Shiraz 2019 – This was both a new winery and new wine to me – sometimes that can be an exciting thing; other times, less so. But it is always fun to find out. My usual method in these cases is to taste the wine before researching the information. Prevents preconceptions either way. A good way to go, as the wine certainly stood up as something a bit exciting.
Given the pedigree, so it should. This is a Shiraz vineyard sitting right in what might be termed the dress circle for Barossa Shiraz. Lineage does not get much better. The vineyard has 9.5 hectares planted, in the Kalimna Sands sub-region. The surrounding vineyards include the legendary Block 42 which has made some of the most highly regarded Australian wines ever released, under the Penfolds banner. Other local vineyards contribute to Grange, 707, St Henri and RWT. So where has this vineyard been and why have we not been enjoying its wines for years? The grapes have previously gone to Peter Lehmann for some of their top wines – there are many worse fates for a Shiraz grape. From this year, the grapes will now go to Accolade. Meanwhile, they have released this wine from the 2019 vintage. I assume (hope?) that we will see this wine released every year, even if the majority of grapes are sold to others.
A vibrant dark purple. The nose is chocolate, plums, blackberries, cassis, leather, coffee beans and black cherries. There is already early complexity here. Serious stuff for sure, but it is very enjoyable. Good length, fine tannins, neatly balanced and with good focus, there is a lot to like here. Drink now and for the next ten years. 94.
