Winemaker Notes
The 2021 summer growing season was mild, with even and cool daily temperatures throughout. Enhanced by good rains provided during the winter and spring of 2020, our vineyards grew wonderful canopies and developed well-formed grape bunches. As a result of this long flavor development cycle in the vineyard, 2021’s signature is wines of high aromatic lift with densely colored tints and exceptional balance
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
This red features a core of fresh crushed raspberry and maraschino cherry flavors that are generous and fleshy, with a thread of juicy acidity and details of green tea and nutmeg. The tannins are so supple and polished they’re practically creamy, further adding to this wine’s elegance. Grenache, Mataro, Carignan, Counoise and Shiraz.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of Grenache, Mataro, Carignan, Counoise and Shiraz, the 2021 Cuvee Juveniles is unbaked, crunchy, juicy and of a light frame—it doesn't have any gravitas or floor, but the fruit that floats above it is buoyant and lively. This would be gorgeous by the glass in a bar in Paris... I do miss the original blue and red label.
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.