Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2000 Shiraz Apricot Block, 360 cases produced from microscopic yields of .9 tons of fruit per acre (8-year old vines), tips the scales at 14.5% alcohol, and was aged in both new and old large American barrels (called hogsheads) prior to being bottled unfiltered. A candidate for “wine of the vintage” in the Barossa, it possesses an opaque ruby/purple color as well as tremendous fruit intensity, enormous body, great purity, and a skyscraper-like mid-palate and texture. This dense, chewy Barossa classic has a finish that lasts over 60 seconds. Although still somewhat primary, it reveals tremendous potential, even from this challenging vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2018.
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.