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Overview
Part of the prestigious Mr. Riggs Flagship Series, The Chap is an icon wine that pays homage to the great Australian blending masters who influenced winemaker Ben Riggs. The 2021 vintage combines 55% Shiraz from McLaren Vale with 45% Cabernet Sauvignon from Coonawarra, bringing together the richness and elegance of two celebrated South Australian wine regions.
Fine, structured and deeply expressive, this classic Australian blend marries generous dark fruit with refined tannins and beautifully integrated oak. A limited-production wine crafted for both immediate enjoyment and extended cellaring.
Vineyard
The 2021 The Chap is an interregional blend sourced from two distinguished vineyards: Ben Riggs' Piebald Gully Vineyard in McLaren Vale and the Ey Vineyards in Coonawarra.
Piebald Gully lies in Clarendon, one of McLaren Vale's coolest subregions, bordering the Adelaide Hills. Its deep sandy soils over clay and virtually dry-grown vines produce late-ripening Shiraz with elegance, concentration and finesse.
The Ey Vineyards occupy the northern end of Coonawarra, where low-yielding vines grow in red-brown clay loam and brown sandy loam over limestone. These soils contribute concentration, structure and the distinctive character of Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon.
Winemaking
Individual vineyard parcels were fermented separately in traditional open fermenters before completing fermentation in oak barrels. The wine was matured for 22 months in a combination of approximately 80% French oak and 20% American oak, of which 35% was new.
Parcels remained separate throughout fermentation and maturation before being blended three months prior to bottling. Further bottle ageing allowed the wine to develop elegance and balance before release.
Producer Tasting Notes
Aroma
The blackberry of Shiraz is lifted by a whiff of Cabernet blackcurrant.
Palate
Opulently flavoured, plums, chocolate, graphite, dates, cedar and vanilla.
Awards
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Double Gold – China Wine & Spirits Awards (CWSA)
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Gold, 95 Points – Halliday Wine Companion
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Silver Medal – 2026 International Wine Challenge
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Bronze Medal – 2025 Royal Adelaide Wine Show
Critic Reviews
98/100 – Vino Masters
97/100 – Sam Kim, Wine Orbit
“This is both powerful and graceful”
94/100 – Decanter World Wine Awards
Tasted January 2026
Producer
Mr. Riggs Wine Co. is a family-owned premium wine producer based in McLaren Vale, South Australia. Founded by acclaimed winemaker Ben Riggs, the winery focuses on expressing the distinctive qualities of exceptional vineyards through carefully crafted, small-production wines.
The Flagship Series represents the pinnacle of the Mr. Riggs portfolio, showcasing outstanding fruit, meticulous winemaking and the ability to produce sophisticated, age-worthy Australian wines. The Chap embodies this philosophy through its distinctive blending of McLaren Vale Shiraz and Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon.
Specifications
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Vintage: 2021
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Producer: Mr. Riggs Wine Co.
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Cuvée: The Chap
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Series: Flagship Series
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Country: Australia
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State: South Australia
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Regions: McLaren Vale and Coonawarra
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Grape Varieties: 55% Shiraz, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon
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Vineyards: Piebald Gully Vineyard and Ey Vineyards
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Wine Style: Still Red Wine
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Sweetness: Dry
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Alcohol: 14.5%
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Residual Sugar: 1.6 g/L
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Total Acidity: 6.62 g/L
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pH: 3.44
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Fermentation: Traditional Open Fermenters, Completed in Oak
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Maturation: 22 Months in Oak Barrels
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Oak: Approximately 80% French Oak, 20% American Oak
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New Oak: 35%
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Production: 544 x 3 Packs
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Bottling Date: 15 May 2023
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Winemaker: Ben Riggs
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Cellaring: Enjoy now or cellar for another 10–15 years
