Nose
The nose displays a complex blend of violets and spicy black pepper notes of the Shiraz with the
more savoury licorice aromas from the Tempranillo.
Palate
Shiraz and Tempranillo are wonderful partners; two old varieties coming together to make a new
vibrant blend. The Shiraz brings all the Australian fruit power, deep plum flavours with a peppery edge in a
fleshy fruit sweet palate. The Tempranillo adds savoury elements and complex tannin structure to the wine
resulting in a more complete wine than either of the two components could make on their own. This wine
has all the sweet fleshiness that we expect in Shiraz with the added benefit of textural complexity.
Growing Conditions
2016, what a sweet vintage for Margaret River grape growers.
Following a good winter was a mild and calm spring with generally good weather during the crucial
flowering period, that is the stage at which the flowers are fertilized and begin to form individual grape
berries. This stage can often be quite wild and stormy leading to significant loss of fruit. The beginning of
summer was mild, almost perfect growing conditions. There was a small rain event in January which may
have caused consternation had it continued but it was mercifully brief leading to several months of virtually
rain free weather.
March was mild, with perhaps only three days of intense heat, ideal conditions for the development of
the red grapes, with harvesting beginning middle of March through to the middle of April. The weather
broke in late April but by then the vast majority of reds had been harvested. Good colours, ripe aromas and
flavours and good structural tannins across all red varieties.
Winemaking
Both Shiraz and Tempranillo were de-stemmed and fermented separately in open
vessels with extensive pump over cap management to aid colour and flavour extraction as well as
optimize the tannin development. The wines were pressed off skins and matured in French oak barriques,
approximately one third new oak with the balance one and two year old. After 15 months in barrel the
wines were blended according to taste.
Appearance
Vibrant red/black colour with a deep opaque centre.