In California they often blend varieties like Cinsault or Petit Syrah (Durif) into their Zins to dry out the palate and improve colour and structure. I’ve wanted to do this blend for a while, but to make it work needed a wine that was pitch black and tannic to make it work. So, enter the 2009 McLaren Vale vintage where the vineyards were ravaged by heat and fire. This particular Shiraz vineyard really copped it so when the berries were meant to swell, they just stayed small. When the grapes turned up here at Piggs it was obvious they were going to make one weird wine. They did, the perfect blending component for the Zinfandel. A 82% Zin 18% Shiraz blend was devised. The wine doesn’t look like Zin to me. It’s just a bloody good drink with supple tannin structure and rich deep flavours.