2018 Basket Press Shiraz
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Tasting notes
Vines up to 140 years old, ungrafted. Fruit sourced from vineyards scattered throughout the Barossa and Eden Valleys. The oldest grapes are from a small vineyard planted in the 1880s. A very dry vintage. Grapes are hand-forked into their 1880s Bagshaw destemming/crushing machine, open fermented in slate tanks and gently basket-pressed (the oldest press was built in the 1890s). Matured for 2 years in seasoned oak, American and French, 300-litre hogsheads and large 2,500-litre vats. Deep garnet. Sweet fruited with a hint of prunes suggesting very ripe grapes. Leathery and ripe on the palate. Late picked, or because of the dry harvest? Not very refreshing though the acidity shows on the finish. Firm, smooth tannins. (JH)
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Opaque violet. Intense, perfumed kirsch, blackberry, violet, incense and baking spice scents, along with savory hints of olive paste and botanical herbs. Shows impressive depth as well as energy to the appealingly sweet red and dark fruit preserve, fig paste and licorice flavors. Hefty but shows unlikely finesse as well, finishing impressively long and smoky, with the floral and spice notes repeating. Raised in used French and American oak hogsheads.