Winemaker Notes
Consistently mild weather during the growing season and leading up to harvest encouraged optimal ripening. Weather conditions during harvest were perfect, making for a smooth vintage. Grape berries were quite small and since yields were down, flavor was concentrated and quality enhanced.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Lifted spice and ripe mulberry/blackberry aromas are complimented with chocolate, cedar and cinnamon on the nose. Well integrated oak tannin provides flavors of clove and supple texture which supports the rich plum, blackberry and mocha. The overall structure is supple and generous with fine-grained tannin on the finish enveloped with ripe fruit overtones.
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.