Red
Maxwell of McLaren Vale: Red wines
2008 Ellen Street Shiraz
The name: What was originally known for over 100 years as Ellen Street runs along the southern boundary of the Maxwell vineyards. Situated between this road and the winery is a small vineyard of craggy, gnarled Shiraz vines planted in 1953. Every year these vines bear some of the best fruit on the estate, however in very small quantities, with an average crop of between 1 and 2 tonnes per acre.
The wine: This wine displays opulent dark fruits including Satsuma plum and blackberry, alongside dark chocolate and spice, with mocha and star anise adding complexity. Matured in American oak for 24 months, it has long fine tannins, excellent length and a unique level of complexity and balance.
Download Ellen Street Shiraz PDF tasting note.
2008 Lime Cave Cabernet
The name: The wine takes its name from a 40 metre long man-made cave, hand-dug in 1916 into the solid limestone hill that is now home to the estate vineyards. The hut-like entrance to the Lime Cave is depicted in the Maxwell of McLaren Vale logo. Above this cave, on the crest of the hill, there are 19 rows of “Reynella Selection” Cabernet Sauvignon vines. Planted in 1972, these vines originate from those brought into South Australia by John Reynell over 150 years ago.
The wine: The colour is dense red-black with purple highlights. Perfumed violets intermingle with blackberry, cedar and spice. The rich palate offers blackcurrant and sweet forest fruits. A hint of sweet cigar smoke swirls underneath the fruit, alongside a light earthy character. French oak maturation brings a well-balanced spicy, cedary note. Fine tannins persist and provide good palate length.
Download Lime Cave Cabernet PDF tasting note.
2010 Kangaroo Island Shiraz
The name: The rugged beauty that is Kangaroo Island is found at the foot of the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia. McLaren Vale, the home of Maxwell Wines, is at the northern end of the peninsula. Locally, the island is referred to as simply “KI” and it is a favourite destination of ours for rest and relaxation.
The wine: The colour is deep red with bright crimson hues. The bouquet is abundant with bright red berry fruit, red cherries, vanilla with a touch of aniseed coupled with hints of white pepper and rose petals.
2010 Silver Hammer Shiraz
The wine: The Maxwell Silver Hammer Shiraz delivers all the hallmarks that make the combination of this variety and the McLaren Vale region so famous - a plush palate showing rich dark berry fruits, mulberry and dark chocolate, with underlying notes of freshly ground black pepper, matched with some subtle American oak. The result is a wonderfully generous and approachable wine with excellent depth of flavour, long, velvety tannins and fruit density.
Download Silver Hammer Shiraz PDF tasting note.
2010 Four Roads Shiraz Grenache
The name: This wine takes its name from the fact that the Maxwell winery is found at the intersection of four roads, namely Olivers Road, Chalk Hill Road, Brewery Hill Road, and the old Ellen Street. For this wine, Shiraz and Viognier are co-fermented, then later blended with Grenache.
The wine: The palate exhibits an elegant savoury and earthy spice with luscious blueberry, bright red berry fruits along with fine long savoury tannins. This blend is a versatile wine to accompany many different meals and occasions.
Awarded a Blue-Gold Medal at the 2011 Sydney International Wine Show
Download Four Roads Shiraz Grenache PDF tasting note.
2010 Little Demon Cabernet Merlot
The name: In 1871 Scottish scientist James Clerk Maxwell proposed a thought experiment, that involved a hypothetical creature acting as a gatekeeper between two compartments to sort gas molecules according to their speed. At first glance, such a system could potentially create energy from nothing… theoretically impossible given the laws of physics. This hypothetical gatekeeper became known to physicists as Maxwell’s Little Demon, and has stirred debate in the science community for more than a century.
The wine: The palate shows both the persistence and structure of Cabernet, and the smooth influence of Merlot. Plush fruit characters, spice and fine silky tannins combine with subtle oak to create a soft and round finish.
Download Little Demon Cabernet Merlot PDF tasting note.
2009 Eight Bells Shiraz
The name: ‘Eight Bells’ in nautical terms represents the finish of a sailor’s time on watch - a time to relax and enjoy something to eat and drink, and the company of other crew members. This wine is perfect for such occasions, be they at sea or on land...
The wine: This vintage Shiraz displays excellent regional characters of dark berries complemented by earthy complexity, mocha and spice, with a dash of black pepper. The full yet balanced palate is rounded out by soft tannins to provide a pleasing finish.
Download Eight Bells Shiraz PDF tasting note.
White, Rosé & Sparkling Red Minotaur Reserve Fortified
2008 Ellen Street Shiraz
The name: What was originally known for over 100 years as Ellen Street runs along the southern boundary of the Maxwell vineyards. Situated between this road and the winery is a small vineyard of craggy, gnarled Shiraz vines planted in 1953. Every year these vines bear some of the best fruit on the estate, however in very small quantities, with an average crop of between 1 and 2 tonnes per acre.
The wine: This wine displays opulent dark fruits including Satsuma plum and blackberry, alongside dark chocolate and spice, with mocha and star anise adding complexity. Matured in American oak for 24 months, it has long fine tannins, excellent length and a unique level of complexity and balance.
Download Ellen Street Shiraz PDF tasting note.
2008 Lime Cave Cabernet
The name: The wine takes its name from a 40 metre long man-made cave, hand-dug in 1916 into the solid limestone hill that is now home to the estate vineyards. The hut-like entrance to the Lime Cave is depicted in the Maxwell of McLaren Vale logo. Above this cave, on the crest of the hill, there are 19 rows of “Reynella Selection” Cabernet Sauvignon vines. Planted in 1972, these vines originate from those brought into South Australia by John Reynell over 150 years ago.
The wine: The colour is dense red-black with purple highlights. Perfumed violets intermingle with blackberry, cedar and spice. The rich palate offers blackcurrant and sweet forest fruits. A hint of sweet cigar smoke swirls underneath the fruit, alongside a light earthy character. French oak maturation brings a well-balanced spicy, cedary note. Fine tannins persist and provide good palate length.
Download Lime Cave Cabernet PDF tasting note.
2010 Kangaroo Island Shiraz
The name: The rugged beauty that is Kangaroo Island is found at the foot of the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia. McLaren Vale, the home of Maxwell Wines, is at the northern end of the peninsula. Locally, the island is referred to as simply “KI” and it is a favourite destination of ours for rest and relaxation.
The wine: The colour is deep red with bright crimson hues. The bouquet is abundant with bright red berry fruit, red cherries, vanilla with a touch of aniseed coupled with hints of white pepper and rose petals.
Download Kangaroo Island Shiraz PDF tasting note.
2010 Silver Hammer Shiraz
The wine: The Maxwell Silver Hammer Shiraz delivers all the hallmarks that make the combination of this variety and the McLaren Vale region so famous - a plush palate showing rich dark berry fruits, mulberry and dark chocolate, with underlying notes of freshly ground black pepper, matched with some subtle American oak. The result is a wonderfully generous and approachable wine with excellent depth of flavour, long, velvety tannins and fruit density.
Download Silver Hammer Shiraz PDF tasting note.
2010 Four Roads Shiraz Grenache
The name: This wine takes its name from the fact that the Maxwell winery is found at the intersection of four roads, namely Olivers Road, Chalk Hill Road, Brewery Hill Road, and the old Ellen Street. For this wine, Shiraz and Viognier are co-fermented, then later blended with Grenache.
The wine: The palate exhibits an elegant savoury and earthy spice with luscious blueberry, bright red berry fruits along with fine long savoury tannins. This blend is a versatile wine to accompany many different meals and occasions.
Awarded a Blue-Gold Medal at the 2011 Sydney International Wine Show
Download Four Roads Shiraz Grenache PDF tasting note.
2010 Little Demon Cabernet Merlot
The name: In 1871 Scottish scientist James Clerk Maxwell proposed a thought experiment, that involved a hypothetical creature acting as a gatekeeper between two compartments to sort gas molecules according to their speed. At first glance, such a system could potentially create energy from nothing… theoretically impossible given the laws of physics. This hypothetical gatekeeper became known to physicists as Maxwell’s Little Demon, and has stirred debate in the science community for more than a century.
The wine: The palate shows both the persistence and structure of Cabernet, and the smooth influence of Merlot. Plush fruit characters, spice and fine silky tannins combine with subtle oak to create a soft and round finish.
Download Little Demon Cabernet Merlot PDF tasting note.
2009 Eight Bells Shiraz
The name: ‘Eight Bells’ in nautical terms represents the finish of a sailor’s time on watch - a time to relax and enjoy something to eat and drink, and the company of other crew members. This wine is perfect for such occasions, be they at sea or on land...
The wine: This vintage Shiraz displays excellent regional characters of dark berries complemented by earthy complexity, mocha and spice, with a dash of black pepper. The full yet balanced palate is rounded out by soft tannins to provide a pleasing finish.
Download Eight Bells Shiraz PDF tasting note.
White, Rosé & Sparkling Red Minotaur Reserve Fortified
