Pikes Los Compañeros Shiraz Tempranillo 2021 - Clare Valley, Australia

92/100 Aaron Brasher, The Real Review
Bronze - Mike Bennie, Halliday Wine Companion

92/100 Mike Bennie, Halliday Wine Companion (2020 vintage)
92/100 Huon Hooke, The Real Review (2020 vintage)
Bronze - Stuart Knox, The Real Review (2020 vintage)
Bronze - Erin Larkin, Halliday Wine Companion (2019 vintage)

5 Stars - Halliday Wine Companion
People Choice Award 2023

Aaron Brasher, The Real Review "Lifted aromas of smoked meat, dried herbs, mulberry, dark cherry and spice. Youthful, full flavoured and inky on the palate. Plum, raspberry, sweet oak and spice are all at play. There's lovely brightness from the acidity and the tannins deliver texture and mouth-feel."

Mike Bennie, Halliday Wine Companion "A fleshy, swarthy red. Opens with blueberry fruitiness, some cola and sarsaparilla notes, red cherry, rosehip tea and faint sage herbal lift. The palate has a nice slosh to it, a generosity though it retains a sense of freshness and gluggability. Not so complex, but kind of compelling as it shows off a distinct array of flavour and scents, all of great appeal. Charming stuff, is the sense."

Mike Bennie, Halliday Wine Companion "This feels fun. A juicy, vivacious and slurpy red with quiet complexity. Scents of raspberry, cherry cola, anise, mint and eucalyptus. Sloshes around the palate nicely, almost jelly in texture with cool acidity underlying. Flavours roll around with more of the raspberry, cherry and anise with a dash of white pepper, too. A jolly good time to be had. Could also handle a light chill." (2020 vintage)

Huon Hooke, The Real Review "Good deep colour with a rich ripe blackberry aroma, crushed black pepper and quite aromatic. Good focus, intensity and style, a fruit-driven wine with excellent varietal character in a cooler-grown mode. Great value for money." (2020 vintage)

Stuart Knox, The Real Review "Vibrant rich ruby red in the glass. Nose fills with blueberry, mocha, and anise aromatics. Rich and textured with ripe black fruits and spice layers. A meaty undertone ensures interest .........." (2020 vintage)

Erin Larkin, Halliday Wine Companion "Tempranillo has such robust tannins that even a small inclusion can impact the experience in the mouth – for better or worse, depending on your personal proclivities, for or against tempranillo. In this case, the wine is jubey and sweet, with a seam of steel-shaving tannins that shape the flavours. Decent early drinking." (2019 vintage)

Pikes is a prestigious winery in South Australia's Clare Valley, established in 1984 by Neil and Andrew Pike, whose viticultural roots go back to the late 1800s. Situated in the picturesque Clare Valley, the Estate is comprised of approximately 100 hectares of rolling slopes in Polish Hill River, an eastern sub-region of the Clare Valley.
Known for its cool climate and diverse grape varieties, Pikes showcases premium wines with distinct characters and flavors due to the unique terroir and altitude.

After an almost 20-year career with Penfolds Wines and Southcorp Wine Group, Andrew joined Pikes on a full-time basis in 1998 to oversee viticultural operations and manage the growing family business.

Pikes is particularly renowned for its high-quality Riesling and other cool-climate wines, praised for vibrant acidity, citrus flavors, and exceptional aging potential. Whilst they are best known for world-class Riesling, they have been growing Shiraz and Cabernet for 35 years and have 20 different grape varieties planted on their estate, producing a wide range of wine styles to suit all tastes.

Pikes pride themselves on producing quality handcrafted wines, that reflect vintage, variety, and region. The Pike family has been producing quality wine, beer, and aerated waters in South Australia since 1886 it is a family tradition of which they should be very proud.

Their vineyards in Clare Valley grow various grape varieties, with a strong commitment to sustainable viticulture and environmental responsibility.

Their portfolio includes Riesling, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, and unique blends, all crafted with a dedication to quality and craftsmanship. Over the years, Pikes has garnered numerous awards, establishing itself as a top producer in the Clare Valley, and gaining recognition both nationally and internationally for their excellent and consistent wines.

Tempranillo is a red grape variety grown throughout Spain and Portugal and to a lesser degree in other parts of the world. Tempranillo produces red wines with red fruit and leather aromas, high tannins, moderate to low acidity, and moderate alcohol. In 2020, Tempranillo was the third most-planted grape variety in the world, with the majority of plantings in the Iberian Peninsula.