2018 RCV 'Epitaph' Shiraz

2018 RCV 'Epitaph' Shiraz

Winemaking & Viticulture |
This exquisite wine has been handcrafted from some of the oldest, dry-grown Shiraz vineyards in the Clare Valley. These old vines produce small yields of premium quality fruit with concentrated flavours and balanced acidity. Handpicked at optimal ripeness, our winemaker Justin Ardill uses traditional winemaking techniques of 10 day open fermentation and hand plunging before gently pressing to extract maximum colour, flavour, and tannin from the berries. Maturation in new 2/3 French oak hogsheads for 30 months has allowed the development of smooth balanced oak characteristics.
RCV wines are of limited release and are only made when the vintage is judged to be of the absolute highest quality seen for many years. 
Renowned South Australian artist Tom Gleghorn OAM was our artist in residence for the 2010 vintage and has created this beautiful artwork for our labels which are individually numbered and add to our collection of three Gleghorn labels. Inspired by our winemakers' late father David Ardill, ‘Epitaph’ is your final word.

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This is a rich, full-bodied wine showing layers of succulent dark fruit and ripe plum flavours with cigar box, aromatic spice, and a touch of vanilla. The wine finishes with well-integrated oak and a smooth, silky mouth feel with firm lingering tannins.

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

GOLD MEDAL, 95pts ~ 2023 Saint Martin Oak Great Australian Shiraz Challenge

GOLD MEDAL ~ Clare Valley Wine Show 2022

BRONZE MEDAL, 83 Points ~ 2021 Saint Martin Great Australian Shiraz Challenge

 

PAST VINTAGE AWARDS & ACCOLADES

2016

93 Points ~ Winestate Magazine, World’s Greatest Shiraz/Syrah XVI Wine Show 2021

2014

92/100, Huon Hooke, The Real Review 2019, www.therealreview.com
"Very deep, dark red/black colour with a trace of purple. The bouquet confirming this as a thumping big red with massive mocha, dark chocolate, and blackberry jam aromas, super-ripe, opulent, and avoiding 'dead fruit' overtones. A very ripe, high-octane, whopper shiraz, which manages to be soft and supple in the mouth with a luxurious feel and remarkably good balance. It can be enjoyed now but should have a long life ahead of it. A decadent wine."

Toni Paterson, The Real Review, www.therealreview.com
"A fleshy wine with dark fruit, a hint of menthol, vanilla top notes, and pimento accents. Excellent mid-palate intensity with a touch of fruit cake. Intense sweet-fruit and generous alcohol. Gently drying tannins frame the palate."

93 POINTS ~ James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2019

2010

92 POINTS ~ James Halliday, www.winecompanion.com.au, tasted 14/3/14.
"Prolonged open fermentation, basket pressing, and maturation for 27 months in French oak. Deeply coloured; another full-bodied Reillys Shiraz..."

Dan Traucki, freelance wine journalist, published 19th Dec 2016 on www.facebook.com/dan.traucki
“...this wine is massively deeply coloured, almost black. it has a big brambly nose with lots of berries and some earthiness. On the palate, it is a big wine with hints of fruit sweetness from fully ripe grapes, a lovely juicy palate which is smooth and finishes quite tight. A truly SUPERB WINE.”

TASTING NOTES

2018  |  2016  |  2014  |  2010