Gnadenfrei Estate St Michaels Barossa Valley Shiraz 2016

Despite well below average rainfall and warm conditions during the growing season, our vines produced another outstanding vintage. Heavy rainfall in late January followed by ongoing mild days and cool nights allowed ideal ripening conditions. The fruit then matured with an early harvest. The resultant 2016 wines are outstanding and feature lifted pure red fruit characteristics, savoury tannins, great depth of flavour and sheer colour intensity. Select Old Vine Barossa Shiraz sourced from vines aged 50-80 years were used in this wine. Traditional winemaking techniques were employed and the fruit was handled in a gentle hands off approach to ensure the vineyard remained the hero. This Shiraz was matured for 16 months in 1 and 2 year old oak hogshead barrels (75% French 15% American). 

Upon release allow the wine to breathe for at least a couple of hours, this wine is built to last and should drink well for the next 10-15 years.

Penfolds Bin 389 South Australia Cabernet Shiraz 2015

Bin 389 is often referred to as ‘Baby Grange’, in part because components of the wine are matured in the same barrels that held the previous vintage of Grange. First made in 1960, by the legendary Max Schubert, this was the wine that helped to forge Penfolds solid reputation with red wine drinkers combining the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon with the richness of Shiraz. Bin 389 also exemplifies the judicious balance of fruit and oak.

After a dry South Australian winter reminiscent of 2006, vines were in water deficit at the beginning of spring and became accustomed to dry conditions quite early. Early budburst was noticeable across many regions and windy conditions during flowering were, in some regions, responsible for variable fruit set and lower than average yields come vintage. Dry spring conditions explained canopy growth and low yields, becoming typical of the 2013 growing season. Warm days were dispersed throughout October, November and in early January, contributing to an early start to the 2013 harvest and a short, condensed vintage. Dry and warm conditions, coupled with lower than average yields resulted in fruit showing strong, structural tannins and wines of great intensity and encouraging flavour.

Grape Variety: 51% Cabernet, 49% Shiraz