HARTFELL
I spotted this deal recently and it immediately piqued my interest, as I’ve had a fair bit of experience with Pirramimma wines over the years — mostly through retailers like Vinomofo and Winestar. Standouts I’ve previously tried include the ACJ Icon Blend, Ironstone Low Trellis Shiraz, War Horse Shiraz and The Earl Shiraz.
You can find their latest rendition here under the Icons range:
https://shop.pirramimma.com.au/Wines/Icons
Unlike many heavily discounted “mystery” wine offerings online, Pirramimma is a genuine, long-established winery with an impressive cellar door operation. I visited them during a trip to McLaren Vale and found it to be a worthwhile stop.
I did try quizzing the cellar door staff about some of the discounted online offerings floating around elsewhere, though they were either genuinely unaware or understandably unable to comment. What I did notice, however, was that several customers — including locals — were happily purchasing wines at full retail pricing.
In terms of style, Pirramimma’s winemaking tends to lean toward the bold and unapologetically old-school end of the spectrum. Expect generous upfront fruit, substantial body, and a noticeable alcohol presence — this particular release is listed at 14.8% ABV. I’d strongly recommend giving it at least an hour in a decanter, as the alcohol heat softens considerably with air, allowing the fruit and structure to show far better balance on the palate.
I rolled the dice on that one at $28.50 a bottle it was $10 cheaper than the Earl I got from Vinomofo and seems to be on the same quality level.
ACJ, War Horse and The Earl were great. This one worth taking a punt on