The nameThe name JDR is a tribute to the original owner of the Hemera Estate winery; Joseph Darius Ross. The best Shiraz of the year is selected to carry his name.Vintage conditionsThe 2014 vintage saw very low rainfall in the winter and spring leading up to fruit ripening. This resulted in small berry and bunch formation and the commencement of vintage earlier than average. The smaller berries produced intense flavours in all varieties and excellent juice to skin ratios in reds. The resultant wines have pure varietal flavours with excellent mouth-feel and length to the palate.Vineyard selectionEach vintage, the best sections of the Hemera Estate Shiraz vineyards and a selected growers Barossa Valley Shiraz are identified to have the power and intensity of flavours and tannins to be worthy of the JDR label. Careful vineyard management and bunch selection ensure only pristine fruit makes the grade.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/American oak barrels for 20 months of maturation. Careful barrel selection takes place before the wine is blended.Tasting EvaluationThis wine is crafted to provide complexity, structure and vibrancy, whilst still retaining the elegance for which Hemera Estate wines are renowned. The nose displays spiced, toasty oak merging with the pristine flavours of plums, blueberry and liquorice. The new oak tannins provide backbone to the palate yet are still rich and silky and compliment the fruit cake, forest berries and dark chocolate flavours.Technical notesVarietal composition: 100% ShirazRegion (GI): Barossa ValleyWinemaker: Alex MacClellandAlcohol : 14.5% alc/vol