Winemaker Notes
Deep garnet with pale garnet hues. Lifted aromas of red plum, mulberry, blackcurrant and black pepper, with supporting notes of thyme, bay leaf, charcuterie and cedary oak. A concentrated and powerful palate of mouth-watering ripe plum, blackberry and black and red currant, balanced by savory white pepper, anise and tarragon, fresh and buoyant acidity and an exceptionally long, fine tannin finish.
Blend: 62% Shiraz, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
With a bit of bottle age, this Shiraz-led red blend has really settled into itself. Luscious berry and plum fruit mingles with florals, pencil lead, spice and a polish of vanillin oak. The palate is succulent, with a satiny texture tempered by a soft line of savory tannins. It’s glossy and polished, maybe from the high-end oak, but it also elegant, harmonious and hugely likable.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 Keyneton Euphonium is 62% Shiraz, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc and 3% Merlot, aged in 19% new oak hogsheads (85% French, 15% American). The oak imparts a bit of smokiness and mocha overtones to the nose, but this is a largely fruit-driven effort, with ripe cherries, boysenberries and blackberries touched with hints of eucalyptus and sage. It's medium to full-bodied, smooth and streamlined on the palate, with a soft dusting of tannins and lingering berry and herb flavors on the finish.
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Wine Spectator
Features herbs, tobacco and savory notes of dried meat, peppercorn and juniper that mingle with dried berry, cedar and tobacco flavors on a firm frame. Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.
The Barossa Zone encompasses the Barossa Valley and Eden Valley. Some of the oldest vines in Australia can be found here.
Barossa Valley of course is the most important and famous wine growing region in all of Australia where 140+ year-old, dry-farmed Shiraz vines still produce inky, purple and dense juice for some of Australia's best wines.
In the cooler, wetter Eden Valley sub-region, the Hill of Grace vineyard is home to famous Shiraz vines from the 1800s but the region produces also some of Australia’s very best and age-worthy Rieslings.