2017 Church Block

Cellar Door
$22.00
Bell Ringers
$19.80
Varieties
Cabernet Sauvignon
Shiraz
Merlot
Vintage
2017
Country
Australia
Region
McLaren Vale
Alcohol
14.5%
Bottle size
750 mL
Drinking Window
2018 - 2028

Church Block was the first wine the late Greg Trott produced under the Wirra Wirra label back in 1972. He took the name from one of the original vineyards, which runs next to the small Bethany Church (Est 1854) across the road from Wirra Wirra’s century old ironstone cellars. Over four decades, the Church Block label has become an Australian favourite.

Colour

Deep plum with a scarlet edge.

Bouquet

Lifted red and black currants, deeper plums and black cherries, fresh-tilled earth and leaf with some spicy cedar.

Palate

Fresh red and dark fruits provide great flesh and depth to a long, even palate. Grainy tannins and cedary oak add structural support and line to the rich fruit.

Food Pairing

Roasted lamb rack with vegetable gratin.

Attached Files

Professional Reviews

The contemporary Church Block is a blend of 52 per cent cabernet, 39 per cent shiraz and a “not as heretical as it might seem” 9 per cent of merlot. It delivers cassis and black cherries, mulberries and dry gum leaves, a seam of dark chocolate. There’s supple flesh draped over a sturdy skeleton; it fills the mouth with generous flavour before tapering beautifully through a finish shaped by dusty tannins. It really is text-book stuff and there are lessons here for those who want to listen.

Nick Ryan, The Australian

Dark red hues with medium intensity. Excellent cherry jam and Turkish Delight aromas. Also, some dark cherry, and a hint of sarsaparilla. The palate is deliciously fleshy, plush, supple and chocolatey, and the tannins are beautifully integrated into the fabric of the wine. This McLaren Vale blend does not disappoint. Top value.

Toni Paterson, The Real Review 92

2017 Church Block is an eternal favourite of mine in both 100 Best and my other writing, too. In 2017 this is a feisty, naughty edgy wine with an unpredictable attitude, hinting that it is a non-conformist in this vintage. Just when you thought you could predict that Church Block would always taste the same (i.e. great), it has released a wine which shows that it can have fun, push the boundaries and tweak the taste buds like never before.

Matthew Jukes, 100 Best Australian Wines 2019/20

This is in good shape in this vintage with very clear cabernet cassis and blackcurrant aromas, as well as leaves and red fruit. The palate has a very evenly paced build with layers of tannin and a smooth, juicy and deep finish. A blend of 52% cabernet sauvignon 39% shiraz and 9% merlot. Drink or hold.

Nick Stock, JamesSuckling.com 92

An affordable benchmark of Australia’s definitive blend for 46 years, I recommend Church Block all the time, and my endorsement will become even more vocal with the unleashing of this stunning cool vintage! I love the contrast of vibrant acidity and lively spice this year, and Wirra has tactically juxtaposed this with deep, crunch black fruits and high cocoa dark chocolate oak. Super-fine tannins draw out a long and accurate finish. Drink it now or cellar it for a decade, just don’t miss this stunning vintage.

Tyson Stelzer, Wine Business Magazine 93

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