A combination of small (8 tonne) and large (30 tonne) fermenters have been used with a fermentation cycle of 8 to 12 days. Select parcels were fermented with a percentage of viognier grapes, other parcels were fermented with viognier juice. This has given a soft and stylish wine showing subtle viognier aromatics combined with the medium weight and structure of shiraz. Sourced from both Barossa Valley and Eden Valley shiraz vineyards, with an average age of 30-50 years. Small volumes of Eden Valley viognier were fermented with the shiraz.Smooth, silken and flooded with plums, cedar, vanilla and sweet jubey raspberries with just subtle whiffs of the florals of viognier. On the palate the wine shows rich black fruits with peppery spices, cloves and cardamon seeds, finishing with a lingering coffee anise texture.
Wine Maker Notes From the 2006 vintage of the Hand Picked Shiraz Viognier, we began using theskins only of the Viognier grapes in addition to the traditional method of cofermentingselect parcels of both Shiraz and Viognier grapes together. Theskins on their own can often provide even more powerful aroma and texture,and this helps create another dimension of flavour and complexity to this wine.This Shiraz Viognier wine is full depth red in colour with purple hues, andshows violet, wild berry and dark cherry aromas, meaty and spicy with blackpepper hints. The palate is medium- to full-bodied with beautifully definedfruit, juicy right in the middle with a long, intense and elegant palate withblack espresso-like tannins to finish.