Winemaker Notes
The intense fruit flavours and rich, velvety characteristics of the 1997 vintage will no doubt add to the reputation that has made Balmoral a modern day classic of Australian winemaking.
This is a wine for long term maturation which will begin to show its best in about five years time, building to its full potential at approximately 10 to 15 years of age, and possibly up to 20 years with appropriate storage.
Professional Ratings
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.