Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Very deep garnet colour. A wonderfully opulent nose that recalls elements of both Chateauneuf du Pape and textbook Barossa: warm blackberries, moss, game, freshly cracked black pepper and five spice with a touch of dried Provence herbs. The medium+ level of acidity perfectly balances this wine’s full body and the medium level of velvety tannins provides harmonious texture. Very, very long finish. Drink now – 2018. Tasted November 2008.
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Wine Enthusiast
Different in style from the equally good 2004, the 2005 Steading is a bigger, richer, warmer wine, with brandied cherry fruit flavors and a rather fat, almost oily mouthfeel. More fruit and feel, less earth and spice. Drink it up over the next few years.
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.