Winemaker Notes
Along the foothills of the Barossa Valley, a tapestry of ancient red friable clay soils combines with a warm and dry climate to create a unique environment for vines to develop fruit that has a vibrancy and depth of flavor like nowhere else on earth. From the very beginning, Barossa Valley Estate's viticultural practices nurture the sustainable health of the vine that moderates vine vigour and yield, and produces small berries of intense flavor and distinctive varietal character.
The GSM from the 2021 vintage is generous, rich and intense.
Blend: 37% Grenache, 33% Shiraz, 30% Mourvèdre
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2021 Barossa Valley Estate GSM is a crisp, zesty wine. Try it with Korean skewered lamb. (Tasted: April 8, 2024, San Francisco, CA)
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
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.