Varietal: 100% Shiraz
Region: Barossa Valley
Vineyards: Narrow Road Vineyards
Oak: New to twice aged French oak hogsheads
Analysis:
Alc/Vol: 14.5%
pH: 3.62
Titratable acid: 5.6g/L
Food Pairing: BBQ ribs or slow-cooked beef brisket
Cellaring: Drink now to 2031
Inviting notes of creamy freshly scraped vanilla pods and a melange of dark compote fruit draws the drinker in to discover more. Once in the mouth, flavours of blood plums and blackberries are supported by classic Shiraz notes of coffee bean and subtle pepper spice. There is a depth and chewiness to the palate which hints at the quality of fruit, but also a brightness and vitality that is derived from the elevated location of the vineyard site. The fruit rolls out though the back of palate all the while encapsulated by a well resolved tannin frame which will soften over time in the cellar.
Hand harvested and then crushed into traditional open top fermenters, the wine
undergoes pre-fermentation cold soak and is then either gently pumped over or punched down by hand according to winemaker specifications so as to obtain optimal colour and retain complex fruit flavours. Additional post fermentation maceration usually occurs before the wine is then drained and pressed to barrel. Free run and pressings are usually kept separate and combination of new and aged oak are barrels for maturation of between 18-24 months. The wine is then prepared for bottling with some seeing some further time in bottle prior to release.
The Narrow Road Vineyard sits high on the hills behind the township of Rowland Flat. The vines grown adjacent to the original Schild homestead that was purchased and settled by Ben and Alma Schild in 1952 on what was historically known as ‘Narrow Road’
The 2019 growing season commenced with a warmer than average winter and spring before the combination of a couple of hot spells followed by near perfect conditions eventuated later in the season as we closed in on harvest dates. This resulted in some early harvest sugar accumulation in some blocks without necessarily the required flavour development in the grapes. A year when there was no substitute for winemakers spending significant time in the vineyards. If this was done and canopies and moisture was managed well, the flavour components caught up and, whilst yields were low, the resulting quality was very good
96 Wine Orbit
95 Wine Advocate
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92 Real Review
93 QWine
