Mount Pleasant is one of the Hunter Valley’s founding estates, built by Maurice O’Shea from 1921 by lantern light with nothing more than a petrol-driven crusher, hand pumps and a concrete tank. That same year he planted the Old Paddock block with cuttings from the legendary Old Hill vineyard (1880) — a steep, east-facing 0.74ha site sheltered from the hot afternoon sun and wind.

The 1921 Vines Old Paddock Vineyard Shiraz is made only in the best years, from original vines now approaching their centenary. Dark-fruited, structured and precise, it is widely regarded as one of Australia’s great single-vineyard Shiraz.

96/100 Campbell Mattinson
96/100 Huon Hooke
95/100 Gary Walsh