Description
Vineyard:
Single Vineyard : Stansborough vineyard. The site is around 260-280m above sea level with an east west aspect. Soil consists of a shallow red clay top soil over friable red clay with bands of quartz, ironstone and shale. The vineyard was planted in 2000 and is own rooted, clones are heritage and 1654. The vines are spur pruned to 32-36 buds per vine. The mid rows are cultivated to winter active fescue.
Winemaking:
Machine picked and crushed to concrete open fermenter. After fermentation commenced heading boards were placed on top. Fermentation temperatures were allowed to peak at 28C before cooling to 24C for the balance. After 10 days on skins the wine was basket pressed to a combination of new and older 500 lt French oak barrels. The wine was matured on lees in oak for 10 months before racking and returning to oak for a further 7 months before bottle. No finings used.
Tasting Notes:
Purple red colour very good depth. Aromas of liquorice, plum & raspberry. Mouth filling palate with textural tannins, loads of dark chocolate & raspberry flavour.
Cellaring:
Drink now or cellar carefully and enjoy over the next 10+ years.
Analysis:
Alcohol 14.1%, pH 3.59, TA 6.44g/L, VA 0.68g/L, F/TSO2 32/72, R/S 2.45 g/l
Current Vintage Accolades
James Halliday – 95 Points
Previous Vintage Accolades
James Halliday – 96 Points
Patrick Eckel – 94 Points
Ray Jordan – 94 Points
Wine Showcase Magazine – 95 Points
Australian & NZ Boutique Wine Show – Bronze Medal
Reviews
“An essay in Barossa shiraz, with ripe, sweet plum and blackberry fruit at the core. Around that there’s the regional nuances of dark chocolate, baked red earth and warm tar, enhanced with a subtle dash of French oak. It’s not a blockbuster of a wine, and although it’s mouthfilling the supple tannin keeps it in good shape. Drink or cellar. it’s a win-win”. – James Halliday Wine Companion
“Love this example of shiraz from the Williamstown region within the Barossa from one of the best vintages. Such a gorgeously expressive wine showing smooth textural features. Like the plummy licorice flavors and the subtle use of oak. Chalky tannins provide the support and the understated oak provides just the right touch. Cellar 15 years.” – Ray Jordan 94 Points
“The After Five Wine Co range of wines has been created to showcase individual vineyards in the Barossa, with this Shiraz sourced from Stansborough vineyard the Williamstown Sub-Region. A deep dark purple in the glass, the nose evolves over time with plum, cured meat and liquorice strap working well together. There is a silky thread of milk chocolate that ties the wine together from start to finish, giving a suppleness and richness to expressive dark berry fruits. Oak also leaves is mark, but in a subtle and integrated way, the flashes of liquorice strap from the nose also seeing their way through to the palate with some earthen, almost herbaceous notes that are soaked up by considerable length of plum. Give this time and watch it flourish. Optimal Drinking : 2017 – 2030” – Patrick Eckel 94 Points
