Winemaker Notes
Redcurrant with deep brick red hues. Aromas of violet, star anise and spice. Medium bodied, firm tannins that show persistence and body. Oak is very integrated with fruit weight and length. The Steading has a fragrancy, purity of fruit, mid-palate concentration and savory tannin profile that makes it an exemplary wine. Vibrant aromas of violet, star anise and spice all unfold to reveal an impressive array of underlying fruit flavors. Silky, succulent dark fruits, black olive, savory earth, liquorice and Asian spice. These complex yet elegant flavors are all neatly interwoven with a perfect balance of acidity and supple, silky tannins. The Steading will continue to develop with time in the cellar, and provide those with patience great enjoyment well into the next decade.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Aromas of strawberry and blueberry with fruit tea and cedar. Hints of cigar tobacco. Medium to full body. Fine tannins. Juicy fruit. Hints of chocolate. Precise and vivid. GSM blend. Aged for 24 months in old hogshead.
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Wine Enthusiast
Primarily Grenache, this Rhône blend sees 12% of Mataro (aka Mourvèdre) and 12% of Shiraz, and both varieties add a savory peppery backbone to Grenache’s up-front blueberry fruit. Aromas of kirsch, freshly ground pepper, vanilla, crushed violets and warm stones are present too. The mediumweight palate slinks with juicy silky-textured fruit, neatly woven with fine tannins finishing on a slightly saline note—a sexy, characterful drop.
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.