Winemaker Notes
Medium depth crimson with purple hues. Ripe red fruits and black cherry on the nose with mocha, subtle savory and herbal notes adding complexity. The bright and juicy fruits coat the palate and are balanced
by pepper and sweet spices. Medium-bodied in structure with great complexity and lovely silky tannins which flow through the fruity, peppery and spicy finish.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Plum and earth aromas lead this wine out the glass with a gently spicy edge. There’s plenty of flesh on the palate, where raspberries and blueberries take center stage. Mid-weight. A blend of 35% grenache, 34% shiraz and 31% mataro. Drink now.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
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.