2023 Heritage Shiraz
Representing our finest selection of Shiraz from our estate vineyards expressing clearly varietal and vintage, and only made in the best of years, this wine is the pinnacle for us of this noble grape in a cool elegant corner of Australia. Bearing the dark spice and forest floor characters which are hallmarks of Margaret River, wrapped in a fine textured umami envelope of goodness, this wine takes us on a wonderful journey, of which we are merely taking our first steps.
Nose
Complex and focused, leaning towards dark forest fruits, black cherries and mulberries layered with spiced oak, Herbes de Provence and a hint of violet.
Palate
Opulent, rich and concentrated with dark plum, liquorice, clove and warm spices. The core of this wine is full bodied yet showing poise, both harmonious and generous. This combined with the firm, rounded tannins delivers a velvety, textural finish.
Blend
100% shiraz
Cellaring
Up to 15 years
Food Pairing Notes
Moroccan lamb tagine.
Wild mushroom pilaf.
Serrano ham & Manchego croquetas.
The Vineyard
Shiraz is the only red variety planted at all of our estate vineyard sites, ripening at different times and giving us a myriad of complexity and blending options. Each of these parcels are individually managed to ensure a true expression of site for fruit flavour and character. From soil management and pruning techniques, to canopy manipulation, each decision is tailored to each section. The 2023 season started with a mild spring leading into a dry and calm summer. Grapevine ripening continued steadily throughout, with harvest commencing mid-February. Overall, we experienced another beautiful Margaret River
growing season.
Winemaking
After destemming and hand sorting, the selected vineyard batches were lightly crushed to closed top fermenters and individually fermented with selected yeasts. A portion of this fruit was hand-picked to allow the inclusion of whole clusters. Daily tasting guided the gentle extraction to reach the right balance of concentration and structure. Maceration periods reached up to 23 days and at the desired balance of plushness and tannin complexity, each batch was basket pressed, with the pressings initially kept separate. The finest lots were assembled early to form the major portion of the blend, allowing the wine
and pressings to integrate harmoniously through ageing. The wine was matured in barrel for 16 months, with minimal racking. 40% new French and Hungarian oak was used to complement the succulent core of fruit and tannin profile. The final blend, showcasing our three different sites, remained unfined and was filtered before bottling.
Analysis
14.2% alcohol
6.17 g/l total acidity
3.48 pH
Suitable for vegans