Wine Overview
The Howard Park Scotsdale Shiraz is hand crafted from fruit selected from the Great Southern’s Frankland River sub-region. The Frankland River is fast becoming recognised for its affinity to Shiraz and this site was specifically chosen and planted to vine in 1996 to become part of the Howard Park Single Vineyard series. As with all Howard Park wines, the vines are given extraordinary attention in the vineyard. Canopy management is designed to maximise fruit exposure to the sunlight and yields are kept low to achieve concentration in the grapes. The grapes are harvested according to flavour with little regard for analytical data. At completion of fermentation the Shiraz is pressed off into French oak barriques of which about 60% are new, the balance being 1 year old. The wine is then matured in barrel for approximately 18 months.
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Composition: |
100% Shiraz |
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Region: |
Scotsdale Vineyard, Denmark |
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Technical Notes: |
Vinification occurred in open top stainless steel fermenters with gentle hand-plunging, which is integral to tannin development and flavour extraction. After fermentation and some post fermentation maceration, the grapes were gently basket-pressed to oak barriques. A small component of the Shiraz was pressed early to finish fermentation in barrel and enhance palate texture, complexity and oak infusion.
Maturation in French oak barriques for approximately 18 months allowed for the full integration of the oak and grape tannins into the wine. After minimal fining and filtration, the wine was bottled in October 2010 and released 4 to 6 months after bottling.
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Tasting Notes: |
A dense and deep ruby colour with a bouquet of dark sweet plums, blackberries, liquorice, cracked black pepper and cocoa.
The palate structure is concentrated and compact with intense berry fruits, hints of brushed earth and chalk, entwined with ripe grape and fine oak tannins.
Whilst tightly knit in structure, time will allow this extraordinary wine to soften and yield its classic Great Southern heritage.
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Cellaring Notes: |
5-7 years |
Past Vintage
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