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Available in cases of 6
Over many years, Rob Gibson (ex Penfolds and Peter Lehmann as chief viticulturalist) has crafted meagre amounts of the most stately wines from his tiny operation in the Barossa Hills. Vintage 2002 claimed silver at the VISY Great Aussie Shiraz Challenge and vintage 2003 came within a hair's breadth of the Jimmy Watson. Gibson knows the Barossa and all its best growers, varietal selection is expertly matched to site and minimalist winemaking is complemented by assembling the choicest components into the most exquisite balance. From pruning through to budburst, flowering and fruit set, veraison and harvest, fermentation, pressing, barrel aging, assemblage and bottling, the whole process is managed and handled by Rob Gibson. Fruit is sourced from the Stockwell vineyard of Wilfreda & Becker at Lyndoch, to be assembled with a harvest from Materne & Heinze Maxs Gods Hill 99 planting at Greenock. Shiraz from ancient vineyards at Light Pass and Langmeil make up a third of the finished wine. Parcels are treated to a traditional vinification in open fermenters, plunged daily, racked and returned. Components are matured eighteen months in a selection of French and American oak barrels. Alcohol 14.5%
TASTING NOTESOpaque deep red with brick red notes. Lifted, complex pepper spice Shiraz characters over notes of vanilla, orange peel and anise. The palate is powerful, complex and chewy, a length of fine tannin in support of rich sweet fruit, balanced by perfect acidity and drying chocolate tannins. The balance and finish are in harmony, as lovely stone fruit and dark chocolate flavours linger long on the palate. |