Winemaker Notes
On the palate the wine is rich, concentrated and generous. There is an intrinsic warmth to this wine. The dark plummy fruit , leather and cedar notes are inviting, but it is the soil like tannins with a hint of chewiness that pull it all together for a long, gratifying finish.
The Footbolt Shiraz has proven to cellar well for at least a decade and the 2010 is certainly no exception. The minimal intervention methods sometimes result in a harmless deposit in or adhering to the bottle. Decanting prior to serving is recommended to get the most enjoyment from this wine.
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
Chester Osborn named this flagship shiraz after the racehorse his great grandfather sold to buy the vineyards that established d’Arenberg—now ranging over 1,200 acres of vines in McLaren Vale. The wine has the gaminess of kangaroo meat, along with plenty of cracked black peppercorn spice and violet florals. Completely wrapped in tannins, this is austere and savory, needing cellar time to mellow. An intense young shiraz and a great buy.
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.”
Known for opulent red wines with intense power and concentration, McLaren Vale is home to perhaps the most “classic” style of Australian Shiraz. Vinified on its own or in Rhône Blends, these hot-climate wines are deeply colored and high in extract with signature hints of dark chocolate and licorice. Cabernet Sauvignon is also produced in a similar style.
Whites, often made from Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc tend to be opulent and full of tropical, stone and citrus fruit.