Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
On the nose, this 2008 Eric Stevens Purbrick Shiraz is overtly chocolaty and sweet, with toasted vanilla pod, cocoa, blood plum and coffee grounds. This is punchy and rich, with loads of fruit flavor, but there's not as much nuance and leafiness that I have seen in earlier vintages. It has a pleasing nod toward vintage variation (without it, we wouldn't have interest or reason to taste widely) and a bigger, bolder style than my favorite wine of the tasting so far: the 2006. Very good.
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.