EJ Shiraz
1887
“Paxton vineyards are spread across a diverse number of sites and soil types, which are managed without compromise from planting to harvest.”
Paxton’s flagship wine is named after founder David Paxton’s mother and family matriarch Elizabeth Jean.
A limited release wine, the EJ Shiraz is sourced from vines originally planted in 1887 from our Thomas Block vineyard, which is renowned for producing fruit of exceptional flavour and natural balance. The Shiraz vines are amongst the oldest in McLaren Vale and are carefully hand pruned and thinned to ensure the low and uniform yields required for super premium Shiraz.
Although still very young, the wine shows classic McLaren Vale Shiraz characteristics, with an elegant, delicate front exploding with a concentration of savoury fruit, supported by full, silky tannins unique to old vine wine.
An exemplary Shiraz not to be missed!
| Vineyard | Thomas Block | Planted | 1887 |
| Varietal | Shiraz |
| Subregion | McLaren Flat |
| Soil Composition | Alluvial soils- clay/river stone predominant. |
| Altitude | 74-85m above Sea Level. |
| Canopy Management | Single cordon hand spur pruned. Crop thinning, leaf removal, shoot thinning as required. |
| Vine Aspect | East / West orientation running parallel to the creek. |
| Irrigation | Minimal drip irrigation from Willunga basin treated water. |
| Fermentation | Hand picking is the only way these grapes can be harvested. Following picking, we ferment the fruit in an open fermenter - monitoring temperature and gently hand plunging twice daily. Once pressed, we put away the pumps and gravity feed the wine into barrel. |
| Oak | This is where the EJ rests in the 100% French Oak Barriques for 22 months. We then gravity feed the wine into tank ready for bottling. Once bottled, we cellar the EJ Shiraz for another 18 months prior to release. |
L-R: Ben Paxton, Ang Tolley and David Paxton.
Icon Custodians
Paxton are leaders in both organic and biodynamic viticulture and winemaking. Fruit for all wines are sourced solely from estate vineyards in McLaren Vale, South Australia. Established in 1979, Paxton is a family owned wine company. Founder and owner, David Paxton is one of Australia’s most highly respected viticulturalists – a reputation built on managing and growing wine grapes of exceptional quality for over 30 years.
The Paxton family have nurtured their own vineyards in McLaren Vale for three decades. Internationally recognised as one of Australia’s leading wine regions, McLaren Vale is renowned for the production of super premium quality wines – particularly red wines.
Paxton vineyards are spread across a diverse number of sites and soil types, which are managed without compromise from planting to harvest. David Paxton continues to strive to minimise inputs and manages the Paxton vineyards biodynamically – a system of farming without the use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides with a focus on promoting healthy, living soils through the use of natural compost preparation.
In 2011 Paxton became a fully certified organic and biodynamic wine producer. In 2005 Paxton opened their cellar door at Landcross Farm, a historic 1860s sheep farm and site of the original village. The cellar door is open everyday from 10am-5pm for tastings, functions and events.
Paxton Vineyards is a certified member of
Sustainable Winegrowing Australia.
