This classic Barossa Shiraz is a deep, rich, and powerful example of the region’s specialty variety. The colour is a dark, with vibrant red highlights at the rim of the glass. The nose is lifted and intense, with complimentary blackberry, black plums and spice and a gentle smokey oak and cedar complexity. The palate is dense and opulent with flavours of ripe mulberry, plums and liquorice, complemented with well-integrated oak notes. The tannins are savoury and persistent, adding structure and depth to the wine, while the finish is plush and spicy, leaving a lasting and memorable impression.

Following a cool morning hand pick the fruit was crushed into a small fermenter (5 tonne in capacity). Fermentation was carried out at a warm temperature (27 - 28°C). The ferments were manually pumped over to provide good control of tannin extraction over a period of 14 days. Once dry the fermenter was pressed off skins to fill American oak hogsheads of which 40% was new. Following malolactic fermentation the wines were racked and returned to the same oak. Parcels remained in barrel for an average of 24 months prior to blending. Only the best barrels were used to make the final blend. Once blended the wine was prepared for bottling.

The 2019 vintage in the Barossa can be summed up with two key points; low yields and high quality. Winter in 2018 was extremely dry and with high winds, frost and rain at flowering the Thorn-Clarke vineyards had a lot to contend with. As a result the vines had a very small amount of bunches and small amount of berries per bunch. Low yield though led to concentration of varietal characters in the bunches and the berries produced this year were intense in fragrance, flavour and colour. Best of all they have an amazing balance. Truly 2019 will sit alongside the greatest vintages the Barossa has seen this century.