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Buy any 6 bottles and save 5%. Buy any 12 bottles and save 10% (excludes wines on offer). Free UK delivery on orders over £100. Tel: 02922 337454
Buy any 6 bottles and save 5%. Buy any 12 bottles and save 10% (excludes wines on offer). Free UK delivery on orders over £100. Tel: 02922 337454
2021 The Kirche, Charles Melton Wine Republic

2021 The Kirche, Charles Melton

Barossa Valley, Australia

Velvet Steeple

Brooding, layered and deeply expressive, the Kirche, a blend of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, opens with dark blackberry, black cherry and plum, woven through with notes of liquorice, clove, cracked pepper and a hint of smoked earth. The palate is powerful yet beautifully controlled, delivering dense Barossa fruit shaped by firm, savoury tannins and a line of freshness that keeps the wine focused and composed. 

There is real gravitas here, but also precision, finishing long, complex and quietly authoritative.

For when: the meal is serious, the glasses are generous, and time is not an issue.
Pairs with: slow-roasted lamb, aged beef, game, or rich winter dishes.

The Kirche is one of Charles Melton’s most revered single-vineyard wines, sourced from an old Barossa Shiraz block planted beside a historic Lutheran church, from which the wine takes its name. Charles Melton has been instrumental in redefining Barossa since the 1980s, proving the region could deliver balance and longevity alongside power. Low yields, careful extraction and thoughtful oak ageing allow this vineyard’s intensity and structure to shine without excess. The Kirche stands as a profound expression of Barossa Shiraz, deep, age-worthy and rooted in both place and history.

Whats in the bottle
62% Shiraz with 38% Cabernet Sauvignon

Notable Awards
Gold Medal and 96 points, International Wine Challenge 2025

£45.00 - £45.00
£45.00
£45.00 - £45.00
£45.00
Availability:
In stock

Charlie Melton was among the first to recognise the value and tradition of Barossa Valley’s old-vine Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvèdre (Mataro). While others were grubbing up Shiraz to plant more fashionable varieties, Charlie and a small band of Barossa winemakers convinced farmers to keep their historic vineyards. Since 1984, Charlie has produced premium Barossa red wines. Initially styled on those from the Rhône, they are now considered leading examples in their own right. Charles Melton is a family project, and today his daughter Sophie, a talented young winemaker, assists Charlie in the winery.

The 2021 Kirche combines approximately 62% Shiraz with 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, principally from the estate’s Kirche vineyard in Krondorf. The vines were planted in 1974 and 1989 on loam and red clay, with sections of dense black cracking clay. The vineyard lies around 290 metres above sea level and surrounds the old Lutheran church from which the wine takes its name.

Some parcels of Shiraz and Cabernet were co-fermented, while others were vinified separately and blended following oak maturation. The wine was matured in a combination of 81% French and 19% American oak, with 31% new barrels. This brings cedar, spice and gentle smokiness while preserving the purity of the black fruit.

The mild 2021 growing season allowed steady ripening, with timely summer rainfall refreshing the vineyards and excellent fruit quality at harvest. The finished wine is vegan and vegetarian friendly, bottled under Stelvin Lux and has an alcohol level of 14.5%.