Barossa Wine Cartel Shiraz 2022 (6 bottles)

This is a straight Shiraz hand picked from Wayne and Suzi Ahrens' vineyard in Vine Vale. Wayne and Suzi run Small Fry Wines, and are one of the pioneers of organic and biodynamic viticulture here in the Barossa. As such, the fruit is certified organic and biodynamic.

Vine Vale is famous for its sandy soils, which produces lighter, more fragrant styles of wines. This wine is exactly that... more of a medium bodied wine rather than a full bodied wine. 50% whole bunch ferment gives the wine some crunchiness and spice, natural yeast gives the wine some more complexity and depth of flavour.

After basket pressing this wine by hand, I chose some old French oak hogsheads to let the wine age, but not pick up any oaky character as such. It also only spent 8 months in oak, which in comparison to most Barossa Shiraz, is a short period of time.

As always with our wines, no fining agents were used, so the wine is Vegan friendly and it was also bottled without filtration.

I am tasting this wine on a 30 degree day during summer here in the Barossa, so I popped the wine in the fridge for an hour before opening... Certainly an option with this wine on a warm day.

Smells like dark forest fruits- blackberries, blueberries, mulberries, but then some plum (even Davidson plum) and liquorice. It has a cedar like character on the nose and a spice cupboard or cigar box aroma.

Tastes bright and crunchy, but with a softness to it also... The whole bunches give the wine an extra layer of tannin, but they are super fine, almost velvet like. Dark and brooding , fruit wise. And almost a smoked meat/charcuterie character on the back palate. Definitely not your typical Barossa Shiraz, but there are enough similarities there for lovers of that classical style to appreciate this wine. Enjoy!

VARIETALS- 100% Shiraz

REGION- Barossa Valley

SUBREGION- 100% Vine Vale Sands

ALC/VOL- 14.0%

Vegan friendly.

BRAND: Barossa Wine Cartel

Available at: Covert Wine Co