Winemaker Notes
Intense, lifted aromatics are released as soon as the wine is opened; dense cherry plum and hints of lavender all come to the fore with an underlying opulent fruit profile of black olive, cassis and plum. A silky palate with deep red cherry fruits, clove & licorice all interwoven with hints of sweet spice and cinnamon. The layers and diverse fruit characters continue to evolve in the glass with anise, hints of earth, blackberry and pepper all becoming more persistent in the finish. A silky, aromatic RunRig 2014 will certainly reward those with patience.
Blend: 98.5% Shiraz, 1.5% Viognier
Pairs well with grilled or roast beef, ribs, spicy sausage, big beefy stews, strong or hard cheese.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2014 RunRig is youthful and fresh, and the oak sits atop the fruit at this stage, with a coffee-ground note that is introduced to the dark berries and spice. This is a wine that should be kept for some more time, should elegance be a character you like, as the wine seems to merge seamlessly in this direction given the time to do so. 2014 was a cooler year, and the alcohol on the label is slightly higher than the analysis reveals. 15.5% alcohol.
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James Suckling
This shows lots of grilled meat, spice, hints flower petal and bark. Full body, velvety and rich. A very pretty and delicious finish. Drink now.
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Wine Spectator
Dark and dense, offering a toothsome mix of black licorice, loam, wild blackberry and black tea notes. The details start coming in on the finish, adding complexity and some momentum, with cigar box, Szechuan peppercorn and Turkish coffee elements lingering. Shiraz and Viognier. Drink now through 2030.
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.