Moss Brothers Moses Rock Shiraz 2024

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Ruby red with a youthful violet hue.
• Aromatics: Ripe plum and dark bramble fruit are joined by cedar, subtle spice and a gentle peppery lift.
• Palate: Generous dark fruit fills the palate, with plum, blackberry and bramble supported by white pepper and toasty oak.
• Texture: Fine tannins provide shape and definition without interrupting the wine’s supple, generous character.
• Finish: Long and full, with lingering dark fruit, pepper, cedar and savoury oak.

Wine Details

• Vintage: 2024
• Variety: Shiraz
• Region: Margaret River, Western Australia
• Producer: Moss Brothers
• Range: Moses Rock
• Winemaker: Rory Parks
• Colour: Ruby red with violet hues
• Style: Generous, ripe and finely structured
• Key flavours: Plum, bramble fruit, cedar, white pepper and toasty oak
• Tannin: Fine and well integrated
• Cellaring: Enjoy now or over the medium term
• Serving temperature: Approximately 16 to 18°C
• Winery food pairing: Kangaroo and red wine salami

The Warm 2024 Margaret River Vintage

The 2024 Margaret River vintage was one of the earliest and fastest-moving harvests recorded in the region.

Above-average spring temperatures and very little rainfall accelerated the growing season. Warm and consistently dry weather continued through summer, allowing the grapes to ripen rapidly while keeping disease pressure extremely low.

Importantly, the warmth was largely consistent rather than being driven by isolated periods of extreme heat. This helped the vines continue functioning throughout the season and allowed red varieties to achieve ripe fruit flavours and mature tannins.

Some vineyards also experienced lower yields, which contributed additional concentration of aroma and flavour. The result was a vintage capable of producing deeply flavoured red wines with impressive ripeness and generosity.

Why 2024 Was Particularly Suited to Shiraz

Margaret River is best known internationally for Cabernet Sauvignon, which performs with remarkable consistency across the region’s varied seasons. Shiraz can be a little more sensitive to vintage conditions. During cooler seasons, Shiraz may take longer to develop complete fruit and tannin ripeness. If the growing season finishes before that ripening is fully achieved, the resulting wine can sometimes retain firmer herbal or green-edged characters.

The sustained warmth of 2024 gave Shiraz the conditions it needed to ripen confidently and evenly. This encouraged generous plum and bramble flavours, ripe tannins and a fuller palate, while Margaret River’s maritime influence helped prevent the wine from becoming excessively heavy or jammy.

The ripe, dark-fruited profile of this Moses Rock release shows why 2024 was such an exciting opportunity for Margaret River Shiraz.

Accolades

93 Points: Wineorbit

This is immediately appealing on the nose, with aromas of Black Doris plum, blueberry, floral, and warm spice. The palate is equally attractive, displaying juicy fruit intensity and supple texture, well-supported by fine-grained tannins, offering excellent drinking.

95 Points: Vinomasters

Moss Brothers Winemaking

Moss Brothers was originally established by viticulturist Jeff Moss in Wilyabrup in 1984 and has been associated with Margaret River wine for more than 30 years.

The winery’s philosophy centres on respect for the region, its growers and the individual parcels of fruit delivered each vintage. Bunches are carefully sorted and handled gently, with each parcel managed to preserve its natural flavour and regional character.

Head winemaker Rory Parks brings more than two decades of Margaret River experience to the role. His wines are designed to be powerful, approachable and expressive, combining generous flavour with balance and elegance.

In Moses Rock Shiraz 2024, the cedar and toasty oak provide complexity around the fruit, while fine tannins keep the finished wine controlled and approachable.

The Story Behind Moses Rock

Moses Rock was reportedly the name of a wild stallion that roamed the Wilyabrup area of Margaret River during the 1920s.

According to local legend, the horse was named after the nearby surf break because of his energy, spirit and untamed temperament. His image can be seen galloping across the Moses Rock label.

Moss Brothers created the range to capture some of that same energy and personality through the signature varieties of Margaret River.

Serving and Cellaring

Serve Moss Brothers Moses Rock Shiraz at approximately 16 to 18°C.

If the bottle has been stored in a warm room, place it in the refrigerator for around 20 to 30 minutes before serving. Slightly cooler service will keep its plum fruit, white pepper and fine tannins clearly defined.

When drinking the wine young, decant it for approximately 30 to 45 minutes. This will allow the dark fruit and spice to become more expressive while helping the oak and tannins settle into the palate.

The wine is already approachable, but its fruit concentration and fine tannin structure should allow it to develop over the medium term. With suitable storage, the fresh plum and bramble characters should gradually move towards dried fruit, earth, leather and more complex savoury spice.

Food Pairing 

• Grilled steak: The wine’s dark fruit and fine tannins work beautifully with sirloin, Scotch fillet or rib eye.
• Roast lamb: Plum, pepper and cedar complement rosemary, garlic and the savoury richness of lamb.
• Kangaroo: The winery recommends kangaroo with red wine salami, an excellent match for the wine’s generous fruit and peppery character.
• Slow-cooked beef: Try it with beef cheeks, short ribs or a rich beef casserole.
• Barbecued sausages: Shiraz fruit and spice make it an easy partner for generously seasoned sausages and grilled onions.
• Mushroom dishes: Roast mushrooms, mushroom risotto or grilled portobello mushrooms complement its savoury notes.
• Firm cheese: Mature cheddar, aged Gouda or Manchego work well with the wine’s dark fruit and toasty oak.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 2024 a good Margaret River vintage for Shiraz?

Yes. The 2024 season was consistently warm and dry, allowing Shiraz to achieve ripe fruit flavours and mature tannins.

The season produced an early and fast harvest, so careful picking decisions were important. When harvested at the right moment, the fruit offered excellent flavour concentration and full physiological ripeness.

Why is Margaret River better known for Cabernet than Shiraz?

Cabernet Sauvignon is Margaret River’s most famous red variety and performs reliably in the region’s maritime climate.

Shiraz is also capable of producing excellent wine, but it can respond more noticeably to vintage conditions. Warm, even seasons such as 2024 help it develop generous fruit and ripe tannins without losing regional freshness.

Is this a very heavy Shiraz?

It is generously flavoured, but it is not simply a heavy or jammy wine.

Ripe plum and bramble fruit give it richness, while fine tannins, white pepper and savoury cedar provide balance and definition.

Does the wine taste peppery?

There is a noticeable white pepper character, but it sits behind the ripe fruit rather than dominating the wine.

This peppery note adds freshness and savoury complexity to the plum and blackberry flavours.

Should I decant it?

A decant of approximately 30 to 45 minutes is recommended when drinking the wine young.

This helps open its dark fruit and spice while allowing the tannins and toasty oak to become more integrated.

What temperature should it be served at?

Serve it at approximately 16 to 18°C.

This is slightly cooler than many Australian rooms during summer and will help preserve the wine’s fruit definition and balance.

Can I cellar it?

Yes. It can be enjoyed now, but its concentrated fruit and fine tannin structure make it suitable for medium-term cellaring.

Keep the bottle somewhere cool, dark and temperature stable.

What food works best with this Shiraz?

It is an excellent match for grilled steak, roast lamb, kangaroo, slow-cooked beef, sausages and mushroom dishes.

Its generous fruit can handle rich flavours, while the pepper and savoury oak work particularly well with grilled or roasted meat.

Who or what was Moses Rock?

Moses Rock was reportedly a wild stallion that roamed Wilyabrup during the 1920s.

Legend says he was named after the local surf break because of his energy and untamed temperament. The galloping horse on the label celebrates that story.