The Ulithorne Frux Frugis Shiraz 2018 has earned remarkable recognition with 96 points from both Wine Showcase Magazine and Wine Orbit, plus 95 points from James Halliday. This level of critical acclaim reflects the wine's exceptional quality and the producer's mastery of McLaren Vale terroir. The consistent high scores across multiple respected critics indicate this is a truly outstanding expression of Australian Shiraz that showcases both power and finesse.

The combination of chocolate and black olive flavours creates a sophisticated savoury-sweet profile that's characteristic of premium McLaren Vale Shiraz. The chocolate notes likely come from oak maturation and the wine's full-bodied structure, providing richness and depth. Meanwhile, the black olive character adds Mediterranean complexity and earthiness, balancing the fruit intensity with savoury elements that make this wine particularly food-friendly and age-worthy.

Frux Frugis is Latin meaning 'fruit of the earth' or 'fruits and crops', reflecting Ulithorne's philosophy of expressing terroir through their winemaking. This name suggests the wine is crafted to showcase the natural bounty of McLaren Vale's unique soil and climate conditions. The Latin nomenclature indicates the producer's respect for traditional winemaking principles while creating a modern Australian expression of Shiraz that honours the land's natural gifts.

The 2018 vintage in McLaren Vale was exceptional, producing wines with remarkable concentration and balance due to ideal growing conditions. This vintage allowed for extended ripening periods, resulting in the full-bodied structure and complex flavour development evident in this Shiraz. The meaty, rich characteristics combined with the wine's critical acclaim suggest 2018 was a standout year that produced age-worthy wines with both immediate appeal and long-term cellaring potential.

Serve this McLaren Vale Shiraz at 16-18°C to allow its full-bodied structure and complex flavours to shine. Decant for 30-60 minutes before serving to soften tannins and enhance the chocolate and meaty characteristics. The wine's savoury black olive notes make it perfect with grilled red meats, aged cheeses, or Mediterranean dishes. Given its exceptional ratings and structure, this wine will continue to develop beautifully in the cellar for another 8-12 years.