McLaren Vale, 40km south of Adelaide on the Fleurieu Peninsula, is Australia's most Mediterranean-influenced wine region. Old-vine Grenache (some vines planted 1880s), Shiraz, and Mataro (Mourvèdre) grown on ancient soils — including kaolinised granite, ironstone, and black cracking clay — produce wines of extraordinary depth and diversity. The region pioneered old-vine GSM blends in Australia and now leads the world in old-vine Grenache complexity.
| Year | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | — | Gulf St. Vincent cooling moderated heat; Shiraz aromatic and structured. |
| 2023 | — | Exceptional vintage; old-vine Grenache producing wines rivalling the Rhône's finest. |
| 2022 | — | Warm Mediterranean conditions yielded rich, opulent Shiraz and concentrated Grenache. |
| 2021 | — | Outstanding conditions; Grenache and GSM blends of benchmark quality. |
| 2020 | — | Bushfire concerns but McLaren Vale largely spared; quality wines produced. |
| 2019 | — | Good vintage despite heat; old-vine sites maintained excellent quality. |
| 2018 | — | A landmark McLaren Vale vintage — old-vine Grenache and Shiraz of extraordinary depth. |
| 2017 | — | Variable; Clarendon Hills selections showed characteristic iron-mineral. |