BAROSSA VALLEY

2017

COLOUR

Deep garnet with a slight brick hue, reflecting its age and gradual development.

NOSE

Medium to full intensity nose, showing lovely, developed complexity. There’s a harmony between aged notes—dried fruits like dates and raisin—and youthful elements such as dark berries. Cedar, baking spice, and anise from oak are clearly present but well-integrated, offering lift without overpowering the fruit.

PALATE

Rich and mouth-coating with fine, velvety tannins. The wine opens with flavours of fig jam, quince paste, and fruitcake, moving gracefully to a back palate seasoned with oak-driven spice—cedar, cinnamon, and clove. There’s a firm acid spine that keeps the structure lively, though it has begun to mellow, offering softness and elegance. The finish is long, soft, and deeply satisfying.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

This wine beautifully illustrates the charm of a cooler vintage. It’s entering its ideal drinking window, with a balance of aged character and structural integrity. The developed fruit, soft texture, and mellowed acidity make it both complex and approachable—a testament to its vintage and careful aging.

VINTAGE NOTES

The 2017 vintage stands out as a remarkable year for winemaking. The season commenced with a wet winter and spring, providing ample soil moisture. This was followed by a mild summer without major heatwaves, allowing for gradual and consistent ripening. An "Indian summer" extended into April, providing ideal conditions for fruit maturation and enhancing the aromatic profile of the wines.