Small Gully The Formula Robert's Shiraz 2006
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Parker
Robert
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Earth, saddle leather, rich earth and mushroom. Deep concentration of black and red fruits and berries. More savory than sweet.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep garnet colored, the 2006 The Formula Robert’s Shiraz gives moderately intense aromas of crushed blackberries, black cherries, toast with marmite, earth, chocolate box and a whiff of fresh rolling tobacco. Concentrated and full-bodied, the palate is more forward than the nose with plenty of vibrant juicy fruit countered by crisp acid and medium to firm fine tannins lending support. It finishes long and spicy with lingering clove and fennel seed notes. Drink it now to 2015.
The people of Small Gully bring passion, experience and history to their winery. Robert started in the wine industry in 1981 whist the Zimmermann family has been growing grapes in the Barossa Valley since early last century. Darren and Robert have established superb low yielding Shiraz vineyards, producing super-premium fruit. Small parcels of Grenache, Mourvédre and Cabernet Sauvignon are also carefully selected from other local vineyards for the Small Gully wine range.
Though Syrah originated in the Rhône Valley of France, Australia is home to the oldest Syrah (called Shiraz here) vines on the planet. Found in Australia’s Barossa Valley, where phylloxera has never threated viticulture, these ancient vines are between 140 to 175 years old!
Having brought fame and merit to the country’s wine scene since the early 1950s, namely via the debut of Penfolds Grange, today Syrah (Shiraz) claims rank as the most widely planted grape in Australia. In fact, the amount of land dedicated to Shiraz in Australia is now almost equivalent to what it is in France. Australian Shiraz has its own personality with flavors and aromas of intense blackberry, fruitcake, menthol, tobacco leaf and umami. Conveniently one can find great Australian Shiraz at a variety of price points but the very best will be dense, gloriously complex and capable of long aging.