The 2019 Dhillon Col Mountain Shiraz is a distinctive Heathcote Shiraz from Michael Dhillon of Bindi Wines, sourced from the Col Mountain vineyard on the northern edge of Heathcote. Produced from deep red Cambrian soils scattered with fractured rock, the wine was deliberately held back for five years before release, allowing it to enter the market at an ideal stage of development.
The wine is built around the aromatic PT23 and 1654 Shiraz clones, complemented by smaller portions of Yalumba and R6WV28 selections. Unlike many powerful Heathcote Shiraz wines, Dhillon's approach emphasises elegance, perfume and site expression over sheer weight.
The nose is highly expressive, showing sweet plum, blackberry and dark cherry alongside violet, brown spice, black pepper and distinctive graphite notes. On the palate, it is medium-bodied and beautifully composed, with velvety texture, dark berry fruit, savoury earthiness and finely integrated tannins. The finish is long, harmonious and mineral-driven, reflecting both the vineyard's rocky soils and Bindi's restrained winemaking philosophy.
Michael Dhillon describes the 2019 as entering a "beautiful phase" for medium-weight Shiraz, combining fragrance, richness and balance. The wine has been widely praised for its poise and finesse, offering a more Burgundian interpretation of Shiraz than many traditional Australian examples.
