Chris Ringland Dimchurch Shiraz 2014

This 2014 Dimchurch Shiraz is decidedly lower in alcohol than the other wines on the table, clocking in at a very modest (for Chris) 15.5%. Interestingly, the alcohol is not a consideration or concern for Chris; he’s going for vineyard characteristic, and the alcohol is just something that rolls out via the winemaking process. The barrels selected for the Dimchurch bottling really have to say something about the vineyard and the decision-making that Adrian went through to isolate that sector and decide about harvesting. What we want, and need, is for the dirt to shine through the wine. This shows the place and has notes of beetroot, black pudding, black peppercorns, clove, lamb fat and peppercorns. The alcohol, although it doesn’t matter, does make this more approachable. It’s a strikingly distinct wine. Drink date: 2022-2027. Score – 95. (Erin Larkin, robertparker.com, Sept. 15, 2022)