Winemaker Notes
Deeply concentrated and rich, our REserve Shiraz reveals great fruit intensity. The old vines produce the blackberry, boysenberry, and plum aromas and flavors characteristic of classic Shiraz from the Barossa. The toasty oak is not shy, but is well-integrated, offering notes of mocha and coffee. On the palate, the wine is full and round with a lingering finish. This wine may be enjoyed now with apropriate foods, yet will become even more alluring with time.
"Its fragrance blends ripe blueberry with violets and spice; the texture holds plenty of fruit to balance the alcohol. The strength of the structure should allow this to gain complexity with age." -Wine & Spirits
Professional Ratings
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.