2021 Vertō Barossa Shiraz
2021 Vertō Barossa Shiraz
Grape Variety: Shiraz
Origin: A selection of Old Vine Shiraz vineyards across the Eden and Barossa Valleys, blended together to create a wine of density and intensity. Open fermented and matured in a combination of ceramic egg and new and seasoned French Oak casks, this is a combination of exceptional vineyards and minimal intervention in the winery.
Sub Region: Springton, Eden Valley; Greenock, Barossa Valley
Elevation: Between 290 and 380m above sea level
Soil Types: The Eden Valley was once a part of an ancient sea bed, the thin loam soils sit above a substrate of red clay containing rose quartz and black mica schist fragments. In the heat of summer, cool breezes and low night temperatures promote long, slow ripening of fruit resulting in complex flavours with balanced acidity and fine, silky tannin. The dense red clays of the North West of the Barossa give tiny berries, thick skins and natural tannins, making a combination of these regions a perfect balancing act.
Winemaking: The vineyards are hand harvested in the cool of the morning and left to slowly commence fermentation under a layer of inert gas. Some stalks and whole berries are combined in the ferment, with daily plunging by hand over the course of several weeks. After draining the free run, the skins are gently transferred to a basket press and pressed slowly overnight. Select parcels are transferred to ceramic eggs to give the natural lees stirring to develop palate structure and breath. Other parcels are aged in a mix of 225L and 500L new and seasoned French Oak barrels for 20 months. The wine is then racked to tank and bottled without fining or filtration.
Cellaring: A decade or more.
97 Points - “Addictive aromas of black and purple fruit combined with cedar, olive and dark chocolate nuances lead the way to a gloriously opulent palate that’s fleshy and mouthfilling. The wine displays outstanding depth and power, while remaining graceful and flowing to a prolonged engaging finish. At its best: now to 2038.”
Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Oct. 2021
95 Points - “Really dark and deep in the glass. Full throttle aromatics of dark plums, mocha, plum pudding, vanilla and oak. The flavours are likewise largely proportioned and mouth-filling, with plums, chocolate and spice and a creaminess to the texture. The wine is big, bold and brazen, but it also has balance and a structured savouriness to it that makes this a delicious wine, but a bit of time tucked away will make it even better.”
The Real Review, 14/3/21