'Alexander Munro' Shiraz (aged release)

Hunter Valley

2009

Red Wine

Shiraz

750mL

13%

Screw Cap

‘Alexander Munro’ Shiraz is our flagship wine and made from the best parcel of shiraz fruit we receive each year.

Situated in Pokolbin, the ‘Ivanhoe’ vineyard is the Shiraz source for this wine and has been consistently our best Shiraz fruit source since 2001. The vines have an average age of 40 years, with some much older and are dry-land grown.

Hand picked fruit was crushed into open vats and plunged twice daily to ensure maximum extraction. The wine was then pressed out straight into French oak of which 40 % was new. After 20 months of maturation the wine was lightly egg white fined and then bottled with minimal filtration. 2009 was a far better vintage in the Hunter Valley than the disastrous 2008 for Shiraz. The early ripening vineyards that avoided the heavy rainfall on St. Valentines Day (120mm in 24 hours) have produced some very impressive wines. Fruit picked after this date made good wines, but are a bit lighter in body.

Slight dulling of the crimson colour but still in great shape for its age. The nose has some secondary aromas of leather and spice, but there is still a strong core of fresh red fruits underlying. The palate is silky and supple, the fine dusty tannin in harmony with layers of red fruits.

This wine has all the characteristics that are required for long term cellaring. GOLD Medal—Class 49—2011 Winewise Small Vigneron Awards

Red meat dishes and aged cheeses.