The Colonial Estate Exile Barossa Valley Shiraz 2018

The finest selection of 100-year-old dry grown vines, which are pruned severely and receive two runs of green harvesting finally producing one tonne to two tonnes per acre. The grapes were then hand-picked, and the grapes sorted. The 2018 vintage was characterized by steady ripening of fruit and we were able to select individual blocks in the vineyard to get the very best fruit flavours with some tight ripe tannins. The wine is fermented in vats after extreme cold maceration. The wines have their malolactic in new French oak and are thereafter in the same oak for 24 months prior to bottling with minimal filtration and then further aging in bottle.

The Colonial Estate Explorateur Barossa Valley Sparkling Shiraz Nv

The vineyards that make up Explorateur are based in the northwestern Barossa Valley. This is a belt of land/terroir that runs from just to the northwest of Tanunda – Marananga, Greenock, Moppa, Ebenezer, and through to Stockwell, just north of Nuriootpa. Cropping levels are kept low to ensure fruit flavour is focus. This Shiraz is created from a blend of vintages, primary fermentation is in stainless steel vats followed by extended barrel fermentation on lees to build complexity and richness. The parcels were blended followed by secondary fermentation which gives the wine its sparkle.

Should be drinking well now and over the next 6 or so years.