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Description
Rudderless Vineyard was planted by noted McLaren Vale wine personality, Doug Govan, owner and proprietor of the historic Victory Hotel in foothills of Sellicks Hill.
Doug began planting the 'initial' vineyard in 1999 with cuttings taken from some of his favourite vineyards around the country. Another vineyard to the West soon followed.
Here are our three favourite current releases from the Rudderless vineyard. This is one of those "if you know, you know" producers. Excellent value, beautifully crafted by the team at Yangarra.
- 2022 Rudderless Vineyard Shiraz
- 2021 Rudderless Vineyard Mataro
- 2022 Rudderless Vineyard Malbec
2022 Rudderless Vineyard Shiraz
Sourced from Doug Govan’s meticulously planted vineyard at the foothills of Sellicks Hill, this wine is all about intensity, structure, and regional character. Govan’s decision to plant Shiraz here, using cuttings from his favourite vineyards, has paid off beautifully, with the vines now delivering fruit that’s rich and complex, year after year.
This is a well-crafted, approachable Shiraz that offers fantastic value for what’s in the bottle.
Made by Pete Fraser and the team at Yangarra, this Shiraz is all about balance. It’s fruit-driven but not overly rich, with just enough oak to add a layer of complexity without overwhelming the freshness of the fruit. A solid, well-rounded McLaren Vale Shiraz that you can enjoy now or let sit for a few years to soften even more.
If you’re looking for a quality, mid-tier Shiraz that captures the spirit of McLaren Vale without breaking the bank, the 2022 Rudderless Vineyard Shiraz is a great choice.
95 points
"Quite some perfume here, spicy too, blackberry and boysenberry, some black olive. It’s medium-bodied, offers crunch and freshness, fine grip of stony tannin, quite meaty and savoury, but has bright red and black berries too. A twist of black pepper on a precise finish of excellent length. Gee, this is stylish and good to drink. I can’t quite make up my mind on score – 94 or 95 points I reckon – though I’ll give it the push because it’s just so classy."
- Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)
2021 Rudderless Vineyard Mataro
The 2021 Rudderless Mataro comes from a small, carefully tended plot of just 294 vines, and it's the first straight Mataro release from Doug Govan's vineyard since 2013. With only 50 dozen produced and 95 points from The Wine Front's Gary Walsh, we don't expect it to be here for long.
This Mataro showcases all the earthy, savoury traits that make the grape so intriguing. The nose is filled with pepper, dark berries, exotic spices, and a hint of orange peel. Medium-bodied but packed with depth, the palate offers fleshy blue and purple fruits, a touch of hazelnut dark chocolate, and a ferrous mineral edge. The wine is structured with firm tannins and lively blackberry acidity, leading to a long, satisfying finish.
A serious and detailed expression of Mataro, this wine is unmistakably varietal. It's a very smart buy and a bit of a curio with so few varietal Mataros available in Australia.
95 points
"A purple experience wine, very much so, if you get my drift. Earthy, peppery, exotic spice, blue (and purple) fruit, orange peel. It’s medium-bodied, but deep, fleshy and ferrous, some hazelnut dark chocolate, with firm tannin and fresh blackberry acidity on a long finish. Serious expression of Mataro, and varietal to its core. Excellent."
- Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)
2022 Rudderless Vineyard Malbec
The Rudderless Malbec is one of McLaren Vale's best examples of this underrated variety. Sourced from Doug Govan’s rugged vineyard on the slopes of Sellicks Hill, this Malbec perfectly captures the rich concentration and bold character that McLaren Vale can deliver. Malbec isn’t common in South Australia, but at Rudderless, it’s been given centre stage – and with impressive results.
Deep purple in the glass, this vintage offers up dark, brooding aromas of plum, black cherry, and coffee grounds, with underlying hints of dried rose petals and tobacco. It’s medium-bodied but with serious structure, thanks to tightly woven tannins and a vibrant line of acidity that holds everything together. On the palate, mocha and floral notes unfold, leading to a bold, lingering finish that’s packed with savoury complexity.
While the wine is already showing incredible potential, it’s currently a bit shy and will benefit from some patience. Cellar it for a few more years and let its power and depth fully reveal themselves. For those willing to wait, this Malbec promises to be a formidable, flavour-packed wine with a long future ahead.
94+ points
"This was sullen and locked up when I tasted it last night, though I could see it had the makings of something good. Intense purple colour. Plum, dark cherry, coffee grounds, dried roses, rolling tobacco. Medium-bodied, a whole lot of structure here with crisp acidity and tightly packed ferrous and chamois-like tannin, mocha and floral mouth-perfume, with a bold finish of excellent length. Gee, this wine has a lot packed into its suitcase, though maybe wait a while before unpacking (like I do pretty much every time I come back from holidays). Formidable. Intense. Very good."
- Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)
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