DRINKING WINDOW: 10-15 years
PRE-VINTAGE
RAINFALL: Average Winter rainfall | Dry conditions from spring through to summer.
TEMPERATURE: High winds at flowering | Hot late spring and early summer leading to average summer temperatures.
UPSHOT: Inconsistent flowering and fruit set | Low crops.
VINTAGE
RAINFALL: Early February rain event | Dry otherwise.
TEMPERATURE: Warm days and cool nights.
UPSHOT: Consistent ripening conditions | Perfect extended flavour development | High natural acid | Intense flavours and vibrancy of fruit.
G BLOCK: Shallow red clay loam overlying red plastic clay | North-south oriented rows | Elevated eastern aspect | Long even sunlight
UPSHOT: Reduced natural vine vigour | Intense and vibrant.
FERMENTATION: De-stemmed | Left on skins for 8-12 days | Open pump-overs and hand plunging | Basket pressed.
OAK: French – 55% new, 45% 2nd use | Natural malolactic fermentation | 22 months maturation.
HARVESTED: 28th February – 14th March 2020
PROFILE: Dark cocoa frames plum and boysenberry fruit, while subtle hints of cooking spice add warmth and complexity. Firm, finely woven tannins provide structure, carrying roasted nut nuances through to a long, lingering finish.
98 POINTS, THE REAL REVIEW
"Very deep, dark, dense colour with a tinge of purple and a deep and brooding nose that shows plenty of smart oak tidily allied with rich fruit, very ripe but not jammy or jubey, the baked earth/terracotta and brown-spice aromas crowning the generous Western Barossa fruit. The wine is concentrated, dense and powerful but not overdone. A very impressive big Barossa shiraz. The structure is what makes it. " - HUON HOOKE
96 POINTS, VINOUS
"The seductive 2020 Clos Otto Shiraz is beautifully composed with power and subtelty. Aromas slowly build iin the glass - blackberry and chocolate at first before raosted meats and woodsmoke take over with a rocky undertow. There is a real plushness and opulence of flavour with an excellent density of sweet fruits before more savoury dark earthy tones emerge. Strong yet fine tannins help to deliver a long, sustained finish. A lovely wine that will age gracefully. - ANGUS HUGHSON
