Small Gully Mr Black's Concoction Shiraz Viognier 2015
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Robert
Parker
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
This has a lovely aromatic lift from the Viognier component. Asian spices, game, incense, and blueberry aromas are followed by a medium- to full-bodied wine with layers of ripe fruit, excellent balance, and a pure, fruity finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The full-bodied 2015 Mr Black's Concoction Shiraz-Viognier tips the scales at 15.9% alcohol, giving bargain hunters plenty of literal bang for their buck. Despite that, the alcohol isn't overwhelming. Raspberries and apricots join deeper, darker fruit flavors, all supported by ample weight, supple tannins and a long, mouthwatering finish.
The people of Small Gully bring passion, experience and history to their winery. Robert started in the wine industry in 1981 whist the Zimmermann family has been growing grapes in the Barossa Valley since early last century. Darren and Robert have established superb low yielding Shiraz vineyards, producing super-premium fruit. Small parcels of Grenache, Mourvédre and Cabernet Sauvignon are also carefully selected from other local vineyards for the Small Gully wine range.
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.