Vineyard and winemaking
Soldier's Block Shiraz is sourced from vineyards across Victoria, where old, weathered soils and the region's varied climate give ripe fruit with fresher eucalypt and saline notes. Grapes are picked at night and crushed within an hour to retain their aromatic lift.
Fermentation takes place at 22 to 25°C with regular pump-overs, extracting colour and flavour without hard tannin. Around 20% of the wine is barrel-aged, and a small 5% addition of Malbec brings floral perfume and a mulberry accent to the 2024 blend.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Bright ruby-purple with a vivid, youthful rim.
Nose
Blackberry, mulberry and blueberry are lifted by violet, cracked pepper, eucalyptus and a savoury hint of smoked bacon.
Palate
Juicy and supple, with ripe dark fruit flowing across soft, silky tannins. Shiraz supplies pepper and breadth, Malbec adds a floral turn, and restrained oak rounds the palate. A gently saline note keeps the finish fresh and moreish.
Food pairing
Ideal with Moroccan lamb tagine, peppered steak, smoky barbecue ribs, or roast squash with harissa and chickpeas. Its easy texture also makes it a good partner for mature Cheddar.
Background story
The Soldier's Block name recalls Australia's Returned Soldiers Settlement Act of 1915, through which servicemen returning from the First World War were granted parcels of land. Some of those holdings became vineyards and helped shape rural wine-growing communities.
Made by Boutinot's Australian team, this is deliberately an approachable Victorian red: fruit-led, softly structured and only lightly influenced by barrel ageing. The discreet Malbec addition gives the familiar Shiraz profile its distinctive final flourish.
