Ninety minutes of pleasant driving across the Adelaide Hills links McLaren Vale with the Barossa Valley, the two most important districts within the Adelaidean Mount Lofty range. Glug decided the Barossa was a better location than McLaren Vale though by 2006 we were buying barrels from McLaren Vale. Both produce reds of a type we recommend to our customers, the ripe full flavoured style best reflected by Shiraz.
The striking difference between the two districts is in their geographical locations. McLaren Vale has the ocean frontage of the Gulf of St Vincent and Spencer which further south opens into the vast Great Southern Ocean. The Barossa Valley is more sheltered being further inland and central within the Adelaidean Mount Lofty Range.
The Barossa adjoins the plateau edge of Eden Valley that leads down to the Murray Basin. These geographical differences should make it easy to distinguish the differences when tasting though this often defies the best palates. This Roxton is a fine example of the McLaren Vale style and a nice foil to our Karrawirra Barossa reds. The alcohol is 14.6%
