Coates, Shin Zen Bi Syrah, McLaren Vale

Sourced exclusively from old vine shiraz material in a number of exceptional vineyards in the Blewitt Springs and Willunga sub regions of the McLaren Vale, Duane's meticulous nature is very much on display here. All fruit was destemmed and wild fermented on skins for 3 weeks pressed into new Nadalie ‘Colbert’ and Seguin-Moreau ‘Grand Cru’ French oak barriques where it remained for 33 months. This bold approach to elevage is rarely seen and only attempted by the finest of producers …

Festival of Alex - Grand Birthday Dinner : Blackcurrant, plummy, blackberry, ash and smoke on the nose. Punchy fruit presence on the palate, though it does find some of that smoke and savoury note to give it an extra dimension. Powerful wine, but impressive that it finds that extra depth.