Balhannah Vineyard Shiraz

SHIRAZ BV 2016

Style: A complex, finely textured Shiraz that expresses the conditions of each vintage and the character of a single vineyard. The 2016 is characterised by its perfume, floral notes, concentration and structure.

Season: The start of the growing season in September was warmer than normal, favouring good vegetation and fruit development. January rains provided relief from earlier warmer temperatures and were timely in assisting fruit development during the ripening period, resulting in a healthy fruit harvest two weeks earlier than usual.

Provenance: From Shaw + Smith's low production vineyards at Balhannah, planted in 2005, with a planting density of 5,500 vines per hectare. North facing with silt loam soils over clay, ironstone, quartzite and schist.

Vinification: Harvested, selected and fermented as whole bunches and whole clusters, in open fermenters, with gentle pumping over and minimal work. Aged in large 500-litre French oak barrels for 14 months, followed by a further 14 months in bottle.

Background: This distinctive site always showed potential for a single site wine, and in 2013 we launched our first edition.

To serve: The ideal temperature is 16-18°C.

Ageing potential: It has the concentration and structure to develop fine tertiary characters in bottle for the next 15 years.