Brothers at War Single Vineyard Eden Valley Syrah The fruit for this single-vineyard Syrah comes from 80+-year-old vines from the Wardlaws Eden Valley Pendee Farm vineyard. This small parcel of Eden Valley Syrah is handpicked and the fruit is mostly destemmed, though not crushed, into a one-tonne open-top fermenter with 30% whole bunch clusters. The fruit is kept cool for five days before being allowed to warm up naturally and start the fermentation process. The wine is then hand plunged twice daily for three weeks before being pressed to French oak puncheons (40% new) and aged on lees for 18 months before bottling without fining or filtration.

Brothers at War Single Vineyard Barossa Valley Shiraz This old vine Shiraz is sourced from a single vineyard in the Lyndoch Ranges, in the south-west of the Barossa Valley. The fruit is fermented 20% whole bunch with the balance destemmed but not crushed. The wine is then hand plunged twice daily for three weeks before being pressed to French oak (50% new) hogsheads and aged on lees for 18 months before bottling without fining or filtration.

Brothers at War Single VIneyard Mataro The fruit for this single-vineyard Mataro comes from 80+-year-old vines from the Pendee Farm vineyard in Eden Valley. Fermented with natural yeast and 30% whole bunches with the balance being destemmed, not crushed, leaving the berries whole. The wine was hand plunged twice daily for two weeks before being pressed to seasoned French oak hogsheads then aged on lees for a year before bottling without fining or filtration.

Vintage conditions2017 vintage was set by a near-perfect growing season with a long-awaited wet winter and rainfall well above the long-term average. One of the wettest spring seasons on record minimised the risk of frost damage. Cooler than average spring and summer temperatures ensured a long, slow growing season and allowed intense flavour development and retention of natural grape acidity. Harvest was two weeks later than normal as a result of late January and early February rainfall.Vineyard selectionThe Shiraz is sourced from a selection of premium vineyards located in the northern Barossa Valley.WinemakingOnce the grapes have been identified to be of optimum maturation and flavour ripeness, the parcels are brought into the winery where they are destemmed and crushed into the open-topped fermenters. Manual pump-overs are conducted twice daily to provide extraction of colour, flavour and tannins. Towards the end of fermentation, the wine is drained and then pressed to a combination of predominately new French and American oak barrels for 17 months maturation. Careful barrel selection takes place before the wine is blended. The wine is neither fined, nor filtered.Tasting EvaluationColour: Typical 2017 colour of dark purple verging on black core with crimson rim.Aroma: Perfumed aromas of violets and blue lilies complimented with red cherry, dried cranberry, fig, green tobacco and sage. Subtle notes of camphor and sandalwood with some wafts of mocha appear upon subsequent swirling.Palate: Saturated red and blue fruits coat the surfaces of the palate. The acid line gives freshness and vibrancy. The fruit intensity has all but absorbed the 80% new oak barrels that were used in its production with an almost silky tannin finish.

TASTING NOTESThe dark, brooding regional characters of plum, red cherry and liquorice are all to the fore of this wine.The palate is focused and linear, with dark bitter chocolate notes and an elegant long persistent finish. We recommend cellaring for 10 years.WINEMAKINGThe most westerly zone of the Barossa, known as the Western Slopes, gives rise to some of the richest expressions of Shiraz from the Barossa. Soil: Heavy brown earth, red clay and crackled ironstone Altitude: 290mTo ensure the unique character of this sub region is exemplified in the wine, small open fermenters and our basket press were employed to gently extract the wine.Aging in the finest quality oak and selection of the truest barrels has created a wine that respects and expresses its place of origin.

Marananga, centred in the North West quadrant of the Barossa provides some of the Valleys most powerful wines. The red brown clay loam soils with schists and siltstone yield flavours of jam and fruitcake, cardamom, blueberry fruits, cocoa powder with an undercurrent of roasted meats and crackling.WINEMAKINGTo ensure the unique character of this sub region is exemplified in the wine, small open fermenters and our basket press were employed to gently extract the wine. Aging in the finest quality oak for 18 months and selection of the truest barrels has created a wine that respects and expresses its place of origin.