Vintage conditions The 2019 growing season was a challenging one from the start with a very dry winter and spring with frost events in September disrupting budburst. Windy conditions affected flowering and further frost episodes and hail in November caused further challenges. Very hot and dry conditions during summer and lack of rain resulted in small berries and low bunch weights resulting in the lowest yields in recent decades. The resultant wines have great colour, intense flavours and firm tannins. Vineyard selection The “Home Block” Shiraz was exclusively sourced from our estate-grown Block 3A Shiraz vines planted in 1994. Winemaking Once 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 top 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 oak barrels for 19 months maturation. Careful barrel selection takes place before the wine is blended. The wine is neither fined nor filtered. Tasting Evaluation Colour: Dark purple, with almost black core. Aroma: Intense bouquet of dark plum, black cherry, espresso, with mocha notes. Vanilla pod and gingernut biscuit hide in the background. Palate: Saturated palate of dark berries, savoury French oak spice complimented with fine grain tannins. Vibrant red apple acidity provides focus and length.

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.

The limited release philosophyHemera Estates Limited Release collection enables us to showcase the most unique wines of the vintage, whether it be fruit from a specific block within our vineyard, or a distinctive parcel or variety that has proven itself to be outstanding. This collection enables us to bring to you in their purest form the wines that have most excited us in the winery.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 Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from the world-famous Katnook Estate vineyard in the Coonawarra wine region.Winemaking Once 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 tannin. Towards the end of fermentation, the wine is drained and then pressed to a combination of 77% new French oak barrels for 17 months of maturation. Careful barrel selection takes place before the wine is blended. The wine is neither fined, nor filtered.Tasting EvaluationColour: Deep, dark purple verging on black core with a crimson rim.Aroma: Intense aromas of black olive, black currant, dark plum, graphite, dark chocolate awakens the senses. Wafts of sizzling bacon fat, hints of subtle bay leaf and cedar oak spice are released as the wine warms up in the glass.Palate: Red currant, rhubarb and dark plum flavours dominate. Fleshy mid-palate considering the 100% Cabernet fruit. Zingy acidity as you would expect from a wine over 13% alcohol. Dusty, verging on chalky tannins. None of the typical Coonawarra capsicum/bell pepper or Eucalyptus that might be expected from the 2017 vintage. Technical notesVarietal composition : 100% Cabernet SauvignonRegion (GI) : Coonwarra Winemaker : Jason BarretteAlcohol : 13.2% alc/volpH : 3.47TA : 6.2g/LResidual Sugar : 0.17g/LBottled : 19 October 2018