2015 Adelaide Hills Shiraz

The fruit was sourced from vineyards in the warmer, drier parts of Adelaide Hills, notably Macclesfield, and from low yielding vineyards in Balhannah, near the Shaw and Smith winery. Soils here are shallow red/brown loam over schist and clay. The vines are planted at a density of 2,700–5,500 vines per hectare and are hand pruned with vertical shoot positioned canopies. Low yields of two kilos per vine were achieved by aggressive pruning and pre-harvest bunch thinning. Fruit was hand-picked and fermented as a combination of whole berries and whole bunches in open fermenters, with gentle plunging and minimal working. Deepish crimson. Dusty but sweet blackberry fruit. On the nose this is mainly about the fruit but with the peppery flavour and almost chalky fine-grained texture there is zero unwanted sweetness, just elegant dark fruit and refined texture. Very satisfying and easy to keep drinking. (JH)