Organic Hill Founders Preservative Free Shiraz 2020: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → Dark Berry & Spice

A powerful McLaren Vale Shiraz from Organic Hill’s Founder’s range, made from certified organic and biodynamically grown fruit and bottled without added preservatives. It leans into deep blackberry, black pepper, dense spice and dark berry fruit, with fine acidity and supple tannins keeping the wine composed. At 15.0% ABV, this is a generous red for slow food, cool nights and anyone who loves rich Shiraz with cleaner credentials.

Highlights

• Certified organic, certified biodynamic, vegan suitable and no added preservative
• Crafted by Organic Hill — a McLaren Vale producer focused on preservative-free wines from organic and biodynamic fruit
• Blackberry, black pepper, deep black fruits, spice and fine-grained tannins
• Harvested from a premium biodynamic and organically grown vineyard in McLaren Vale
• 93 Points — Ken Gargett, Winepilot
• 15.0% ABV

Tasting Notes

Deep red with a soft ruby hue, this Shiraz opens with dense spice, black pepper and blackberry, moving into rich black fruits and dark berry flavours across the palate. With time in the glass, the Winepilot review noted coffee beans, aniseed, blackcurrants, spices, cold tea and nougat, adding extra savoury complexity. The palate is dry and full-bodied, with supple fine-grained tannins, fine acidity and impressive length.

Winemaking

The Shiraz grapes were harvested from a premium biodynamic and organically grown McLaren Vale vineyard. On arrival at the winery, the fruit was partially crushed into a static red fermenter and inoculated with a Rhône yeast strain to support varietal expression and encourage fermentation. The juice was pumped over skins for seven days, then pressed into stainless steel for malolactic fermentation. It was bottled early without finings or sulphur dioxide additions to retain freshness, vibrancy and preservative-free provenance.

Vineyard & Vintage

The fruit comes from McLaren Vale, a region known for generous Shiraz, Mediterranean warmth and a natural affinity with organic and biodynamic farming. The vineyard source is premium, biodynamic and organically grown, with the wine shaped to show both depth and freshness. The release is 15.0% ABV, dry in style, with residual sugar around 2 g/L and less than 1 gram of sugar per 100mL.

Why We Love It

This is the richer, darker side of Organic Hill: black fruit, pepper, spice and length, but still made without added preservatives. It is a lovely option for Shiraz drinkers who want a bold McLaren Vale red with organic, biodynamic and vegan credentials rather than a conventional heavy-hitter.

Food Pairing

With dark berry fruit, pepper, spice and firm richness, this Shiraz suits slow-cooked dishes, charry edges and earthy umami flavours. It has the depth for red meat, but also works well with mushrooms, lentils and roasted vegetable dishes that bring savoury weight.

Try matching this wine with →

• Slow-cooked beef cheeks with red wine — Find a Recipe
• Miso mushroom ragù or mushroom pasta — Find a Recipe
• Pepper-crusted lamb with herbs — Find a Recipe

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

Open this for a generous red-wine dinner: slow-cooked beef, lamb on the barbecue, mushroom ragù, a chilly evening or a table of Shiraz lovers. It is bold enough for winter, but the fine acidity keeps it from becoming ponderous.

Cellaring

This wine is drinking well now, especially with a short decant, and Winepilot suggests a drinking window through to 2035. For best results, cellar it in a cool, dark, stable place. Because it is made without added preservatives, careful storage matters even more than usual.

Producer

Organic Hill is based in McLaren Vale, South Australia, with a vineyard and cellar door on Twentyeight Road in the region. The producer works with NASAA certified organic and biodynamically grown fruit, with a strong focus on preservative-free wines made without added sulphur dioxide, allergens or animal-derived agents. Their Founder’s range represents the more premium side of the label, aiming for full varietal expression while keeping the winemaking clean, early-bottled and fruit-focussed.

Related Wines To Try →

If you enjoy generous Shiraz with preservative-free or biodynamic credentials, these are good bottles to explore next:

• Fresh McLaren Vale Shiraz with no added preservatives — Paxton NOW Preservative Free Shiraz
• Juicy organic Shiraz with soft spice — Botobolar Organic Preservative Free Shiraz
• Same producer, darker Cabernet structure — Organic Hill Founders Preservative Free Cabernet Sauvignon

FAQ

What does Organic Hill Founders Preservative Free Shiraz taste like?

It tastes rich, dark and spicy, with blackberry, black pepper, dense spice and deep black fruits. With bottle age, it also shows coffee bean, aniseed, blackcurrant, cold tea and nougat complexity. The palate is dry, full-bodied and long, with supple fine-grained tannins.

Is this Shiraz dry, sweet or full-bodied?

This is a dry red wine, with residual sugar around 2 g/L. It is full-bodied, with high alcohol listed at 15.0% ABV, but the acidity and tannin help hold the fruit in balance. The fruit profile is generous, not sweet.

Does this wine contain preservatives or sulphites?

This wine is No Added Preservative, so sulphur dioxide has not been added during winemaking. Like all wine, it may contain tiny amounts of naturally occurring sulphites from fermentation. It is also certified organic, certified biodynamic and vegan suitable.

How should I serve it?

Serve at around 16–18°C in a generous red wine glass. A decant of 30 minutes is worthwhile, especially because this is a rich, structured Shiraz with some bottle age. Avoid serving it too warm, as the 15.0% alcohol will become more obvious.

What food pairs well with this wine?

Match it with slow-cooked beef cheeks, lamb shoulder, pepper-crusted steak, mushroom ragù or lentil and roasted vegetable pie. It suits dishes with richness, spice, char and savoury depth. For a vegetarian pairing, choose mushrooms, miso, eggplant or black lentils.

Can Organic Hill Founders Shiraz 2020 be cellared?

Yes, this wine has the intensity and length to continue developing under good storage conditions. Winepilot gives a drinking window of 2025–2035. As it is no added preservative, stable cool storage is essential.

Is this wine vegan friendly?

Yes, this wine is vegan suitable. The winemaking notes also state it was bottled without finings. It is also certified organic, certified biodynamic and preservative free.

Who will enjoy this Shiraz the most?

This is for drinkers who enjoy bold, dark-fruited Australian Shiraz with black pepper, spice and a long finish. If you like McLaren Vale Shiraz, Barossa Shiraz or richer preservative-free reds, this should suit you well. It is a stronger, deeper style than a light chillable red.

How long will it last after opening?

As a no-added-preservative red, it is best enjoyed within 1–2 days of opening. Reseal it and keep it in the fridge, then bring it closer to cellar temperature before drinking. The first night will show the most vivid fruit and spice.

Is this wine keto friendly?

It is dry, with residual sugar around 2 g/L and less than 1 gram of sugar per 100mL. That makes it a lower-sugar red wine option for many keto-conscious drinkers. The alcohol is high, so moderation still matters if you are following a strict plan.

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