Kalleske Moppa Shiraz: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → Toasty Oak & Dark Chocolate

A full-bodied Barossa Shiraz with deep colour, ripe fruit weight and polished structure. Violets, clove spice and boysenberry lead, followed by glacé cherry, spiced fruitcake, milk chocolate, roasted nuts and toasted oak. The palate is generous and layered, with plush tannins, integrated oak and a long finish that carries dark fruit and warm spice. It is clearly a rich Barossa style, but it remains balanced and well composed.

Highlights

• Certified organic, certified biodynamic and vegan suitable
• Estate-grown by Kalleske, a seventh-generation Barossa family producer at Greenock
• Boysenberry, violets, clove spice, glacé cherry, milk chocolate and toasted oak
• Predominantly Shiraz with 3% Petit Verdot and 3% Viognier for extra lift and detail
• Past releases have earned strong review history, including Gold Medal / 95 points at the Marananga Wine Show and 92-point reviews on Organic Wine’s product page
• 14.5% ABV

Tasting Notes

Moppa is a generous, oak-matured Barossa Shiraz built around ripe fruit and texture. The aroma opens with violets, clove spice and boysenberry, then moves into glacé cherry, spiced fruitcake, milk chocolate, roasted nuts and sweet oak. The palate is full-bodied and expansive, with vibrant fruit at the centre and a plush tannin profile that gives shape without hardness. Oak is evident but integrated, adding depth rather than dominating the wine. The finish is long, warm-spiced and steady.

Winemaking

The fruit was harvested in multiple passes from late February to early April. One parcel of Shiraz was co-fermented on Viognier skins, and the different batches were wild fermented in open-top fermenters with hand pump-overs twice daily. After 7 to 14 days on skins, the wine was traditionally pressed and matured for 12 months in hogsheads. About 20% new French, American and Hungarian oak was used, with the balance in seasoned barrels. A portion of Petit Verdot and Shiraz/Viognier was blended back for extra complexity.

Vineyard & Vintage

Moppa comes from ten different blocks on the Kalleske family’s certified organic and biodynamic farm at Greenock in the Barossa Valley. The oldest vines date back to 1961, and the blocks are planted in shallow sandy loam over deep red clay. The 2024 season was described as excellent, with a drier, slightly warmer winter and spring followed by a mild summer with timely rain and no extreme heat. That steady season delivered balanced crops, even ripening and very strong fruit quality.

Why We Love It

This is a classic modern Barossa Shiraz done with control. It has the expected weight and flavour, but the structure is tidy, the oak is integrated and the fruit still reads clearly. The small additions of Petit Verdot and Viognier add lift and detail without changing the core style. If you want a rich Shiraz with proper Barossa character and sound vineyard credentials, it does the job well.

Food Pairing

This style suits richer dishes with char, protein and savoury depth. The fruit and oak can handle smoke and caramelisation, while the tannin sits well with slow-cooked meat and hearty vegetarian dishes. Try matching this wine with →

• Barbecue beef short ribs — Find a Recipe
• Roast lamb shoulder — Find a Recipe
• Charred portobello mushrooms — Find a Recipe

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

A good fit for cool evenings, roast-based dinners and any occasion that calls for a fuller Barossa red with some oak and weight behind it.

Cellaring

Drinking well now, especially with a short decant, but it has enough fruit depth and oak structure to improve over the medium term. The winery recommends 5–10 years under good storage conditions.

Producer

Kalleske is a long-established Barossa family producer based at Greenock, where the family has been farming since 1853. The current estate is led by seventh-generation family members Troy and Tony Kalleske, while the vineyard remains very much a family operation. All fruit is estate grown, and the farm has been certified organic and biodynamic since 1998. Kalleske’s approach is to keep winemaking closely tied to site and season, using traditional methods and minimal intervention where possible. Moppa reflects that philosophy through wild fermentation, estate-grown fruit and a clear Barossa identity built from multiple blocks on the family farm.

Related Wines To Try →

If you enjoy this style, these are strong follow-on bottles from the same producer:

• More concentrated single-site Shiraz — Kalleske Greenock Shiraz
• Juicier, medium-bodied Rhône-style blend — Kalleske Clarry's Grenache Shiraz Mataro
• A firmer, more savoury red from the same estate — Kalleske Merchant Cabernet Sauvignon

FAQ

What does Kalleske Moppa Shiraz taste like?

It is a full-bodied Barossa Shiraz with violets, boysenberry, glacé cherry, clove spice, milk chocolate and toasted oak. The palate is generous and smooth, with plush tannins and a long finish.

Is Kalleske Moppa Shiraz dry?

Yes, it is a dry red wine. The fruit is ripe and generous, but the residual sugar is low and the finish stays dry.

How full-bodied is this wine?

This sits at the fuller end of the scale. It has real weight, oak influence and broad Barossa fruit, so it suits drinkers who enjoy richer red styles.

Does Kalleske Moppa Shiraz have much oak?

Yes, oak is part of the style, but it is integrated rather than dominating. You can see that in the notes of toasted oak, roasted nuts, chocolate and warm spice.

Should I decant this wine?

Yes, a short decant of around 30 minutes will help. It gives the oak and fruit more room to settle together and brings extra shape to the finish.

What temperature and glassware work best?

Serve it at around 16–18°C in a large red wine glass. That gives the wine space to open and keeps the alcohol and oak in better proportion.

Can I cellar Kalleske Moppa Shiraz 2024?

Yes. The winery recommends it for medium to long term cellaring, with a guide of around 5–10 years under good conditions.

Does this wine contain preservatives or sulphites?

It is not a preservative-free wine, so it does contain sulphites. Some occur naturally during fermentation, and certified organic and biodynamic wines are made under lower permitted sulphite levels than conventional wines. Learn more about preservatives in wine.

Is this wine vegan friendly?

Yes, it is listed as vegan suitable. It is also certified organic and certified biodynamic.

What foods pair well with this wine?

It works well with roast lamb, grilled beef, barbecue dishes and mushroom-based mains. Dishes with smoke, caramelisation or savoury richness suit it best.

Who is this wine likely to suit?

It will suit drinkers who enjoy classic full-bodied Barossa Shiraz with ripe fruit, oak polish and moderate plush tannins. If you like richer Australian reds with warmth and weight, this fits comfortably in that space.

If I like Barossa Shiraz, will I like this?

Very likely. It has the regional markers people usually look for: depth of fruit, spice, chocolate, oak and a broad, generous palate.

(SKU: KA_MOP_CV)