2020 Great Southern Shiraz, Three Lions

• Style: Deep, savoury Shiraz
• Taste: Mulberry, violet, black pepper, cardamom spice, plush tannins
• Food: BBQ, beef, grilled dishes, stews, roasts, game
• Occasion: Weeknight; Sunday lunch
• Serve: 16–18°C, screwcap

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Deep garnet in colour, this 2020 Great Southern Shiraz announces mulberry and violet on the nose, dusted with black pepper and a whisper of cardamom. The palate is where it shines: sweet plum sits firm and cushioned by plush tannins, with savoury earthiness and nutmeg warmth keeping the wine balanced and interesting. Fresh acidity cuts through cleanly, leaving a long finish. At 14.5% alcohol and 6g/L acidity, neither heavy nor thin.

The Winery — Plantagenet Wines

Established in 1974 in Western Australia's Great Southern region, Plantagenet named itself after the English shire and the historic dynasty—the Three Lions label references those iconic heraldic arms. The winery is self-sufficient across 126 hectares of vineyard, all estate-fruit sourced. For the 2020, fruit came from mature vines on sandy, gravelly soils with ironstone, and younger plantings on deep gravel, both vertically shoot-positioned to manage canopy and disease. The exceptionally hot vintage compressed the growing season and pushed harvest four weeks early, concentrating flavour and colour in smaller berries. After destemming and crushing, fruit fermented in sealed, temperature-controlled conditions with regular pump-overs, then split 18 months between oak barriques and stainless steel before blending and bottling under screwcap.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

Built for the table, not the tasting note. The black pepper grip makes this a natural with peppercorn-crusted meat, while the plush tannins and savoury depth work equally well with barbecued ribs, grilled beef, roast dinners, stews and braises, and even game or venison. Aged hard cheese is a rewarding match. Mount Barker, where much of this fruit grows, has the most continental climate in Great Southern, producing Shiraz with structure and savoury depth quite different from riper styles elsewhere in Australia. This sits alongside our wider Syrah & Shiraz selection, offering genuine cool-climate character that punches well above its price. Serve at 16–18°C. Vegetarian and vegan friendly.