Balgownie Bendigo Shiraz 2011
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Balgownie Estate is one of Australia's greatest small vineyards. Located near the historic gold mining town of Bendigo in central Victoria, the Estate was established in 1969 on a superb site of alluvial soil at Maiden Gully, 112 miles northwest of Victoria's capital, Melbourne. From the first vintage in 1972, the wines drew critical acclaim, setting the pace for the many who followed by planting vines in the area. Today, Balgownie Estate stands as the benchmark of a central Victorian style reliant on well-ripened fruit, distinctive local terroir and sympathetic use of oak
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.”
One of Australia’s prized gold mining locations at the end of the 19th century, today Bendigo’s temperate and dry climate produces approachable and full bodied reds. Lack of water in the area limits grower expansion, keeping the region small and specialized.