Winemaker Notes
The palate starts with lots of juicy McLaren Vale upfront berry and redcurrant fruit and is quite dense and tarry with spicy notes, the Padthaway characters come through in the mid palate with hints of spearmint and lavender that freshen and lengthen the wine. It has ripe, soft tannins and is very round and mouth filling, with fresh acidity.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The upper-level wines start with the 2007 Dead Letter Office Shiraz which spent 12 months in mostly seasoned American oak. Deep crimson-colored, it displays aromas of cedar, smoked meat, game, plum, and blueberry. On the palate it has layered flavors, plenty of spice and earth notes, good grip, and a smooth finish. Drink it over the next 5-6 years.
Though Syrah originated in the Rhône Valley of France, Australia is home to the oldest Syrah (called Shiraz here) vines on the planet. Found in Australia’s Barossa Valley, where phylloxera has never threated viticulture, these ancient vines are between 140 to 175 years old!
Having brought fame and merit to the country’s wine scene since the early 1950s, namely via the debut of Penfolds Grange, today Syrah (Shiraz) claims rank as the most widely planted grape in Australia. In fact, the amount of land dedicated to Shiraz in Australia is now almost equivalent to what it is in France. Australian Shiraz has its own personality with flavors and aromas of intense blackberry, fruitcake, menthol, tobacco leaf and umami. Conveniently one can find great Australian Shiraz at a variety of price points but the very best will be dense, gloriously complex and capable of long aging.