Dodgy Bros. The Archetype McLaren Vale Shiraz 2014

Dodgy Bros. The Archetype McLaren Vale Shiraz 2014

While I miss the old upside-down Dodgy Bros. wine labels, the packaging on these new Archetype wines looks swish. Etched bottles. Quality glass. Everything.

This Shiraz is good gear too. From a vineyard that can’t be named, there were just 4 barriques of this made (or circa 900L), with 3 of them new French. The juice spends 18 months in these barrels and then bottled with no adjustments.

Wes (chief Dodgy) calls this a light-heavyweight in a nod to his boxing years. ‘Punches like a heavyweight, but light on its feet like a middleweight’. I like that analogy, as this has a real depth, yet still doesn’t feel heavy despite some alcohol warmth.

Dark red with purple edges, this is driven by a purple/red fruit density with a sweet vanilla oak veneer. Lithe and juicy, with lots of purple fruit and a real polish. At some points this looks a little boozy, but the fruit weight and long finish tend to swallow up the alcohol. Deep and dark with no shortage of swagger, this is proper large scale McLaren Vale Shiraz. Best drinking: 2018-2030. 18/20, 93/100. 14.6% $40. Would I buy it? I’d go a few glasses.