Winemaker Notes
Tasting Notes: Rich, ripe complex Barossa floor Shiraz. Aromas of chocolate and Christmas cake intermingled with ulta-ripe red berry fruit, Blackberries and smoky notes from the oak maturation.
"The 2004 Shiraz Reserve was sourced from 40- and 100-year-old vines yielding a meager 0.5 tons per acre. It was aged 30 months in 600-litre demi-muids. Purple/black in color, it exhibits a splendid, brooding perfume of cedar, scorched earth, licorice, blueberry compote, and blackberry liqueur. This is followed by a thick, rich, voluptuous Shiraz with all components totally integrated and harmonious. The finish is exceptionally long and pure. It will evolve for a decade and drink well through 2030.
R Wines is a new company founded by importer and marketing genius, Dan Philips, along with co-owner, renowned winemaker, Chris Ringland. Winemakers for R Wines are Chris Ringland, Lisa Wetherell, Andrew Hercock, and John Hughes. It encompasses four familiar labels, Marquis Philips, 3 Rings, Roogle, and Bitch, along with 13 others created especially for R Wines. Needless to say, the packaging of these wines is amazingly creative but, more importantly, what is in the bottle consistently over-delivers from low-end to high-end."
-Wine Advocate
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2004 Shiraz Reserve was sourced from 40- and 100-year-old vines yielding a meager 0.5 tons per acre. It was aged 30 months in 600-litre demi-muids. Purple/black in color, it exhibits a splendid, brooding perfume of cedar, scorched earth, licorice, blueberry compote, and blackberry liqueur. This is followed by a thick, rich, voluptuous Shiraz with all components totally integrated and harmonious. The finish is exceptionally long and pure. It will evolve for a decade and drink well through 2030. R Wines is a new company founded by importer and marketing genius, Dan Philips, along with co-owner, renowned winemaker, Chris Ringland. Winemakers for R Wines are Chris Ringland, Lisa Wetherell, Andrew Hercock, and John Hughes. It encompasses four familiar labels, Marquis Philips, 3 Rings, Roogle, and Bitch, along with 13 others created especially for R Wines. Needless to say, the packaging of these wines is amazingly creative but, more importantly, what is in the bottle consistently over-delivers from low-end to high-end.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
Historically and presently the most important wine-producing region of Australia, the Barossa Valley is set in the Barossa zone of South Australia, where more than half of the country’s wine is made. Because the climate is very hot and dry, vineyard managers work diligently to ensure grapes reach the perfect levels of phenolic ripeness.
The intense heat is ideal for plush, bold reds, particularly Shiraz on its own or Rhône Blends. Often Shiraz and Cabernet partner up for plump and powerful reds.
While much less prevalent, light-skinned varieties such as Riesling, Viognier or Semillon produce vibrant Barossa Valley whites.
Most of Australia’s largest wine producers are based here and Shiraz plantings date back as far as the 1850s or before. Many of them are dry farmed and bush trained, still offering less than one ton per acre of inky, intense, purple juice.