Fox Creek JSM 2019

Winemaking and Drinking

Origins

If a wine could wear a name like a signature, then Fox Creek JSM is the handwritten legacy of Captain James Stanley Malpas, whose initials live on in every bottle. This is not just a blend—it feels like a letter from the past, inked with sun-drenched McLaren Vale fruit and aged with intention, so that when it arrives in your glass, it carries both memory and momentum.

Winemaking

In the valley where the afternoons glimmer and the vines stretch fat with promise, Fox Creek’s JSM is born from a masterful assembly: 74% Shiraz, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 7% Cabernet Franc. The Shiraz is the bold storyteller, rich and generous, while Cabernet Sauvignon brings a roundness—ripe, velvety—and the Cabernet Franc offers bright lift, an aromatic twist that gives the wine its refined flourish.

From the moment the grapes are picked—some by hand, some by machine—they are handled with a kind of care that respects each variety’s voice. Fermented in open-top stainless steel, with part whole-cluster to preserve structure and nuance, the wine spends eight to ten days building its shape. After fermentation, it is sent to seasoned French and American oak barrels and puncheons for nineteen months, where time and wood weave the final chapter.

Tasting

When poured, JSM reveals a deep, almost jewel-toned red, a hint of purple around the rim suggesting both youth and depth. On the nose, one detects a layered melody of dark fruit: blackberry and cassis mingle with black cherry. There are whispers of mocha and coffee, subtle notes of chocolate, cedar, and just a breath of mint or nutmeg, all grounded by a graceful oak influence.

The palate unfolds with generosity—cassis and blueberry anchor the centre, while redcurrant and cherry brighten the edges. A creamy mid-palate of vanilla and milk chocolate emerges, underpinned by soft, elegant spices that swirl into a long, structured finish built around fine-grained, persistent tannins. The acidity is vibrant enough to give lift, yet balanced so nothing feels forced.

This is a wine that holds its own at the table: grilled steak, roast game, or hearty stews each feel like worthy partners. But it’s also contemplative enough to enjoy slowly on its own, swirling and breathing between sips.

Fox Creek JSM is much more than a blend—it is an invitation. It invites you to step into a piece of McLaren Vale’s history, to taste the thoughtful craft of its makers, and to linger over the echoes of place and time.