Winemaker Notes
The 2002 is purple with a dark centre and a youthful edge. Aromas are a wild concoction of black fruits and plums. Quite subtle but very complex. Long firm and ascertive. Dry powdery tannins, with sweet fruit overtones and tangy acid on the finish.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2002 Shiraz Stonehorse (the least expensive of Kaesler’s Shiraz offerings) is spectacular. It is indicative of just how special this vintage is in the Barossa. It is a teeth-staining, mouth-filling, extremely concentrated Shiraz displaying a level of quality that makes the 2002 Bogan and 2002 Old Bastard’s potential quality level look scary. The inky purple-colored Stonehorse offers a great perfume, beautifully integrated wood, and sensational richness as well as length. A prodigious effort that easily conceals its 15.5% alcohol, it should drink well for 10-15 years.
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.