The August edition of Decanter Magazine features an article on the Adelaide Hills by David Sly. No report on the Adelaide Hills would be complete without a mention of Bird in Hand. He names them one of the region’s top producers of Shiraz, and he has awarded an incredible 97 points to their 2018 Syrah:
2018 Syrah, Bird in Hand – 97 pts
The heady perfume is elegant: blueberry muffin, wild sage, a whiff of liquorice. The flavours are equally seductive: firm black fruits and sharp cherry, laced in strands of leather and tobacco. Whole-bunch ferment and wild-yeast influence is captured in the right measure, showing deft balance of winemaker intervention and vineyard expression.
2013 MAC Shiraz, Bird in Hand – 95 pts
There’s power and opulence here in abundance, but this heady wine tries not to brag too much. It speaks more of fruit concentration and expensive oak cosseting than terroir expression. Cassis, chocolate, mint, ripe cherry and vanilla flavours purr like a big-engine roadster gliding along a smooth, polished, oaky highway. Luxury many can’t afford.
2014 Nest Egg Shiraz, Bird in Hand – 94 pts
A sweet, high-toned and powerful nose of blackberry, mulberry, blossom and marzipan continues on the seriously concentrated, tightly wound palate. Despite big intensity, the flavours glide smoothly through the extended palate. A big body in a well-tailored suit – very dapper!
2019 Nest Egg Chardonnay, Bird in Hand – 91 pts
Judicious influence of new French oak binds the fleshy stonefruit and grapefruit palate together but the structure seems stern and it is a bit hot on the finish. Needs cellaring to soften.
