Pertaringa Undercover Shiraz 2018

Geoff Hardy established Pertaringa in 1980 and since then the Pertaringa vineyards in the foothills behind McLaren Vale have continued to produce some of the region's finest wines. Geoff's daughter Bec, who founded Bec Hardy Wines, acquired the Pertaringa wine brand from her father in 2020.

"Hand-picked 30yo vines, destemmed into open fermenters, pressed to 30% new French hogsheads and barriques for 20 months maturation. Juicy red and purple fruits supported by balanced oak and tannins."  James Halliday

The Undercover Shiraz is named in recognition of McLaren Vale's history of supplying other regions with its finest red grapes to improve the quality and richness of their wines. For this reason, McLaren Vale fruit is sometimes known as the mid-palate of Australia.

This Shiraz is a blend of three different McLaren Vale Vineyards. The Lower Tintara Vineyard is located on Kays Road in the Blewitt Springs sub-region of McLaren Vale where the 20-year-old vines are on sandy loam soils called Maslin Sands, which are 34 to 56 million years old. The Conte Vineyard is located on Sand Road where the 60-year-old vines are on sand over clay from the Ngaltinga Formation, which are 10,000 to 2.6 million years old. The Klaveniek Vineyard is located on McMurtrie Road where the 20-year-old vines are on Biscay soils from the Kurrajong formation, which are also 10,000 to 2.6 million years old.

The fruit was destemmed into small open fermenters before 20 months maturation in new and seasoned French hogsheads and barriques.

Expert reviews

"This is instantly appealing on the nose with black/blueberry, vanillin oak, cocoa and cake spice aromas. The palate displays excellent weight and fruit intensity with silky mouthfeel and rounded tannins, finishing velvety and flavoursome. At its best: now to 2026."  Sam Kim, Wine Orbit – 93 points

"Hand-picked 30yo vines, destemmed into open fermenters, pressed to 30% new French hogsheads and barriques for 20 months maturation. Juicy red and purple fruits supported by balanced oak and tannins. Drink by 2033."  James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion - 90 points

"Quite aromatic, light summer berries and plums with an earthy edge. The palate has a smooth, fleshy delivery of bright ripe berries and a succulent, velvety finish."  Nick Stock, JamesSuckling.com – 90 points

About the winery

The Pertaringa story begins in 1850 when Thomas Hardy arrived in McLaren Vale from the UK. Thomas was the region's first settler and is widely regarded as the father of the South Australian wine industry. Fast forward four generations, and in 1980, Geoff Hardy left the then family company Thomas Hardy & Sons to make his own way in the Australian wine world. The same year, he established Pertaringa and since then the Pertaringa vineyards in the foothills behind McLaren Vale have continued to produce some of the region's finest wines. The soils are enriched from the hills above and the cooler climate, further tempered by the sea breezes off St Vincent's Gulf, sets the scene for high quality wine grapes.

Geoff's daughter Bec, inspired by her father's passion for cultivating premium fruit and producing fine wines, also went on to study and work in the wine industry in both Australia and overseas, including for her father's company Wines by Geoff Hardy. In 2015, Bec decided to make her own way in the Australian wine world and founded Bec Hardy Wines. In 2020, she acquired the Pertaringa wine brand from Wines by Geoff Hardy, becoming the first woman in the family to own vineyards and produce her own wine. Husband Richard joined Bec as Managing Director of Bec Hardy Wines in 2019.