2018 Spring Garden Shiraz

A blended Shiraz from a selected vineyard across the Clare Valley, and named after Kevin’s Great Grandfather, Tom Duke’s family farm on Duke Road, Penwortham. Tom Duke was a local businessman and orchardist whose own father, Alfred Duke, had arrived in Penwortham in the early 1860’s. Other than growing and drying currants, Spring Gardens farm was typically horticultural, the rich soils and abundant rainfall of the period allowing Tom to grow world-class citrus, pears, apples, blackberries, cherries and quince while developing a large beekeeping business that continued to thrive for decades. It was an easy decision to name one of Woodvale’s finest Shiraz after that historic farming property.

Varietal: Shiraz 100%

Vintage: 2018

Region: Clare Valley

Vineyards: A blend of three vineyards across the Clare Valley (Lakota, Netherby, and Milburn)

Season Report: A cooler than expected vintage, characterised by slow controlled ripening, intermittent rainfall and cool nights balanced by warm and clear days. A year with tremendous palate length, fine-grained tannins, poise, and well-honed structure.

Winemaking: All parcels were kept separate throughout the process, pumped over by hand and basket pressed straight to a collection of new and seasoned French oak hogsheads. Final blending and bottling is neither fined nor filtered.

Cellaring: Can be enjoyed young or allowed to develop further depth and complexity with another twelve to fifteen years of cellaring.

Tasting Notes: Inky red in colour, lifted dark cherries, red fruits, and licorice infusion on the nose. Textured, fine-grained and persistent on the palate, the flavours of dark cherries, licorice, and tar are further enhanced by the supportive charry French oak nuances.  

Food Pairing Suggestion: Braised beef cooked with winter vegetables in a red wine sauce!