Ottelia Mount Benson Shiraz 2013

Time for some new wines.

Ottelia is a new label out of Coonawarra/Limestone Coast, the name a reference to the native waterlilly, Ottelia Ovalifolia. Wines are made by John Innes, a winemaking consultant who is also involved with the Fodder restaurant in Coonawarra with his wife Melissa.

This Shiraz comes from Mount Benson, which could be one of the great untapped wine regions in Australia (though its relative isolation works against it, methinks). This is matured in 20% new oak for 11 months. Numbers: pH 3.47, TA 6.9…

Mid weight, this elegant wine shows a liberal dash of devon on the nose (fritz for you South Aussies), light red fruit, milk chocolate oak and alittle licorice, the fainlty bitter finish a nice counterpoint before noticeable acidity on the finish.

Pleasant, without really pushing the case, this is not bad for a first release. Needs more impact for higher points though. Best drinking: 2017-2023. 16.8/20, 89/100. 13.6%, $22. Would I buy it? Not quite.