Victorian boutique winery Concrete & Clay has won the Best Shiraz Trophy at the Cathay Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition.
The competition attracted the wine world’s biggest names including Australian wineries De Bortoli, Grant Burge, Jacob’s Creek, Orlando, St Hallett, Tyrrells, Yellow Tail and Zilzie.
But it was Concrete & Clay that prevailed, winning the prestigious Shiraz trophy with Port Phillip Reserve Shiraz 2020 (RRP$78).
Not bad for a small family-run wine brand that many people have not heard of – and which only released its first wines in 2019.
“Only 700 bottles of the Shiraz were made,” says winemaker and founder Paul Baggio.
“So it’s suddenly now a collector’s item.”
Unusually for a winery, Concrete & Clay is based in metropolitan Melbourne, in an inconspicuous suburb named Bangholme.
The grapes are sourced from their own 40-acre estate and also from other Victoria regions.
“Bangholme is the ideal geographic location, just up the road from Port Phillip Bay,” Paul says.
“It brings coastal sea breezes and, matched with the rich clay soils, creates a winning flavour profile compared to some other well-known grapegrowing regions.”
Paul embarked on his winemaking journey in his early 20s, working in Italian wineries and completing studies of winemaking and brewing in Europe and Australia.
Further vintage work continued in South Africa and in the US, before he returned to Australia where he has been consulting with some of our best artisanal wineries since.
“Establishing Concrete & Clay was a lifelong dream,” he says.
“We set out to craft delicously drinkable wines and to win this trophy is reward for all the hard work.”
The winery tasting notes say, “Deep yet vibrant cool climate Shiraz with floral aromatics mixed with fresh wild berries and a subtle hint of toasted oak, over a full-bodied, smooth frame of forest fruit, mocha and pepper spices. Finishes long, precise and clean. Structured to age well or enjoyed now.”
Concrete & Clay Port Phillip Reserve Shiraz 2020 is available at The Craft & Co.
Fantastic! Sounds like I must get my hands on some of this Reserve! Well done Concrete & Clay!