Paxton Jones Block Shiraz 2024: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → Old-Vine Depth & Power

A serious single-vineyard McLaren Vale Shiraz with richness, structure and beautifully handled oak. Blackberry, raspberry and dark plum are layered with vanilla, chai spice and savoury detail, while 20 months in French oak builds depth without overwhelming the fruit. The palate is fleshy and concentrated, framed by distinctive powdery tannins and bright acidity that gives all that dark fruit surprising energy. Certified organic and biodynamic and vegan friendly, Jones Block sits a clear step above Paxton’s everyday Shiraz styles in concentration, structure and cellaring potential.

Highlights

• ACO Certified Organic & Biodynamic and vegan friendly
• Premium single-vineyard McLaren Vale Shiraz
• Crafted by Paxton Wines — family-owned McLaren Vale estate established in 1979
• Jones Block vineyard named after the property’s previous owner, Doug Jones
• Hand-picked fruit and approximately 20 days fermentation in small open vats
• 20 months maturation in French oak — approximately 20% new
• Only the best barrels selected for the final single-vineyard wine
• 13.5% ABV

Tasting Notes

Deeply fruited and beautifully composed, with plump blackberry, raspberry and dark plum leading the way. Vanilla crème fraîche, chai spice and a gentle savoury note from French oak add complexity rather than sweetness. The palate is rich and fleshy through the middle, then pulled into shape by bright acidity and fine, powdery tannins. There is plenty of concentration here, but also freshness and definition, with dark fruit, vanilla and spice carrying through a long, structured finish.

Winemaking

The Jones Block fruit was hand-picked in mid-March, destemmed and transferred to small open vats for fermentation. The winemaking team hand-plunged the ferment daily for approximately 20 days before pressing the wine into French oak barrels. Around 20% of the oak was new, with the balance comprising barrels between two and four years old. The wine matured in oak for 20 months, after which every barrel was tasted and only the best were selected for this premium single-vineyard release. Ashleigh Seymour is the winemaker.

Vineyard & Vintage

Jones Block is one of Paxton’s premium McLaren Vale vineyard sites and is named after the property’s previous owner, Doug Jones. The site has a long association with Shiraz and is treated as a distinct expression of place rather than simply being blended into the wider estate wines. The 2024 release combines the vineyard’s concentrated blackberry and plum character with unusually bright acidity, giving the wine both richness and shape. Careful barrel selection after 20 months maturation further concentrates the vineyard character in the finished wine.

Why We Love It

This is where Paxton’s vineyard-first philosophy becomes particularly clear. Jones Block has the dark fruit and richness you want from premium McLaren Vale Shiraz, but it is not simply big for the sake of being big. Bright acidity and powdery tannins bring definition, while the vanilla and spice of French oak sit neatly around the fruit. It is a substantial red, but one with enough structure and freshness to reward a proper dinner — and many years in the cellar.

Food Pairing

The combination of concentrated dark fruit, structured tannin and savoury French oak calls for dishes with depth and richness. Slow roasting, braising and earthy mushroom flavours are particularly good territory.

Try matching this wine with →

• Rosemary & garlic roast lamb — Find a Recipe
• Porcini mushroom risotto — Find a Recipe
• Slow-cooked beef short ribs — Find a Recipe

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

A proper dinner red. Open it when the roast is in the oven, the good glasses are on the table and there is enough time to watch a serious bottle unfold over the evening.

Cellaring

Jones Block is built to age. Paxton considers winter 2025 a good starting point, 2026–2030 an even better drinking window, and gives the wine potential to cellar until 2045 under excellent conditions. Drink it young for concentrated blackberry, raspberry and vanilla spice, or allow time for the tannins to soften and more savoury complexity to emerge.

Producer

Paxton Wines is a family-owned McLaren Vale producer established by viticulturist David Paxton in 1979. Its estate vineyards are managed according to certified organic and biodynamic principles, with soil health, biodiversity and balanced vine growth central to the farming approach. Paxton has been fully certified organic and biodynamic since 2011 and controls its fruit from vineyard through to bottle. Jones Block shows the more site-focused side of the range: fruit from a single premium vineyard is hand-picked, fermented separately and matured for 20 months before individual barrels are assessed, with only the strongest making the final wine.

Related Wines To Try →

Explore three more expressions of Paxton’s biodynamic McLaren Vale Shiraz:

• Single-vineyard Shiraz with savoury fruit and a firmer, grainier structure — Paxton Quandong Farm Shiraz
• Generous, supple and more immediately approachable — Paxton MV Shiraz
• Old-vine Syrah matured in amphora for a more earthy, savoury expression — Paxton Argilla Amphora Syrah

FAQ

What does Paxton Jones Block Shiraz 2024 taste like?

Blackberry, raspberry and dark plum are layered with vanilla and chai-like spice from French oak. It is rich and concentrated through the middle palate, with bright acidity and powdery tannins giving the wine definition and a long finish.

How does Jones Block differ from Paxton MV Shiraz?

Jones Block is a premium single-vineyard wine, whereas MV Shiraz combines fruit from multiple Paxton vineyards. Jones Block also receives 20 months in French oak and undergoes barrel selection, producing a more concentrated, structured and cellar-worthy expression.

Is Paxton Jones Block Shiraz dry, and what is the structure like?

Yes, this is a dry Shiraz. It is full and richly fruited, but bright acidity and fine powdery tannins prevent the wine from becoming heavy, giving it a strong structural frame for both food and cellaring.

Is Paxton Jones Block Shiraz organic, biodynamic and vegan?

Yes. The 2024 bottle is ACO Certified Organic & Biodynamic and is labelled vegan friendly. The wine comes from Paxton’s estate vineyard program in McLaren Vale.

Does this wine contain preservatives or sulphites?

Yes. The bottle states that Paxton Jones Block Shiraz contains sulphites and it should not be described as preservative-free. For wines made specifically without added sulphur, explore our No Added Preservative range.

How should I serve Paxton Jones Block Shiraz 2024?

Serve at around 16–18°C in a large Shiraz or Bordeaux-style glass so there is plenty of room for the aromatics to develop. While enjoyable immediately, decanting for around 30–60 minutes is worthwhile while the wine is young and will soften the structure and open the fruit and spice.

How long can Jones Block Shiraz be cellared?

Paxton gives this 2024 wine serious ageing potential, recommending 2026–2030 as a particularly attractive drinking period and suggesting it can be kept until 2045. Store bottles in consistently cool, dark conditions if you plan to take advantage of that long cellaring window.

What food pairs best with this Shiraz?

Roast lamb, braised beef and slow-cooked short ribs have enough richness to meet the wine’s fruit and tannin. Porcini risotto, grilled portobello mushrooms or a mushroom and lentil pie are excellent vegetarian options.

Who will love Paxton Jones Block Shiraz?

This is for Shiraz drinkers looking for more structure and vineyard character than an everyday fruit-driven red. If you enjoy premium Shiraz from McLaren Vale or Barossa, with dark fruit, integrated French oak and genuine cellaring potential, Jones Block is an excellent fit.

How long will it last after opening?

Recork and refrigerate the bottle and it should hold well for around 3–4 days. In fact, a young Jones Block may show additional complexity on the second day as the tannins relax and the fruit, spice and oak integrate further.

(SKU: PX_JBL_CV)