2015 Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz has decadent blueberry pie and crème de cassis notes with touches of milk chocolate, baking spices and dried mint. Full-bodied, rich and seductive in the mouth, it fills the palate with voluptuous, spice-laced black fruit and finishes on a minty note.

Conceived from the ancient soils of Marananga, which lies very close to the centre of the Barossa Valley floor – slightly to the north and west, with warm, dry conditions and rich red soil. Winter and spring rainfall were above average, creating an excellent start to the season. Relatively warm temperatures in August encouraged the vines out of dormancy early with prevailing warmer than average conditions leading to early flowering. Spring was generally cooler and drier than average with the low soil moisture slowing growth and leaving vines with nice open canopies. January temperatures were lower than usual with the recorded maximum temperatures being the coolest in 22 years. Without any extremes or stress, the vines continued to ripen evenly leading into an early harvest. In February, hotter weather prevailed ensuring a fast and early grape intake. 100% Shiraz. TA 6.8 g/l, pH 3.65. 16 months in 18% new and 18% one-year-old French oak, 25% new, 39% one-year-old American oak – hogsheads and puncheons. More puncheons with each year. First bottle mysteriously developed terrible TCA after having been checked and double decanted. Gorgeous charmer – like molten treacle toffee. Lifted and lively. Actually, readier than some of its peers, very welcoming indeed. Tannins very hidden and really rather light and stony on the end. (JR)