characteristics - rich dark fruit, chocolate complexity, and full-bodied structure - while maintaining elegance and drinkability. The wine demonstrates exceptional vintage expression and showcases why McLaren Vale Shiraz is considered among Australia's finest.

This rich, chocolate and blackberry-driven Shiraz pairs beautifully with robust dishes that can match its intensity. Think slow-cooked lamb with rosemary, aged beef steaks, or rich game meats like venison. The wine's vanillin softness and dark fruit character also complement barbecued meats with smoky flavours, while its full body stands up to strong cheeses and hearty winter stews.

McLaren Vale Shiraz from quality producers like Pertaringa typically develops beautifully over 8-15 years, and this 2021 vintage shows excellent aging potential given its structure and critical acclaim. While delicious now, the wine will likely reach peak complexity between 2026-2032, as the tannins soften and the dark fruit flavours integrate further with the chocolate and coffee notes. Proper cellaring will reward patience with increased complexity and elegance.