When you open a bottle of Tim Adams Clare Valley Shiraz, you're not just choosing excellent Australian winemaking—you're enjoying the produce of vines that have spent decades perfecting their craft. I wanted to highlight why the age of our vines makes such a remarkable difference to the wines you enjoy, and why this translates into outstanding value.
The Clare Valley is home to some of Australia's most precious old-vine treasures. The region's viticultural history stretches back to the 1840s, and many vineyards still cultivate vines planted over a century ago. These ancient vines, rooted in our distinctive terra rossa soils over limestone, produce wines with a depth and elegance that have earned Clare Valley international recognition.
Clare Valley sits at relatively high altitude for South Australia, giving it a continental climate with cool nights and warm days. This diurnal temperature variation is a big factor in the style — it preserves natural acidity and allows for longer, slower ripening, which builds complexity without sacrificing freshness.
Vine age fundamentally transforms wine quality in ways that simply cannot be replicated with younger plantings. The gnarled old vines have developed extraordinarily deep root systems that reach far below the surface, accessing nutrients and water that younger vines cannot. They also produce more consistent fruit year after year, regardless of weather conditions, creating fruit with remarkable concentration and complexity of flavour.
Just as importantly, older vines naturally produce smaller yields. While this might seem like a disadvantage, it's actually a blessing—the reduced crop means all the vine's energy goes into fewer bunches, resulting in grapes with intensely concentrated flavours and character.
The wines produced from these wines have heritage, concentration, complexity, and proven aging potential—all at prices that reflect the honest, quality-focused approach of Tim Adams Wines rather than inflated marketing premiums.
Our flagship Shiraz – produced from vineyards up to 100 years old
2019 Tim Adams The Aberfeldy Shiraz 14.9% 6x75cl £212.00
The Aberfeldy is produced from vineyards up to 100 years in age and has long been synonymous with quality, representing our flagship wine. Year after year, this wine continues to deliver the best that Clare Valley Shiraz has to offer. Indeed, it has been referred to as “Clare Valley’s Grange”.
The 2019 Aberfeldy has a vibrant magenta hue. The nose has aromas of ripe cherry, plum, dark berries complemented by rich chocolate, clove, nutmeg, and vanilla from its maturation in new and used American oak.
The palate is full bodied and powerful with concentrated flavours of dark berry, conserve, blackberry, and dark cherry. The texture is sumptuous, with firm yet polished tannins that provide structure and a silky, smooth mouthfeel The wine has persistent length of sweet fruit and oak, with power, elegance and great finesse.
The firm, yet polished, tannins provide structure and a silky, smooth mouthfeel, while the finish is long, elegant and persistent with great power and finesse.
This vintage is elegant enough to enjoy now—especially after decanting—but has the structure and complexity to age gracefully for up to 25 years in optimal conditions
The Magic of the Old Vines that produce Tim Adams Clare Valley Shiraz
2021 Tim Adams Clare Valley Shiraz 14.5% 6x75cl £92.00
When you open a bottle of Tim Adams Clare Valley Shiraz, you're not just choosing excellent Australian winemaking—you're enjoying the produce of vines that have spent decades perfecting their craft. I wanted to highlight why the age of our vines makes such a remarkable difference to the wines you enjoy, and why this translates into outstanding value.
This wine beautifully demonstrates the superiority of old-vine fruit. Produced from a number of vineyards, including the Sheoak vineyard, established in 1961 and the Rogers vineyard which was planted in the 1970s and acquired by Tim in 2009. They contribute to the consistently exceptional quality of Tim Adams Shiraz.
It displays a deep, vibrant crimson to purple hue, immediately signalling its intensity and freshness. The nose is layered and inviting, with pronounced aromas of blackberry, mulberry, black cherry, and blackcurrant, interwoven with notes of dark chocolate, spicy American oak, and a hint of mint.
On the palate, the wine is full-bodied yet elegantly structured, offering a cascade of ripe dark fruits—blackberry, plum, and black cherry—complemented by licorice, vanilla, and subtle earthy, peppery notes
The American oak maturation (24 months) adds complexity and a toasty, spicy backbone, while soft, silky tannins and a balanced acidity provide a plush, mouthwatering texture. The finish is long, seamless, and lingering, with dark fruit and a touch of anise or liquorice
Approachable now thanks to its generous fruit and smooth tannins, this is a wine of power and finesse. It will continue to evolve and improve over the next 5–15 years, making it standout value for Clare Valley Shiraz. Ideal with grilled steak, slow-cooked lamb, or other hearty dishes
