Description
Vineyard:
Stansborough Vineyard, Williamstown
Viticulture:
Stansborough site: The site is around 260-280m above sea level with an east west aspect. Soil consists of a shallow red clay topsoil 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.
Zerk Site : Planted between 1880-1890, on own roots. This 1Ha vineyard is cane pruned with clone unknown. This vineyard normally is bottled under our Planta Circa label however in 2020 we declassified this vineyard to our Purple Hands Barossa Shiraz.
Winemaking:
The Shiraz was picked on the 26 and 27th February 2020.
The fruit was crushed into open fermenters, one open fermenter was seeded with Melody yeast with the Zerk Shiraz left until natural yeast fermentation commenced. Temperatures were allowed to reach 28C with header boards on the Stansborough allowing gentle extraction. The Zerk Shiraz was hand plunged 3 times daily. After 8 and 9 days on skins respectively the fruit was basket pressed and transferred into 44% new French oak with balance into 1-6 year old French oak hogsheads to undergo malo-lactic fermentation. After malo-lactic fermentation the wine was racked, blended then transferred back to the same oak and matured for another 16 months. The wine was pumped from oak in November.
Tasting Notes:
Purple/Red colour leads to an enticing nose of raspberry, licorice, cracked pepper with some dried herb showing. The French oak adding a vanilla and mocha note. Quite a dense palate with good concentration, licorice and bitter dark chocolate flavours tend to dominate the palate. Firm tannins (a hallmark of the 2020 vintage due to the dry conditions and small berries) do give texture and balance to the wine. This wine comes alive when enjoyed with food. This wine can be enjoyed now but will reward cellaring over the next 10 – 15 years.
Cellaring:
Drink now or cellar carefully and enjoy over the next 15 years.
