Winemaker Notes
The Rusden Vineyard is nestled on the deep Vine Vale sand in the foothills below the eastern Barossa Ranges. The early pioneers carved this area out of cypress, blue gum and wattle woodland, once know as Bethany Sandscrub. Our old vines are traditionally cared for and hand tended to ensure their longevity and benefit for future generations. A minimalist approach to winemaking results in an honest representation of the variety. This is a New World wine made in an Old World style to produce a fruit driven wine with dimension, character and balance.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A flagship cuvee, the 2003 Shiraz Black Guts is fashioned from a 47-year-old vineyard planted in the Vine Vale section of Barossa. Its wood regime of 30 months in a combination of new American and new as well as old French barrels resulted in a fabulous expression of Barossa Shiraz. Deep, full-bodied, and intense with peppery, blackberry, smoky, roasted meat, and herb characteristics, a huge, expansive, chewy mouthfeel, and a stunning, 50-second finish, this profound Shiraz is approachable, but should age beautifully for 15-20 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.