Bannockburn Shiraz (Museum)
Planted in 2007, this 0.8-hectare vineyard is littered with volcanic rocks (hence the name) and lies on the plateau above the De La Terre slope—essentially making it a westerly extension of the Serré vineyard. It was originally planted with various clonal cuttings from Best’s and Tahbilk on a mix of rootstock and own roots. Holmes only uses the Best’s clone in this bottling today and the rest of the site has been grafted over to Chardonnay, giving Bannockburn a close-planted Chardonnay block, named Grigsby after Bannockburn’s long-standing vineyard manager. The fruit was fully destemmed in 2011, wild fermented with indigenous yeast and then spent 12 months in 1/3 new French puncheons and a second year in 5 year old barriques.
Kooyong Pinot Noir
Kooyong's Estate Pinot Noir is seriously seductive Pinot Noir from the Pinot artist that is Sandro Mosele. Earthy and dark cherry aromas are followed by a complex palate of blood plums, fine tannins and some bracing acid. This is not only a great Pinot that looks strikingly vibrant in its youth, but will also play its part in delivering amazing flavours when laid down for the medium term.
Mount Majura Shiraz
An elegant and fine-boned cool climate Shiraz from the emerging wine region of the Canberra District. The wine is packed with spicy aromatics from pepper and bay leaf to marzipan and violets. Red fruit flavours run to blackberry and beef stock, carried by savoury, grainy tannins.
Schild Pramie Shiraz
Every so often there are parcels of wine that generate tremendous excitement amongst the winemakers at Schild Estate. They set this aside to make Prämie, the wine that defines the best of the vintage and the land on which it was grown. Intense primary fresh plum flavours show again on the palate, where they hold their presence all the way through to roll out soft and pillowy at the finish. A firmly present, but fine tannin framework provides just enough focus and lift for the fruit to ensure added complexity, but retaining vibrancy to the mouth flavours of this Shiraz.
Gibson Reserve Shiraz
Gibson Wines is one of the reasons why we all love the Barossa Valley so much. Small family winery, ancient soils, hand-crafter wines all made by a true Barossa character, Rob Gibson. With his signature moustache and motorcyclists' leather waistcoat, Rob puts all his years of experience into every bottle. The Reserve Shiraz is grown from a single estate vineyard in Stockwell and displays aromas and flavours that are fresh and lively with juicy fruit tones that are hard to find in 2007. Amazing what can be achieved with rigorous fruit selection and detailed winemaking.
Bannockburn Pinot Noir
Bannockburn is spicy with well intergraded savoury oak and great acidity backbone. The varietal flavours such as, raspberries, strawberries and red cherries fruits lingers with a faint hint of forest floor on the palate with well supporting tannins. A greatly composed wine, this is undoubtedly pushing the setting of this country's benchmark for Pinot Noir to another level.
Knight Granite Hills Shiraz
This cool climate Shiraz is superb - enticing the drinker with spice, clove and red berry fruit aromas. The palate is rich and concentrated, paying scant homage to its cool climate origins.
Two Hands Lily's Garden Shiraz
Part of Two Hands super-premium, single vineyard range, this classic McLaren Shiraz style has nuanced blueberry, mocha and spice characters. Always made to be plush, rich and smooth, the Lily's Garden never seems to be void of any complexity though. Super long length and superb tannin structure also help the McLaren Vale beauty truly sing.
Two Hands Bella's Garden Shiraz
This Two Hands Shiraz is full bodied but very buoyant. Bright flavours are lifted and accented by notes of fresh blue and blackberry with hints of plum. Creamy complexity through the palate adds depth and interesting texture. Palate has great depth and a coating nature but doesnt feel heavy. Tannins start mid-palate and leave a lovely rolling chewy nature. Spicy through the finish with vanilla and sweet baking spices.
Glaetzer-Dixon Mon Pere Shiraz
Glaetzer-Dixon's wine maker Nick has taken four generations of Barossa shiraz wine-making knowledge and applied it to carefully selected parcels of shiraz grapes from the Coal Valley in Southern Tasmania. The Mon Père Shiraz is a pre-eminent cool-climate shiraz, with flavours and textures evocative of Northern Rhône valley wines.