Oliverhill Red Silk Shiraz 2017

Oliverhill is a small boutique winery located in McLaren Vale South Australia (McLaren Vale has been referred to as the middle palate of Australian wine). Linda and Stuart Miller own this winery, which was founded in 1973, and is near the spectacular Onkaparinga Gorge National Park. They specialize in premium quality, limited production reds. Specifically, a single vineyard Shiraz, “Jimmy Section”, coming from a small 5-acre plot, planted 47 years ago, a Cabernet Sauvignon, grown on the lower section of the same vineyard along with some Durif, and their “Red Silk” Shiraz, also from their home vineyard.

Oliverhill is an actual strip of dirt situated on famous Seaview Rd., along which is grown arguably some of the best fruit in Australia. At the base of the hill are wineries such as d'Arenberg (their Dead Arm Vineyard is directly across the street) and Maxwell's, and further along the road, Kay Brothers (known for Block 6 Shiraz) and Coriole. There are also various high quality growers up on this hill, and the fruit that is grown along this road often makes its way into Penfolds Grange and the famous Rosemount Balmoral label. And then, right in the thick of all this, is this tiny property owned by the Millers. The wines from here represent the most classic elements that one expects from this special part of McLaren Vale.

All four reds are produced in an extremely limited format with total production hovering around 3000 cases of 12. The Millers are producing hand-crafted wines that are truly artisan in style. They will never produce a lot of wine, but what they do produce will always be of the highest quality. Sustainable vineyard practices, minimal intervention hand-crafted wines, are what Oliverhill wines represent.