Honeymoon Vineyard Shiraz 2014 Review: Aged Adelaide Hills Red with Measured Power
A decade on, this small-production Shiraz from Honeymoon Vineyard still holds its shape. Grown in Echunga in the Adelaide Hills, the fruit comes from a cool-climate site at 410 to 420 metres on red ironstone clay, a northeast-facing slope often compared to Côte Rôtie in its ripening profile.
We opened the bottle expecting some softening with age, perhaps a shift toward more tertiary notes. What emerged instead was a wine that feels controlled and steady, with its core still intact and its backbone clearly defined.
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Vintage: |
2014 |
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Region: |
Adelaide Hills, SA |
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Varietal: |
Shiraz |
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ABV: |
15% |
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RRP: |
~$48 AUD |
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Format: |
750mL |
Appearance
In the glass, this ten-year-old Shiraz shows a deep ruby core with only light bricking at the rim. It appears more vibrant than expected, suggesting it has aged with control, not faded into tertiary softness, with light passing cleanly through the edge.
Thick legs fall at a medium pace, leaving steady trails down the glass. The overall impression is of a wine that has retained its definition over time.
Aroma / Nose
Warm spice leads, supported by well-managed oak, not smoke. There is a gentle savoury dryness, suggesting the wine has moved into its secondary phase with composure intact. Alcohol is present but well integrated.
With air, darker fruit begins to emerge. Plum and cherry sit at the core, with a faint lift of blueberry. The profile leans toward cool-climate expression, revealing itself gradually and with control.
Palate / Taste
On the palate, fruit arrives early and holds, with plum and dark cherry coating the mouth with a steady persistence that carries beyond the first sip. There is generosity here, though it is measured, not expansive.
Tannins are grippy yet controlled, felt across the cheeks and gums more than the tongue, giving firm grip without pushing the wine into dryness. As the wine opens, toasted oak and spice become more defined, remaining integrated and well-paced.
At 15%, alcohol reads as a low, consistent warmth that lingers gently through the chest. The balance leans toward weight, held in check by enough restraint to keep it in control rather than overwhelming. Despite its density, it remains approachable without food, carrying enough internal balance to stand on its own.
Finish
The finish is shaped by spice and fine tannin, with darker fruit lingering beneath. A subtle, mouth-coating dryness closes the experience, resolving with control and leaving warmth and structure behind.
Food Pairing
We tested this 2014 Shiraz across a range of pairings to understand how it shifted. Edam cheese worked best, lifting a flash of freshness before allowing the wine to settle back into itself, with the cheese’s subtle smokiness becoming more pronounced.
Persian fetta shifted the balance toward tannin and grip, pulling the fruit back and making the wine feel more angular and less layered. Roast boneless chicken followed a similar path, emphasising firmness without offering much in return.
Wagyu beef came closest to restoring balance. The fat helped reset the palate, allowing some fruit to re-emerge, though the wine’s structural core remained dominant. Cranberry and sunflower seed crackers with fig and fetta introduced a brief lift of sweetness and texture, showing that the wine can respond when the right elements align.
Hommus and crackers gave a softer entry, but that firmness quickly returned. Across the board, this Shiraz responds best to richer, salt-driven, or aged pairings, while lighter or creamier foods tend to leave its structure more exposed.
ATC Verdict: Is It Worth the Splurge?
Yes, this was worth opening. It has held its age with clarity, with fruit still intact, its backbone still defined, and alcohol that remains present without overstepping.
It is not essential, but it is considered. This is a small producer working with intent, delivering a cool-climate Shiraz that prioritises balance over show. We would return out of curiosity, especially to explore a younger vintage.
Steady, grounded winemaking that rewards attention.
Editor’s Note
All tasting notes reflect the wine’s condition at the time of tasting in September 2025, not the winemaker’s original description.
This bottle was opened to see what remained. What remained was clarity: fruit, structure, and a sense of direction that has held over time.
Adrian, Editor at All That Is Cool
Please drink responsibly.
All alcohol reviews on All That Is Cool are intended for audiences aged 18+. We support mindful, moderate consumption and only feature bottles we’ve personally tasted and evaluated.
