Steels Gate Melba Block Shiraz 2020 from Dixons Creek in the Yarra Valley is a cool‑climate, light‑to‑medium bodied Shiraz with a gorgeous, velvety texture, more about elegance and complexity than sheer power. It’s a characterful, food‑friendly Yarra Shiraz that really shows off the Melba Block site.

The nose opens with blackcurrant and red plum, peppery spice, eucalyptus and a touch of wet earth, a lovely nod to the season’s wild temperament. On the palate you get ripe dark plum and fresh berry fruit wrapped in soft, silky tannins, vibrant acidity and hints of clove, star anise and gentle French‑oak influence, with a long, evolving finish of juicy red and black fruits and lingering spice.

On the table, Melba Block Shiraz 2020 is spot‑on with roast lamb, wild‑mushroom risotto or char‑grilled meats, where its spice, berry fruit and fine tannins really sing. It also works beautifully with hard cheeses or slow‑roasted vegetables, and is drinking wonderfully now with a few years’ bottle age while having the structure to evolve further over the mid‑term.

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