Winemaker Notes
Deep red with black to purple hues. Vibrant and focused, the characters continually evolving. Aromas of red currants, cherries and subtle lavender, followed by chocolate, char, hints of crème anglaise, spice, earth and rosemary. Full of rich red fruits, cloves and earthy notes, supported by fine tannins and elegant oak. The long palate is full of generous fruit and remains focused as it evenly tightens to a long balanced finish with fresh acidity.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Ripe, fleshy and generous, but not nearly over the top, with gorgeous cherry, pomegranate, black olive and bay leaf flavors arching beautifully and swirling through the long, supple finish. Best from 2010 through 2017.
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Wine Enthusiast
Despite an elevated alcohol level of 15.5%, the 2007 Bella’s Garden Shiraz displays a crisp, red raspberry fruitiness framed by cedar and cocoa. It’s surprisingly focused for this level of ripeness, the structure imparted more by acids than tannins. Drink it over the near term.
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.