PRE-VINTAGE
RAINFALL: Winter (consistent) | Spring (above average).
TEMPERATURE: Mild Spring and early Summer | No extreme heat.
UPSHOT: Consistent flowering & fruit set | Healthy canopy
VINTAGE
RAINFALL: Summer (below average) | Autumn (light).
TEMPERATURE: Days (mild - average) | Nights (cool).
UPSHOT: Delayed ripening conditions | Gradual & extended flavour accumulation | Great natural acidity.
SEPPELTSFIELD VINEYARD
BLOCK: D Block
VINEYARD: Very shallow red clay loam overlying shattered limestone | North-south oriented rows | Elevated Eastern aspect | Long, even sunlight.
UPSHOT: Reduced natural vine vigour
De-stemmed | 10-12 days on skins | Open pump-overs Basket pressed | French oak (60% new, 40% seasoned) Natural malolactic fermentation | 22 months maturation.
PROFILE: Mulberry | Cedar | Blackberry | Vanilla bean.
TEXTURE: Fine grained tannin | Well-structured | Integrated oak.
97 POINTS, THE VINTAGE JOURNAL
Deep crimson. Intense dark chocolate cedar, black berry aromas with hits of wax polish. Beautifully balanced wine with pure blackberry pastille fruits, velvety form tannins and underlying roasted chestnut, cedar notes. Finishes Claret-firm with minerally notes. A beastly good Barossa Shiraz with very good ageing potential. Drink 2028–2042.
Andrew Caillard MW, Ken Gargett
