Winemaker Notes
"Made from 1847 estate plantings and must surely contend for historical pride of place, notwithstanding the claims of others. Smooth, plum and black cherry fruit on the bouquet, then a supple, smooth palate with black fruits, spice cedar and vanilla. A masterpiece of understatement.
Region: Barossa Valley, SA.
Best drinking: 2004-24+
-James Halliday, Halliday's Top 100
"Smooth, plump and generous with its peppery, slightly leathery black cherry and plum flavors, finishing on a tangy note. Impressive for its plush texture and sense of refinement."-WS
From a vineyard first planted in 1847; the spotlessly clean, scented bouquet offers an array of cherry, spice, earth and vanilla; the particularly harmonious balance and extract of the palate is constructed around the red berry fruit at its core, amplified by spice, chocolate and soft tannins.
Professional Ratings
Though Syrah originated in the Rhône Valley of France, Australia is home to the oldest Syrah (called Shiraz here) vines on the planet. Found in Australia’s Barossa Valley, where phylloxera has never threated viticulture, these ancient vines are between 140 to 175 years old!
Having brought fame and merit to the country’s wine scene since the early 1950s, namely via the debut of Penfolds Grange, today Syrah (Shiraz) claims rank as the most widely planted grape in Australia. In fact, the amount of land dedicated to Shiraz in Australia is now almost equivalent to what it is in France. Australian Shiraz has its own personality with flavors and aromas of intense blackberry, fruitcake, menthol, tobacco leaf and umami. Conveniently one can find great Australian Shiraz at a variety of price points but the very best will be dense, gloriously complex and capable of long aging.