Roving Sommelier is passionate about premium quality Australian regional wines. Pitchfork wines are made by Michael Kerrigan of Hay Shed Hill in the Margaret River region in Western Australia. Good wine, good food, friends, and lively conversation is what they’re all about. Bright vibrant wines made from selected Margaret River grapes, unpretentious and contemporary. Pretty much says it all really.

Former winemaker at Howard Park and Madfish, Michael struck out on his own when his dream vineyards in the key quality region of Wilyabrup came up for sale. With more than 30 years of winemaking under his belt, and 12 years going solo with Hay Shed Hill, this man is one of the most experienced, respected, and revered winemakers in Australia – and rightly so. He is also a strong purveyor of classically blunt Aussie pearls of wisdom. “It`s all in the detail – you quite simply visit the vineyard every day. I`m not interested in being epic, I just want to make wine I like to drink“.

He likens Margaret River’s climate to “Bordeaux in a perfect year“, and attributes the region’s success to its maritime climate, meaning a low diurnal range, very important in a country that is known for its extremes in temperature, and pretty much everything else! Michael produces wines under two labels – the entry level `Pitchfork` range and the estate, single vineyard `Hay Shed Hill` wines. The Pitchfork range represents unprecedentedly good value considering that all the grapes are grown in Margaret River – very unusual for a wine at the ‘entry level’ from this region, and yet another example of Michael’s commitment to quality over all else. There are four lip-smackingly good, everyday wines in this range.

The 2018 Pitchfork Shiraz punches well above its weight. Vibrant and youthful with a brilliant hue of good depth. Ripe cherry and plum fruits on the nose, with smooth chocolatey influences. The palate displays good depth of fruit concentration, ripe sweet fruit fleshiness in the mid palate and good flavour extension.

Best enjoyed served at room temperature and in a convivial atmosphere.