Made in the appassimento style. Grapes are withered or shrivelled prior to ferment and the resultant wine is more concentrated in flavour. The fact that I generally prefer Torzi Matthews’ Schist Rock Shiraz (which isn’t appassimento) is, to a certain extent, beside the point. Different wines, different styles, different purposes etc…
Hedonic aromatics; black fruits, currants, vanilla coffee and Demerara sugar with mulberry overtones. Iron shavings and black olives keep things interesting. Luscious, plummy and unctuous but not without (tannic) form in the mouth. Baking spice and a little white pepper see out the finish. Loads of complexity. I’d struggle to drink more than a glass in one sitting but I realise others will have no such issue. Good
Region: Eden Valley
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Diam
Price: $30
Tasted: November 2011