2013 Sophie's Garden Shiraz

COLOUR | Deep dark red with a black core.

AROMA | Notes of blackberry pastille, violets, fresh mint and dark chocolate, with shades of graphite and spice.

PALATE | Full and round through the front palate, dense chewy tannins emerge mid-palate and roll through the finish providing a foil for the fruit density.

A lovely burst of acidity cleanses the palate whilst notes of graphite and coal dust weave through the late palate providing further layers of complexity.

Although the region had below average rainfall for the year, the winter falls were very good and, as a result, the season started off very well allowing vineyards to develop good sized, healthy canopies. Yields were about average in most cases. Apart from a good rain event in the middle of February, the season, like many
other regions, was extremely dry and warm. With carefully applied irrigation in the second half of the season, the vintage went well in Padthaway and the Shiraz looks great.

WINEMAKING | Crushed into and fermented in five tonne open top fermenters with regular pump overs; three daily during peak fermentation to extract colour, flavour and tannin. Following 14 days of maceration, the dry free run was drained to tank and the skins pressed to the same tank. 24 hours later the wine was then racked to barrel, where malolactic fermentation took place. Minimal fining and unfiltered.

MATURATION | 18 months in 50% new French oak with the remainder aged in 1-3 year old French oak hogsheads.

CLOSURE | Cork
VOLUME | 750ml
VARIETAL | Shiraz
REGION | Padthaway
ALCOHOL (% vol.) | 15.2%
VINE AGE | 19-43 years
ALTITUDE | 100m
AVERAGE RAINFALL | 450-475mm
SOIL | Shallow red clay over limestone