Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Focused, open-textured and elegant, balancing precise blackberry and plum fruit against hints of wet slate and toasted walnut, lingering on the refined finish. Has great presence and length without weight. Drink now through 2022.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2007 Eric Stevens Purbrick Shiraz shows dark chocolate, black cherry and vanilla pod on the nose. In the mouth, the wine is chunky and full; it is loaded with thick flavor and dense tannins. There's a distinct eucalypt character here, more pronounced than in the previous vintages. There's a lot going on in the context of the very consistent vertical in front of me, and this stands out for being fleshy and substantial.
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Wine & Spirits
Compellingly drinkable, this wine’s ripe plum flavors and sleek, mature tannins come together in a powerful finish. A touch of volatility adds complexity to the aroma, and melds into the smooth texture, making this shiraz ready to serve with any grilled meats.
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Wine Enthusiast
From an inland region of Victoria, this is a mature wine. The tannins are plentiful but soft, wrapped around a core of dried cherries and plums. Hints of cedar and brown sugar add the impression of sweetness, while notes of mint and cracked pepper bring freshness.
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.