Palate
The welcoming ripe fruit notes of plums and dark cherries dusted with the scent of rose petals and red jelly crystals create an anticipatory air. With a little time to unwind, savoury notes of spice, earth and liquorice rise and deftly mingle with the supple fruit, soft tannins and oak’s vanilla and mocha seasonings. Whist warm and rich, the palate’s elegance of structure, subtle complexities, balance and lasting flavour make for a compelling tasting experience. In style, structure and flavour, this wine inclines more to Syrah than Shiraz as it reflects and reveals its cool continental origin.
Growing Conditions
In the Great Southern, the Mount Barker and Frankland sub regions began the growing season with just adequate soil moisture and scant catchment fill. Predictably, unpredictable spring weather in November did impact flowering, set and early spring growth on exposed sites. Summer was hot but uniformly so with some late on shore drizzle bringing the vintage to a rapid close in early April. With yields below average, the wines produced from the 2014 vintage are full of concentrated fruit flavours, good acidity and fine ripe tannins. The vintage is full of highlights as all varieties performed well in the fine, warm conditions.
Winemaking
Harvest of the 2014 Flint Rock Shiraz occurred in late March. Vinification in small open vat fermenters and gentle cap management facilitates the extraction of fine fruit tannin and strong varietal flavour. Oak maturation is for 15 months in a combination of new and old French barrels.
Food Pairing
Malay chicken curry or seared tuna with kewpie sesame dressing.
