Vintage

A wetter than average winter season followed by cool and windy conditions resulted in smaller than normal bunch and berry sizes allowing for concentration of grape flavours and high natural acids. A window of warm weather in early January provided extremely high quality grapes with the wines displaying complexity and concentration of flavours as well as fine framed structures which will enable long term bottle aging. Overall, a high quality vintage that is accessible young but will provide plenty of enjoyment after careful cellaring.

Vineyard

Our Dairy Hill Shiraz block is eastern facing, well-drained sandy loam soils located in the heart of Hunter Valley wine country NSW. The crop yields are relatively low, producing excellent concentration of fruit flavour.

Winemaking

The fruit was hand harvested, immediately destemmed and crushed into small open fermenters where is remained cold soaking until the indigenous yeast had built enough of a population to engage the primary fermentation. Post ferment the wine was gently pressed off skins to new and seasoned French oak where it underwent an indigenous malolactic fermentation. 

Tasting Notes

Lifted floral spice of violet and rosemary leading into a concentrated palate of mulberry and Davidson plum framed by bright acidity and very fine tannin. This wine will develop in the bottle in the medium to long term. Drink now through the next decade.