1997 Wendouree Shiraz Malbec, Clare Valley, Australia
$179.99
There’s always a bit of pressure when it comes to Wendouree.
The reputation. The scarcity. The cult-like following around these Clare Valley icons. We’ve had a few over the years… and if we’re honest, they haven’t always lived up to the hype.
Until this one.
Picked up at auction by Jason for just $110 (which already felt like a win), this 1997 Wendouree Shiraz Malbec completely shifted the narrative for us.
From the first pour, you could tell it was in a beautiful place. Fully evolved, yet far from tired. Aromatically, it leans savoury and complex with dried red fruits, leather, earth, and that distinct Wendouree character that’s hard to pin down but unmistakable once you’ve had it.
On the palate, it’s all about finesse over power. The fruit has moved into that secondary spectrum, think stewed plum and redcurrant and supported by fine, resolved tannins and a gentle, lingering acidity that keeps everything lifted. There’s a quiet confidence to the wine. Nothing forced, nothing overdone.
We took this one to Porcine Bistro as a BYO and paired it with their steak special and WOW. The savoury depth of the wine lined up perfectly with the richness of the beef, each bringing out more in the other. One of those pairings where everything is lifted YUM.
What stood out most was the balance. For a wine pushing close to 30 years, it still held structure, energy, and purpose. This wasn’t just “interesting for its age”, it was genuinely compelling to drink.
And maybe that’s the thing with Wendouree. When it hits, it really hits.
This bottle didn’t just meet expectations, it reset them.
About Wendouree
Wendouree is one of Australia’s most quietly revered wineries, based in South Australia’s Clare Valley. Established in 1893 by A.P. Birks, it has built a near cult-like following for its traditional, small-batch wines that prioritise longevity over immediate appeal. Wendouree is known for its no-frills approach, minimal marketing, direct mailing list sales, and a steadfast commitment to old-school winemaking (we’re still on the waiting list). The wines, often blends of Shiraz, Malbec, Cabernet and Mataro, are structured, savoury, and built to age for decades. While they can be firm and restrained in youth, time reveals remarkable complexity and character. For many collectors, Wendouree represents authenticity, a producer that has remained unchanged, and uncompromising, for over a century.
