| Vintage
The 2004 vintage was marked by warm and dry conditions. Overall it was slightly cooler than 2003 giving rise to milder fruit flavours with excellent balance and mouthfeel to the wines.
Label Integrity
100% Shiraz, (100% Margaret River).
Winemaking
For the second time in decades this wine is wholly made from Sandalford’s own estate old-vine fruit. These dry-grown vines are now 35 years old. After crushing and de-stemming this wine was fermented at a moderate pace in stainless steel static fermenters with a selected yeast strain prior to finishing primary fermentation in 50% new and 50% one-year old fine-grain American oak. Following MLF in barrel the wine was matured for 15 months in this oak prior to blending, bottling and release in mid 2007.
Tasting Notes
The old-vine fruit from Margaret River really shines in this wine. The nose and palate are loaded with super-ripe blackberries, mulberries and plum flavours. Blended in with these are the traditional hallmarks of great Shiraz, the spicy elements of pepper, cinnamon and anise. All this is complemented by judicious use of oak and this component gives rise to flavours of rum ‘n’raisin, mocha and a hint of chocolate. The mouthfeel is medium to full-bodied with silky smooth tannins and beautifully balanced textural nuances. This wine will reward cellaring for at least a decade from the vintage date. The use of screwcap as the closure for this wine can only enhance all of the aforementioned characters both now and in to the future.
Assessment
“Old-fashioned Australian red wine. Malty, vanillin, coffeed oak slathered atop dark, pruney, blackberried fruit flavour. Sweet, boisterous, overweight red, kept tight by chunky, blocky tannin. Drink: 2009-2015. 87 points.”
Campbell Mattison, The Wine Front, September 5th 2007.
“This old vine shiraz shows great intensity of shiraz that hold up to what could almost be too much oak except for the underlying fruit. A bit more bottle age should see it balance out. Lots of clove and nutmeg from the oak, rich black fruits, dark chocolate and some sweet dark earth and tobacco complete the picture. It's held back by the screw cap (no complaints about that) so decant and let it open up.”
Christopher Hayes, Eat & Drink, 20th September 2007.
“Fairly robust and powerful shiraz showing quite a deal of edgy oak just at the moment. The dense rich palate delivers with lots of earthy ripe savoury shiraz character. Toasty mocha oak works beautifully and with a little more time it will be a beauty. 95/100”
Ray Jordan, Ray Jordans Wine Guide 2008.
“Smooth and stylish, this rather polished Shiraz has a slightly jammy expression of cherries, plums, blackberries and raspberries, with the undertones of licorice, game meats and a faint tomato-like regional influence. Its juicy palate is supported by fresh vanilla oak and firmish but pliant tannin, finishing with lingering notes of black pepper and menthol.”
Wine Annual 2008, Jeremy Oliver.
Ratings
- **** - Winestate Magazine, September/October 2007
Awards
- 2007 New Zealand International Wine Show: Gold
- 2007 Swan Valley Wine Show: Gold
- 2007 WA Wine Show: Silver
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