Vintage
2021
ABV
14.5%
Wine Type
Red
Wine Style
Still
Wine Description
An expression of our maritime climate, on our own little slice of heaven. Our beloved McLaren Vale grape factory produces Shiraz with a signature milk chocolate core – our wonky take on decadent and lush. Willy, Willy Good.
The best time to open a Chocolate Factory McLaren Vale Shiraz? Anytime (it just glides down so easy).
Black Forest cake in a bottle... Be delighted by juicy Black Cherry and Mocha notes intertwined with signature silky smooth Milk Chocolate tannins.
Accolades
• Gold Medal – LA International Wine Competition 2024 (USA)
• Gold Medal – Women's Wine & Spirits Awards 2024
• Gold Medal - Sakura Wine Awards 2024 (Japan)
• Gold Medal – Winemaker Challenge 2023 (USA)
• Gold Medal – AWC Vienna 2023
• Silver Medal – Decanter World Wine Awards 2023 (UK)
• Silver Medal – International Wine & Spirits Competition 2023 (UK)
• Silver Medal – Critics Challenge 2023 (USA)
• 94 points – WinePilot.com, Ray Jordan, May 2024 – "McLaren Vale shiraz in a good vintage can be mighty good. This one is right in there, delivering a most enjoyable shiraz. Spicy vanillin black berry and plum aromas engage immediately on the nose. It’s a medium bodied wine that is all energy and life within its delicious palate. Dig and you can see the chocolatey characters, but there’s a lot more in there, with black olive, clove and a touch of coffee grinds. Love drinking it now but it can handle a little time in the cellar. Cellar 6 years."
• 94 points – WinePilot.com, Ken Gargett, March 2023 - "Now, if you are going to dub a wine the ‘Chocolate Factory’, either it was made by Willy Wonka, which we can safely rule out here, or it is all glorious chocolate. Such a name imposes certain expectations. For me, a cracking wine, but I can’t honestly say I found oodles of chocolate. Just the requisite amount. Still, we should not demean the wine for that. Inky dark maroon, black fruits with cassis, mulberries, dry herbs, cloves, black olives, bergamot, coffee grinds, blackberries, even a lovely yet gentle intrusion of blueberries. But chocolate? Just a little. Excellent length here with very fine, plush tannins and impeccable balance. Lots to love and a wine which will age for a decade – and who knows, perhaps more chocolate will emerge over time. Great value."
• 94 points - WineOrbit.co.nz, Sam Kim, April 2023 - “Gorgeously fruited and perfumed, showing blackberry, floral, roasted nut and subtle cocoa notes, leading to a silky-smooth palate that's plump and flavoursome. Soothing and generous with seductive complexity and a lengthy satisfying finish. At its best: now to 2033.”