Oliverhill Jimmy Section McLaren Vale Shiraz 2012

Bottled un-fined and unfiltered, the single vineyard 2012 Oliverhill Jimmy Section Shiraz hails from a small block of very old vines in the most hallowed terroir of McLaren Vale. Oliverhill’s 2012 Jimmy Section Shiraz highlights the region’s unique qualities by offering a saturated purple robe, a flamboyant bouquet, voluptuous flavors, and spectacular length. Downright racy, sexy, and utterly seductive, the 2012 Oliverhill Jimmy Section McLaren Vale Shiraz exudes savory scents and flavors of crushed blackberry, mulberry, Asian spices, eucalyptus, sandalwood, violets, and tobacco leaf to name a few. Textured, smooth, and impeccably balanced, this basket pressed Shiraz opens slowly and methodically, revealing new and interesting flavors with each sip. Just beginning to hit its stride with four years of aging under its cap, the 2012 Jimmy Section Shiraz will be even more luscious a year or two from now, but who can wait that long? Wine Advocate and James Suckling both awarded the 2012 Oliverhill Jimmy Section Shiraz 93 Points, which now appears to be a bit stingy as this wine continues to develop in bottle. For optimal enjoyment, we suggest decanting Oliverhill’s polished 2012 Jimmy Section Shiraz an hour ahead of consumption. And, like most full-bodied red wines, cool room temperatures (59°-64° F) will best showcase the subtleties and profundity of this wine. Enjoy!

Although a good chicken and avocado wrap, brick oven pizza, double cheeseburger, or nearly any accompaniment would be elevated to gourmet status in the company of the 2012 Oliverhill Jimmy Section McLaren Vale Shiraz, the 2012 Jimmy Section merits partners equal to its stature. Our preferred choices to pair with this full-bodied wine are hearty dishes that can easily hold their own in the company of Jimmy Section’s bold flavors. Lamb is of course the perennial Australian favorite with such a beautiful McLaren Vale Shiraz, and we will second that motion. Consequently, roast leg of lamb or grilled loin lamb chops served with a cucumber garlic sauce and a sprinkling of feta cheese get our nod. Equally delicious is pan seared beef tenderloin, served with crispy eggplant and mixed organic greens with a sriracha tinged queso sauce. Gnocchi with vegetables and gorgonzola cheese provides another flavorful accompaniment. Grilled Ahi tuna on focaccia with a healthy dab of Provençal aioli or herb mayonnaise also makes a worthy companion. And if you still have a hankering for a good burger, why not make it a Kobe beef burger with a fried pickle and mustard fusion?

South Australia’s McLaren Vale is a virtual treasure trove of small boutique wineries and special terroirs from which so many of Australia’s most precious viticultural gems are mined. However, the difficulty for miners as well as wine lovers has always been to find the true gems. As a wise old prospector once said “there are plenty of gems in them there hills, ya just gotta look for em.” So, we took the prospector’s advice and went looking. And sure enough we found several real jewels at Oliverhill, of which the brightest and most beautiful of those gems is Oliverhill’s Jimmy Section Shiraz. In mining terms, we hit pay dirt.

Oliverhill Winery is a small boutique family affair founded in 1973. It is presided over by Linda and Stuart Miller who fashion a half dozen amazing wines with a total production of less than 3,000 cases. The winery is located near the spectacular Onkaparinga Gorge National Park. It draws its name from an actual strip of land located along Seaview Road in McLaren Vale. This illustrious piece of land is also home to d’Arenberg and Maxwell’s, two of South Australia’s most cherished wineries. Grapes that are grown at the base of the hill also make their way into Penfolds Grange and Rosemount’s Balmoral, two of Australia’s most celebrated iconic Shiraz wines. Not surprisingly then, the calling card of the diminutive Oliverhill winery is none other than outstanding Shiraz, handcrafted and basket pressed from single vineyard blocks. Small quantities of exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, and Petite Sirah (Durif) are also produced, and each is a true gem. Eureka!