Mount Horrocks Alexander Valley Watervale Clare Valley Shiraz
Country: Australia Region: South Australia Vintage: 2018
Category: Red Wine Colour: Red
Producer: Mount Horrocks
"Mount Horrocks is owned by winemaker Stephanie Toole, who restricts production to approximately 4000 cases per year in order to achieve her aims of quality and single vineyard expression. The Clare Valley winery was established in 1980 and purchased by Stephanie in 1993, since when she has made significant improvements to the wines, vineyards and winery. In 2014, the winery and vineyards were organically certified by the ACO (Australian Certified Organic).
Stephanie describes her wines as 'hand made food wines' with an emphasis on structure as well as generous fruit flavours. All grapes are estate grown and hand picked from three separate organically managed vineyards: Auburn vineyard for the 'Cordon Cut'; Watervale vineyard for the Riesling, Semillon and Shiraz; and Polish Hill River vineyard for the Cabernet Sauvignon, totalling nearly 10 hectares in the Clare Valley. Her persistence with classic, no-compromise winemaking and a fully integrated organic approach to growing sets Mount Horrocks wines apart from the mainstream.
Each release from Stephanie seems to eclipse the quality standard set by the previous vintage. The Watervale Riesling is a regional classic, while the 'Cordon Cut' Riesling ranks among Australia's best sweet wines. Stephanie's Shiraz gets better every year. Stephanie decided to make a Nero d'Avola after falling for the variety on a trip to Italy. Hand picked at full ripeness, it is a wine that is bright and lively, medium weight and bursting with muscular fruit."
Product Features: Sustainable; Vegan; Vegetarian
Winemaker: Stephanie Toole
Vineyards:
The Mount Horrocks Shiraz was produced from low yielding vines produced from their estate owned single vineyard in Watervale, Clare Valley, which is certified organic.
Vinification:
The fruit was hand picked and fermented to dryness on the skins to improve structure. 10% was whole-bunch, foot-crushed in open fermenters and the rest in red wine fermenters, pumped over five times a day with maximum temperatures reaching 28-30°C. It was racked into barriques and aged for 18 months in French oak, of which 40% was new.
Tasting Notes:
The 18th release of this outstanding Clare Valley Shiraz is deep crimson purple with a nose of ripe dark fruits, cocoa and gentle spice. Classic in character, it is rich, juicy and full of red and black fruits. The palate is beautifully elegant, balanced with long fine tannins, spicy fruit and oak. Stephanie’s deft use of a mix of new and old ensures a balanced, age-worthy wine.
Food Suggestion: Great with grilled steak, roast game and warm salads of roast vegetables.
Closure: Stelvin ABV:14% Acidity [g/l]: 7
