Monolith Vintners Old Vine Barossa Valley Shiraz 2008

TASTING NOTES

Black with crimson to brick red hues. A massive all encompassing nose, it’s a little intimidating but once allowed to breathe you will find wild blackberries, pipe smoke and pepper which are supported by a dark core of espresso roast, black currants and coal. The palate shows superb concentration offering up tremendous texture and combines great richness with subtle notes of olive tapenade, saddle leather, alcohol and minerals. Brooding and densely packed, this style of wine requires decanting and time to breathe to soften prior to consuming although will be cellared prior to release the wine has the fruit, alcohol and tannin structure to ensure cellaring for many more years where it will continue to evolve.

TECHNICAL

The 2008 vintage proved to be a difficult one despite a near perfect growing season we couldn’t predict the record heat wave in March that lasted for 16 days. The dry grown, old vines that yielded this fruit managed to produce wonderful fruit despite small volumes. We hand picked the fruit in early March on the 5th just prior to the most severe heat. The fruit was transported to the winery where it was gently de-stemmed into concrete open top fermenters. It was then carefully nurtured for 7 days on skins with pump overs occurring twice daily, varying in duration and intensity. When primary fermentation was almost complete, the wine was drained from the skins and the must is gently basket pressed for 8 hours. The wine remains in a stainless steel tank until primary fermentation is completed. It is then run directly into new French barriques where it spent the next 60 months. Once the oak and the wine had perfectly become one the wine is blended and bottled without the use of filtration or fining.

A wonderfully example of big and bold Barossa Shiraz which will stand the test of time, ensure it is allowed to breathe for at least 3 hours prior to consuming.