Winemaker Notes
Drawn from a distinguished vineyard in the hamlet of Light Pass, The Steeple Shiraz is a true single vineyard wine. This wine is from biodynamically grown, low yielding, centenarian vines planted in 1919. In the shadow of the Light Pass Immanuel Lutheran Church Steeple, the roots of these old vines run deep into the ancient Barossa soils, yielding intensely flavored Shiraz grapes to create a wine of richness, texture, concentration, and length.
An aromatic beauty. Showing blue violet notes, anise, and dark cherry with red spices, plums, cranberries, pomegranates, and nuances of mountain herbs and cracked peppercorns. This wine is bold in stature. It is a full-bodied Shiraz with generous red, blue and violet fruits mingling with dark cherries, layered textures and a mouthwatering, powdery tannin finish.
Vegan-Friendly
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
A biodynamically farmed plot in Light Pass, planted in 1919. This has very attractive fruit presence of purple-berry, plum and blackberry aromas, as well as fresh, toasty oak spice and chocolate. The palate has a smooth red-fruit core with a very soft, supple and fleshy delivery of fine, long and supple tannin. Really pure and expressive. Drink or hold.
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.