Wild & Wilder, ‘The Opportunist’ Shiraz, Langhorne Creek, Australia 2020

Wild & Wilder sums up their winemaking ethos as “Great fruit, grown by great people and made with a lot of love by people that know that wine is all about the good times, delicious food and creating great memories.” Founded by Giles Cooke MW and Fergal Tynan MW, who also make Thistledown Wines, the mundane is just not in their DNA.

This wine is produced from fruit grown on properties owned by Langhorne Creek stalwarts, Brett Cleggett and George Borrett. The vines are 25 years old, grown on red brown sandy loams with clay base, and some quartz and limestone. Whole berries are retained to preserve fruit quality and maximise fruit expression.

As for all Wild & WIlder wines, the fruit for the Opportunist is picked on the way up to ripeness rather than on the way down. This way they achieve freshness and energy but not at the expense of flavour. They retain as many whole berries as possible to increase vibrancy and succulence. Winemaking is simple and is followed by eight months on oak to increase texture and varietal expression.

thistledownwines.com