Sittella Coffee Rock Shiraz 2025

Awards and Accolades

94 Points – Mike Bennie, Halliday Wine Companion

Rich and juicy, a touch chewy. A thick-set, decadent red of velvety intensity and dark fruit, sweet spice and choc-licorice characters. A lick of vanilla latte in there, too, perhaps. It’s hedonistic stuff, the finish a touch zingy with acidity, but overall the balance feels well judged and the generosity sticks to the palate, and well.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Deeply coloured with a youthful and concentrated appearance.
• Aromatics: Liquorice, ripe plum and cherry are joined by dark floral perfume and concentrated dark fruit.
• Complexity: Sweet spice, chocolate, coffee, vanilla and liquorice add richness and depth.
• Palate: Full-bodied, juicy and generous, with dense plum and dark fruit flavours.
• Texture: Thick-set and velvety, with a slightly chewy feel that gives the wine presence.
• Tannins: Soft and velvety in character, but substantial enough to support the wine’s concentrated fruit.
• Acidity: A lively line of acidity lifts the rich palate and keeps the wine balanced.
• Finish: Long, decadent and persistent, with dark fruit, spice and chocolate liquorice clinging to the palate.

Wine Details

• Vintage: 2025
• Variety: 100% Shiraz
• Region: Swan Valley, Western Australia
• Vineyard: Single vineyard at the base of the Darling Scarp
• Vine style: Very old, dry-farmed bush vines
• Soil: Coffee rock, also known as laterite
• Yield: Approximately 2 to 2.5 tonnes per hectare
• Body: Full-bodied
• Alcohol: 14.5%
• Bottle size: 750ml
• Closure: Screwcap
• Serving temperature: 16 to 18°C
• Decanting: Approximately 90 minutes when young
• Cellaring: Enjoy now with air or cellar carefully for approximately 8 to 10 years

The Coffee Rock Vineyard

The Coffee Rock Shiraz comes from a single vineyard located at the base of the Darling Scarp in the Swan Valley. Its very old bush vines are planted in hard laterite soils, locally described as coffee rock. These soils naturally restrict vine growth, while the dry-farmed vines must rely largely on the moisture held in the ground. The site produces only around 2 to 2.5 tonnes of grapes per hectare. This is a very small crop, resulting in fewer and smaller bunches on each vine. With less fruit to ripen, the vine can direct more of its energy into each bunch. The resulting grapes develop the concentrated colour, aroma and flavour required to make a wine of this depth and intensity.

Serving and Cellaring

• Serve Sittella Coffee Rock Shiraz 2025 at approximately 16 to 18°C. If the bottle has been stored in a warm Perth room at around 22 to 24°C, place it in the refrigerator for approximately 30 to 45 minutes before serving. Slightly cooling the wine will help its fruit, perfume and acidity remain clearly defined.
• When drinking it young, decant for approximately 60 to 90 minutes. Its rich fruit will be immediately apparent, but air will help reveal more of its floral, spice and liquorice characters while relaxing the chewy tannins..
• Store bottles somewhere cool, dark and temperature stable. Over time, the fresh plum and cherry flavours should gradually develop more savoury notes of leather, earth, dried spice and dark chocolate.

Food Pairing Suggestions

• Chargrilled rib eye: The wine has enough fruit, tannin and weight to match a richly marbled steak.
• Slow-cooked beef cheeks: Dark fruit and chocolate liquorice complement the deep flavours of braised beef.
• Roast lamb shoulder: Plum, spice and tannins work beautifully with slow-roasted lamb and rosemary.
• Barbecued beef ribs: A powerful pairing for smoky, sticky and generously flavoured ribs.
• Venison: The wine’s dark fruit and floral perfume suit the lean richness of game meat.
• Beef and mushroom pie: Earthy mushrooms complement the Shiraz’s savoury and chocolate characters.
• Charred eggplant: Try it with smoked eggplant, lentils, tomato and warming spices.
• Mature cheddar: Strong, firm cheeses can stand up to the wine’s richness and intensity.