"Why bark when you have a dog"
Variety: Grenache (48%) Shiraz (31%) Mataro (21%)
Region: Barossa Valley
Alc/Vol: 14.0%
Winemaker: John Harris
Colour: Bright purple and red colour.
Bouquet: Aromatics are once again the highlight of this time-honored Barossa blend. Classic Grenache is the obvious driving force which provides a fresh perfumed nose with vibrant plum and forest fruits, some liquorice, cherries and dried herbs.
Palate: Fruit forward style with dominant fruit characteristics whilst tannin and oak balance add the complexity. Lively fruit flavours with juicy forest fruits, dried herbs and a touch of French oak. The use of large old format oak creates a fine flowing style of wine with just the right amount of fruit weight and finesse whilst still giving length ensuring its multi-dimensional.
Winemaking: The Grenache, Shiraz and Mataro were all sourced from the Western Barossa Valley with the use of older 61-year-old Grenache (48%) and 25-year-old Shiraz (31%) providing the core structure whilst 59-year-old Mataro (21%) adds the earthy character. The vineyards are hand tended and the parcels used were selected and isolated from the rest of the vineyard picking a little earlier than fruit destined for other wines. The grapes were hand-picked and delivered to the winery and the Shiraz and Mataro were de-stemmed whilst half the Grenache component was left as whole bunches before being transferred to an open top fermenter. Pre-ferment cold soak before being gently pumped over or punched down by hand to achieve optimal colour and retain the critical fruit flavour. Post ferment maceration occurred before draining into large format 2–3-year-old 500 litre puncheon barrels for 12 months. Bottled and released whilst the flavour is still at its most vibrant.
Cellaring: Ready to be enjoyed now and will have a great lifespan which will enable it to be drunk over at least the next 5+ years.