2020 First Drop Mother's Milk Shiraz Barossa 750 ml

Barossa Shiraz represents the heavyweight class of Australian wines. In 2020, First Drop Mother's Milk Shiraz jumped the ring ropes and delivered an unbelievable knockout: a dual 94-point release.! 

Powerful, broad, and flashy, hitting the palate with a boisterous charisma, this will be a masterstroke pairing with smoky summer BBQ. Flame-licked burgers, sauce-slicked ribs—this Shiraz has the tannic frame and juicy depth to go with it all.

Assembled from three top-notch Barossa vineyards, the 2020 Mother’s Milk Shiraz captured 94-point praise from both Halliday Wine Companion and James Suckling, who crowed: “This is such a good all-around Barossa shiraz.” 

First Drop’s John Restas has quipped that he borrowed his vinicultural philosophy from his old boss, the late legend of Australian wine, Bob McLean: “We’re making 750ml of fun.”

A visit to the First Drop winery feels more like dropping in on an impromptu dinner party than doing business. Holding forth in his thick South Australian accent, John hands out homemade salami one moment and passes around a wine-thief fresh from the barrel the next.

It’s a classic story: a vintage for the ages, but one that may ultimately fly under the radar because yields were cut 50% in many places! Warmer temps and low rainfall in December and early January reduced the size of bunches and berries, increasing concentration. Cooler weather in February and March put the brakes on ripening, lengthening hang times and allowing Restas and the team to let the grapes cruise to beautiful heft and complexity.

A wine of serious quality that does indeed amount to fun in a bottle, there’s no way you can have too much of it.