2009 / 2008 / 2006
Vintage
The 2009 vintage in Mudgee was excellent. The season started out with heavy spring rains which got the vines off to a good start. The early part of the summer was mild and ideal for vine growth. The heat wave conditions which were experienced during January were interspersed with cooler winds from the coast which moderated the effects of the heat and the vines got through this period in a relatively good state. Most importantly the period between veraison (fruit colouring) and maturity was fine and mild allowing the development of intense flavours.
Winemaking
The 2009 shiraz grapes were harvested from blocks 2 and 6 being the most distinctive grapes. These were crushed on a rotary fermenter and inoculated with a culture of pure yeast. The wine was fermented at 28 degrees centigrade until dry 9 days later at which point it was left to macerate on skins for 4 days then pressed off skins and tranferred to a mixture of French and American oak barrels. The wine was lightly fined with casein before filtering and bottling at 18 months.
Colour
Dark red with a purple hue.
Bouquet
Ripe plum fruit with black pepper spice.
Palate
Mulberry and plum fruit flavours with a vanilla bean background and a soft tannin finish.
Suggested Food
Team this wine with rare rib eye steak or richly flavoured game.
Cellaring
Enjoy now or cellar for 3 to 7 years in ideal conditions.
