Questions about cricket references produced the explanation that the family had bought the old Penola Cricket Ground in the Coonawarra, source of the non-Clare component of The Cover Drive ($18), a blend of Cabernets from Clare and Coonawarra, a classy wine worthy of comparison to the classic shot of batsmanship.
Things were warming up as we got to the 2006 Lodge Hill Shiraz ($18) with three gold medals to its name and great value for the price.
As we moved towards the top of the range the quality, already almost stellar, made a succession of quantum leaps.
The 2005 First XI Cabernet (100% from Coonawarra $55) was stunning, and the Benbourie Cabernet Sauvignon (100% Clare $90) was sublime.
With the 2005 The McRae Wood Shiraz things just kept getting better.
By the time we reached the summit (2005 The Armagh Shiraz $195), I’d run out of superlatives.
Walking out of the tasting room it was just as well we were about to make a diversion before the next winery because the palate (and the mind) needed time to clear after what we’d encountered.