97 Points, Platinum – Best in Show, Decanter World Wine Awards 95 Points, Halliday Wine Companion 93 Points, Wine Business Magazine 92 Points, Wine Advocate 90 Points, James Suckling
Tasting Notes
Heady blue fruit on the nose with lashings of violet, blossom, and hints of baking spice. Spiced dark plum on the palate with fresh blue and blackberries, pepper, and liquorice. Lifted acidity with plush mouth-coating tannins delivers a great length on the finish.
ABOUT THE PRODUCER
Ben and Clare Anderson believe in living amongst the environment, treading lightly on their land. This sustainable lifestyle extends through to their philosophy for managing the vineyard and minimal intervention practices in the wine-making processes.
At 600 meters above sea-level their Lenswood vineyard in the northern Adelaide Hills is one of the coolest and highest vineyards in South Australia. The top meter of loamy soil sits on a sub-clay base and sustains efficient water and nutrients to the vines whilst reducing the risk of pests and diseases at the same time.
Vines are hand-pruned and the grapes are hand-picked to ensure premium quality. Minimal intervention in the winemaking process, using natural yeasts to showcase the unique terroir.
ABOUT THE WINE
“Most keen wine drinkers now realize that Australia can produce a gamut of Chardonnay styles, but somehow the word seems harder to get out about Shiraz. This wine from Adelaide Hills should do the trick for anyone who has yet to realize that cool-climate accounts of the variety can be every bit as compelling as their warm-climate counterparts. The wine is dark in color, with lots of episcopal purple; the aromas are bright, lifted, and billowing, not just cherry-fresh but with some billowing cherry blossom in there too. In the mouth, the wine is deep, round, poised, and lively: an explosion of vivid fruits with a peppery finish.”
– Decanter DWWA 2020 Tasting Notes for Anderson Hill O Series Shiraz 2018
Specs
Vintage: 2018
Varietal: 100% Shiraz
Origin: Australia
Appellation: Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Elaboration: Cold-soaked, open fermentation with extended maceration. 12-month barrel maturation in a mix of new and seasoned French oak. 5-7 years cellaring.
The farming history of the Anderson family dates back to the beginning of the 20th Century. To provide a better life for his family, Peter Anderson and his whole family moved from Scotland to South Australia and established a farming presence. The hard-working ethos continues in the family to this day.
Brian Anderson, and his son Ben, purchased 32 acres of land in Lenswood, Adelaide Hills in 1994 and developed it into a vineyard. The family focuses on producing high quality wine grapes and premium wines. Since Brian’s passing, Ben and his wife Clare have continued to run the family business.
Ben spends the majority of his time in the vineyard looking after our vines and making sure the grapes are growing well. If you can’t find him in amongst the vines, there’s a good chance he is working with our winemaker in the winery, meeting with our business partners locally or overseas or just hiding somewhere with a glass of our award-winning Pinot Noir!
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
@rjquillin Hi Ron, 3.56pH is what I shoot for in my wines. This wine will have enough acid to keep giving you that first bit experience throughout the meal. Based on efamily’s wonderful labrat report I’m in. Cheers, Scott
@ScottHarveyWine
Thanks Scott. Seems like a good offer, especially with the price reduction, to grab a few bottles and have plenty for gifts for the UPS folks as well.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
2018 Anderson Hill O Series Shiraz - $50 = 27.77%
Anderson Hill O Series Australian Shiraz 2018
100% Shiraz (Sirah) 14.5% ABV
The joy of receiving Alice’s email that a LabRattage package is heading towards us. Pondering, is it a White? Is it a Red? Just what is in-bound and will it pair with our dinner plans? My wife grabbed the package and messaged me that it was an Aussie Shiraz. How fortuitous that I was planning on grilling some brisket cheeseburgers tonight. It should pair nicely I thought.
Before arriving home from work, my wife opened the wine and poured a couple glasses to let it breathe. Shortly after, I came home and we nosed the wine. Not a huge bouquet, but some nice dark berries, red currants, sage, white pepper, cardamom, and some cedar. It’s an opaque dark ruby color in the glass. Looks like a big jammy bomb, but it’s not. Tasting, it echoes the nose with berries, currants, sage, and cedar. On the palate it is medium bodied and not huge and jammy. Nice velvety tannin’s, balanced acidity, and not overpowering.
On to our dinner pairing. I grilled some ground brisket cheeseburgers with smoked gouda and bacon. My wife made brussel sprouts with walnuts, cherries, and bacon. She also made roasted potato wedges with parsley. This wine loves loves bacon, smoked meats, and cheese. The potatoes and the brussel sprouts paired beautifully. The Bacon Gouda Cheeseburgers were perfect as well. We didn’t plan this, but damn it worked out great. It’s not a huge Shiraz, but lands squarely in the middle in our opinion. I’d love to try this with a nice Ribeye. I can envision this wine working well with your upcoming spring and summer grilling activities.
Wine Advocate review not noted in previous offer:
92 Points. The 2018 Lenswood Shiraz walks the tightrope between plush, ripe, succulent and red fruited and spicy, dark, mineral and lacy. These are all good things, and the combination of which represents the 2018 vintage. What a vintage that was. This wine is possessed of all the vitality and energy that 2018 so liberally handed out, and it’s a beautiful thing to behold. If I was picky—and hey, that’s the job—I’d also comment on the little tang that the acidity leaves behind in the mouth… On one hand, it is refreshing. It will likely hold it in good stead over the following decade and beyond. Drink 2022 -2032 Erin Larkin Sep 15, 2022
That Decanter review:
97 Points. Most keen drinkers now realise that Australia can produce a gamut of Chardonnay styles, but somehow the word seems harder to get out about Shiraz. This wine from Lenswood in the Adelaide Hills should do the trick for anyone who has yet to realise that cool-climate accounts of the variety can be every bit as compelling as as their warm-climate counterparts. The wine is dark in colour, with lots of episcopal purple; the aromas are bright, lifted and billowing, not just cherry-fresh but with some billowing cherry blossom in there too. In the mouth, the wine is deep, round, poised and lively: an explosion of vivid fruits with a peppery finish. Best in Show DWWA 2020
Reverse Wine Snob offered it up October 2023:
…opens with a lovely aroma of dark berry fruit, sweet spice and touches of chocolate, mint, coffee and more.
The wine needs at least an hour of air to open up but then it reveals a really lovely cool-climate example of Syrah/Shiraz. Taking a sip reveals lots of deep, harmonious flavors of plum and blackberry with well-integrated spice and a bit of a meaty note in this medium to full-bodied wine. It also features wonderful balance and a silky smooth and velvety mouthfeel.
The wine ends dry, very long and quite savory with a burst of peppery spice under the lasting fruit. It was just as good on day two, if not slightly better. Refined, excellent, harmonious, lovely…
Anderson Hill Lenswood Shiraz 2018
Adelaide Hills, South Australia
I was somewhat surprised that UPS made this delivery in the middle of an ongoing 24 hour Nor’easter winter storm with five plus inches of wet, heavy snow on the ground and more on the way, but they came through!
Unfortunately, there was no time to rest the bottle and with the report due in the morning, we had to start the Lab Rat duty with very cold wine. And it is a big, heavy bottle so it wasn’t fast to warm up.
Initial appearances show a deep, dark, all but opaque garnet wine with broad, slow legs. Aroma was subtle (most likely due to the temperature as it did show more as it warmed). The later sniffs revealed dark fruit, peppery spice and perhaps a not necessarily unpleasant petroleum like scent.
Initial tastes were again muted by the temperature. They rounded out with time we detected dark fruit and currant tastes with a spicy/peppery finish. Quite a complex mix of flavors, though overall very smooth and balanced and great mouthfeel. With the wine alone before food there is a very minor, slight bitterness in the middle of the sip, but hardly detracting. Acidity and tannins are noted, but not at all dominating.
Our food selection for the evening was creamy scallop fettuccini which you wouldn’t think would be the best with this wine even though it turned out to be a wonderful combination. The food completely removed the minor bitterness and the acidity totally stood up to and even enhanced both the wine and the strong food flavors.
In summary, I’ve never been a fan of “run-of-the-mill” Australian red wines and generally avoid them, but this wine is not run of the mill and I would take it any day of the week!
@mattykillpatty I’m surprised this hasn’t sold out. It’s a sure thing. Of course, I love Shiraz. I only got one case because I’m way over budget and overloaded.
2018 Anderson Hill O Series Shiraz
97 Points, Platinum – Best in Show, Decanter World Wine Awards
95 Points, Halliday Wine Companion
93 Points, Wine Business Magazine
92 Points, Wine Advocate
90 Points, James Suckling
Tasting Notes
Heady blue fruit on the nose with lashings of violet, blossom, and hints of baking spice. Spiced dark plum on the palate with fresh blue and blackberries, pepper, and liquorice. Lifted acidity with plush mouth-coating tannins delivers a great length on the finish.
ABOUT THE PRODUCER
ABOUT THE WINE
Specs
What’s Included
4-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$383.88/Case for 12x 2018 Anderson Hill O Series Shiraz at Anderson Hill
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Apr 29 - Tuesday, Apr 30
2018 Anderson Hill O Series Australian Shiraz
4 bottles for $59.99 $15/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $129.99 $10.83/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Previous offer:
10/12/22
Cajole
@ScottHarveyWine said Thu, Oct 13th 2022 at 11:00am ET:
Scott,
now that we have pH (3.56), and additional labs, any further thoughts?
@rjquillin Hi Ron, 3.56pH is what I shoot for in my wines. This wine will have enough acid to keep giving you that first bit experience throughout the meal. Based on efamily’s wonderful labrat report I’m in. Cheers, Scott
@ScottHarveyWine
Thanks Scott. Seems like a good offer, especially with the price reduction, to grab a few bottles and have plenty for gifts for the UPS folks as well.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
2018 Anderson Hill O Series Shiraz - $50 = 27.77%
Anderson Hill O Series Australian Shiraz 2018
100% Shiraz (Sirah) 14.5% ABV
The joy of receiving Alice’s email that a LabRattage package is heading towards us. Pondering, is it a White? Is it a Red? Just what is in-bound and will it pair with our dinner plans? My wife grabbed the package and messaged me that it was an Aussie Shiraz. How fortuitous that I was planning on grilling some brisket cheeseburgers tonight. It should pair nicely I thought.
Before arriving home from work, my wife opened the wine and poured a couple glasses to let it breathe. Shortly after, I came home and we nosed the wine. Not a huge bouquet, but some nice dark berries, red currants, sage, white pepper, cardamom, and some cedar. It’s an opaque dark ruby color in the glass. Looks like a big jammy bomb, but it’s not. Tasting, it echoes the nose with berries, currants, sage, and cedar. On the palate it is medium bodied and not huge and jammy. Nice velvety tannin’s, balanced acidity, and not overpowering.
On to our dinner pairing. I grilled some ground brisket cheeseburgers with smoked gouda and bacon. My wife made brussel sprouts with walnuts, cherries, and bacon. She also made roasted potato wedges with parsley. This wine loves loves bacon, smoked meats, and cheese. The potatoes and the brussel sprouts paired beautifully. The Bacon Gouda Cheeseburgers were perfect as well. We didn’t plan this, but damn it worked out great. It’s not a huge Shiraz, but lands squarely in the middle in our opinion. I’d love to try this with a nice Ribeye. I can envision this wine working well with your upcoming spring and summer grilling activities.
Previous offer was $84.99 / $199.99
Wine Advocate review not noted in previous offer:
92 Points. The 2018 Lenswood Shiraz walks the tightrope between plush, ripe, succulent and red fruited and spicy, dark, mineral and lacy. These are all good things, and the combination of which represents the 2018 vintage. What a vintage that was. This wine is possessed of all the vitality and energy that 2018 so liberally handed out, and it’s a beautiful thing to behold. If I was picky—and hey, that’s the job—I’d also comment on the little tang that the acidity leaves behind in the mouth… On one hand, it is refreshing. It will likely hold it in good stead over the following decade and beyond. Drink 2022 -2032 Erin Larkin Sep 15, 2022
That Decanter review:
97 Points. Most keen drinkers now realise that Australia can produce a gamut of Chardonnay styles, but somehow the word seems harder to get out about Shiraz. This wine from Lenswood in the Adelaide Hills should do the trick for anyone who has yet to realise that cool-climate accounts of the variety can be every bit as compelling as as their warm-climate counterparts. The wine is dark in colour, with lots of episcopal purple; the aromas are bright, lifted and billowing, not just cherry-fresh but with some billowing cherry blossom in there too. In the mouth, the wine is deep, round, poised and lively: an explosion of vivid fruits with a peppery finish. Best in Show DWWA 2020
Reverse Wine Snob offered it up October 2023:
…opens with a lovely aroma of dark berry fruit, sweet spice and touches of chocolate, mint, coffee and more.
The wine needs at least an hour of air to open up but then it reveals a really lovely cool-climate example of Syrah/Shiraz. Taking a sip reveals lots of deep, harmonious flavors of plum and blackberry with well-integrated spice and a bit of a meaty note in this medium to full-bodied wine. It also features wonderful balance and a silky smooth and velvety mouthfeel.
The wine ends dry, very long and quite savory with a burst of peppery spice under the lasting fruit. It was just as good on day two, if not slightly better. Refined, excellent, harmonious, lovely…
fwiw
/giphy calamitous-ungainly-jar
Anderson Hill Lenswood Shiraz 2018
Adelaide Hills, South Australia
I was somewhat surprised that UPS made this delivery in the middle of an ongoing 24 hour Nor’easter winter storm with five plus inches of wet, heavy snow on the ground and more on the way, but they came through!
Unfortunately, there was no time to rest the bottle and with the report due in the morning, we had to start the Lab Rat duty with very cold wine. And it is a big, heavy bottle so it wasn’t fast to warm up.
Initial appearances show a deep, dark, all but opaque garnet wine with broad, slow legs. Aroma was subtle (most likely due to the temperature as it did show more as it warmed). The later sniffs revealed dark fruit, peppery spice and perhaps a not necessarily unpleasant petroleum like scent.
Initial tastes were again muted by the temperature. They rounded out with time we detected dark fruit and currant tastes with a spicy/peppery finish. Quite a complex mix of flavors, though overall very smooth and balanced and great mouthfeel. With the wine alone before food there is a very minor, slight bitterness in the middle of the sip, but hardly detracting. Acidity and tannins are noted, but not at all dominating.
Our food selection for the evening was creamy scallop fettuccini which you wouldn’t think would be the best with this wine even though it turned out to be a wonderful combination. The food completely removed the minor bitterness and the acidity totally stood up to and even enhanced both the wine and the strong food flavors.
In summary, I’ve never been a fan of “run-of-the-mill” Australian red wines and generally avoid them, but this wine is not run of the mill and I would take it any day of the week!
/giphy dice-fire-happy
In for 4
I need me some shiraz!!! In for a dozen!
/giphy pressed-wild-baseball
Lab rats crushing it and THE Scott Harvey in?!?! How can I pass this up? Turns out, I can’t!
/giphy kooky/private/ice
@mattykillpatty I’m surprised this hasn’t sold out. It’s a sure thing. Of course, I love Shiraz. I only got one case because I’m way over budget and overloaded.
I Lab Ratted it, loved it, but I can’t buy it!!! NH paperwork needs to get done.
/giphy toothless-tattered-bed
