Inky dark in color with a mild black berry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some nice smooth black berry to match the nose. Not quite blueberry. On the medium length finish the wine has smooth tannins and acidity. There’s next to no pepper on this one, to my tastes this is more of a Syrah in style. It’s super food friendly. I would give it an 88 or so. Sadly not in the LCBO. Another one off the wine list at Lord Nelsons.
From the winery’s website:
2014 SHIRAZ
CLARE VALLEY & MT BENSON
COLOUR: Deep crimson with purple hues
BOUQUET: Wonderful blackberry and pepper spice with a hint of fruitcake and menthol.
PALATE: Superbly full bodied with layers of lush dark berry and plum fruit with subtle pepper and eucalypt nuances. A smooth restrained finish is balanced by the soft tannin structure and lingering spice.
CUISINE: Perfectly paired with barbecued foods, richly flavoured meats and game birds.
CELLARING
Under ideal conditions will develop further flavour complexity to 5
years.
Alcohol – 14.5% Alc/Vol
The warm Clare Valley climate provides lush dark berry fruit characters, whilst the cooler ripening conditions of the Mount Benson fruit provide berry flavours and varietal elegance. The grapes were harvested at optimum night temperatures and Baume with individual vineyard selections kept seperately
throughout. Ferment temperatures started at –20°C then were all owed to peak at 28-29°C and conducted in small static fermenters before being drained and pressed from skins then allowed to finish alcoholic and malolactic fermentation. Maturation was in French and American Oak.
