Winemaker Notes
Blend: 92% Shiraz & 8% Viognier
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2012 Descendent offers gorgeously pure notes of violets, vanilla and cinnamon stick over a core of black cherry, blackberry and wild blueberry notes plus and hint of cloves. Full-bodied, concentrated and built like a brick house, the spectrum of flavors, ripe, abundant tannins, clever balance and epically long finish make this a Descendent that rivals its forefather.
Rating: 97+ -
Decanter
This, the Barossa’s first Shiraz Viognier blend, is so-called because it derives from a single vineyard next to the winery planted to cuttings from old Runrig vineyards in 1994. Though it does not have the depth of Runrig, the young vines echo the flamboyance and purity of Runrig’s fruit. Descendant is creamy and seductive, with a velvety palate of crushed raspberry fruit, silky smooth tannins and mochaccino oak.
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Wine Spectator
Broad and spicy, with black pepper and licorice notes surrounding a taut core of blackberry and plum flavors that keep singing on the expressive finish. Has presence and depth, coming up short on weight but finishing with intensity. Shiraz and Viognier. Best from 2017 through 2025.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
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.