Yangarra Ironheart Shiraz 2018: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → Flagship, powerful & precise

Ironheart is Yangarra’s flagship Shiraz — a statement wine shaped by cool-elevation fruit and ironstone-rich sands. The 2018 is plush and expressive on the nose, with a mix of red and blue fruits, blood orange and violet, plus a savoury edge that feels distinctly “ironstone”. The palate is full-bodied yet beautifully controlled: deep fruit, layered spice and a long, mineral finish, all carried by svelte tannins that keep it poised rather than heavy.

Highlights

• Certified biodynamic and organic; vegan-suitable
• 100% Shiraz from Block 15 (1.8 ha), planted 1999
• Soil: ironstone gravels | Elevation: 175–180m
• Alcohol 14.5% | pH 3.54 | TA 6.7 g/L | Dry style (≈ 2 g/L residual sugar)
• Single-vineyard estate: Blewitt Springs (McLaren Vale)

Tasting Notes

Deep fruit meets savoury detail: boysenberry, black cherry and plum, then blood orange, violet and spice. The palate is concentrated and layered, with a coffee-and-bacon-fat savouriness (more “umami” than sweetness) and a persistent mineral edge. Tannins are firm but refined, giving the wine shape and length without grippy dryness.

Winemaking

Built for depth and detail rather than speed. Shiraz fruit from Block 15 is handled gently to preserve perfume and tannin quality, then matured to integrate structure and spice. The intent is a flagship expression that feels powerful but precise — fruit, savoury complexity and oak in balance.

Vineyard & Vintage

From Yangarra’s Blewitt Springs estate: ironstone gravels over ancient sands (North Maslin Sands), at 175–180m elevation. The combination of elevation and ironstone gives darker-fruited intensity and a savoury “mineral” imprint. 2018 delivers richness, but the chemistry (pH 3.54; TA 6.7) keeps the wine fresh and defined.

Why We Love It

Because it’s an iconic modern Australian Shiraz that still feels grounded in place. The fruit is plush, the spice is nuanced, and that ironstone edge brings seriousness and restraint. It’s a bottle for milestones — but also a reminder that the best Shiraz can be both powerful and beautifully composed.

Food Pairing

Match it with dishes that can handle depth and savoury richness: slow-cooked lamb, ribeye, smoked BBQ, mushrooms, and anything with char. It’s also excellent with spice-driven plates (think pepper, cumin, fennel) where you want the wine to echo warmth without amplifying heat.

Try matching this wine with →

• Slow-cooked lamb shanks — Find a Recipe
• Beef brisket / BBQ beef — Find a Recipe
• Mushroom bourguignon — Find a Recipe

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

The “save it for the right night” red — then the right night arrives and you’re glad you did. Decant it, light a few candles, and let it take centre stage with a proper meal. It’s generous, layered and built to linger in the glass (and the conversation) long after dinner.

Cellaring

Drinks beautifully with air now, and will cellar confidently for 10–15+ years. Expect more savoury complexity (leather, spice, dried flowers) as the fruit deepens and the tannins soften into a silkier, more integrated finish.

Producer

Yangarra is a single-vineyard estate in Blewitt Springs (McLaren Vale), internationally recognised for biodynamic farming and Rhône-variety mastery. Their top wines are carved from specific blocks across sand and ironstone soils over the ancient North Maslin Sands, delivering a house style defined by perfume, fine structure and a clear sense of place. Ironheart is the flagship Shiraz — the estate’s most concentrated, site-driven expression of the variety.

Related Wines To Try →

• More affordable Yangarra introduction — Yangarra Estate Shiraz
• From Yangarra, flagship Grenache intensity — Yangarra High Sands Grenache 2019
• McLaren Vale Shiraz with biodynamic farming — Paxton Argilla Shiraz

FAQ

What does “Ironheart” mean?

It’s a nod to the ironstone-rich soils (ironstone gravels) that help shape the wine’s savoury, mineral edge — and to the powerful, concentrated style Yangarra aims for in this flagship Shiraz.

Do I need to decant it?

Strongly recommended. Give it 1–2 hours if you can — it opens the aromatics (violet, blood orange) and makes the tannins feel more seamless.

Is it more fruit-driven or savoury?

Both. The fruit is plush (boysenberry, black cherry), but the defining character is savoury detail — ironstone nuance, spice and a long mineral finish.

How long will it cellar?

10–15+ years in a good cellar. With age, expect more tertiary notes (leather, dried flowers, spice) and an even silkier integration of tannin and oak.

What foods pair best?

Slow-cooked lamb, ribeye, BBQ, mushrooms and charred vegetables — anything with depth and savoury richness. It’s also brilliant with pepper and warm-spice flavours.

Who will love it most?

Collectors and Shiraz lovers who want power with precision — a wine that’s intense, but still defined by structure, perfume and place.

(SKU: YG_IShi_18)