Winemaker Notes
Nose: The bouquet displays a complex array of cool climate, spicy Shiraz and ripe, warm climate, pepper and plum fruit characters complemented by light cedary oak.
Palate: This medium bodied wine is richly flavoured with ripe, spicy Shiraz berry flavours and features a big, full mid-palate with soft, attractive fruit. Subtle oak contributes soft drying tannins and length of flavour.
Serving and Cellaring Suggestions: A balanced and complete wine, it is ready to enjoy now with food or develop further with medium-term cellaring. It is an ideal match with a char-grilled steak or matured cheese.
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.