Huon Hooke - The Real Review
97 Points - 5 Stars Gold / Top Ranked Wine
#4 Ranked 2020 Shiraz from Barossa Valley
Deep, dark and very bright purple-red colour, with a lovely detailed aroma of chocolate and herbs, both fresh and dried; floral nuances and red fruits, hints of spices and the palate is very full-bodied and generous with lashings of supple tannins, all in harmony with the great depth of fruit. A complex wine already: it will be great to see it a few years down the track. - HH, TRR
Peak Drinking / Cellaring Potential
This wine will continue to mature until at least 2040.
Total of 800 bottles produced and each individually numbered.Volume - 750mL
Alcohol Volume - 14.5%
2020 Eisenstone McDonald Marananga Shiraz SV904
Vineyard Notes
Grapes were sourced from Roennfeldt Road in the sub-region of Marananga in the Barossa Valley. The original vineyard was rejuvenated by Gil McDonald in the late 1970s and 1980s. The grapes for the single vineyard wine are sourced partly from vines grafted to Shiraz from Crouchen in 1974, and also 1998 plantings of Penfolds SC clone.
Winemaking
The grapes were fermented in small batches and after fermentation was matured in 50% new French oak for 18 months prior to bottling. Minimal intervention is used in the winemaking process and the wine is moved the minimal times prior to bottling and is not cold stabilised or filtered.
Tasting Notes
The colour is deep and intense. Marananga wines are known for their forest berry fruit characters and this wine is no exception. The palate shows violets and floral characters that give an added dimension to the wine. Ample tannins to provide structure and longevity and will soften as they develop over time.