2023 Plantagenet 'Lancaster' Shiraz

Appearance: Deep purple.

Aroma: Blue fruits, mocha and warm exotic spice.

Palate: This wine is dark, brooding and intense with well-integrated, dusty tannins. The palate is powerful and structured, with a warmer Great Southern vintage lending dark cherry, black fruits and clove. It will develop impressively over time.

Machine harvested fruit was destemmed, chilled, and transferred to a mix of open and closed fermenters for cold soaking. They must be allowed to warm naturally before being inoculated with a cultured yeast strain and fermented on skins with pump-overs twice daily. Pressed to tank and racked to French barriques (30% new) for malolactic fermentation and maturation for 17 months before blending, filtration and bottling.

- Mike Garland, Chief Winemaker

The 2021 Great Southern vintage was characterised by a warmer than average March that aided ripening conditions for all key varietals, but particularly Shiraz and Cabernet. Rain in February provided critical soil moisture that allowed canopies to remain healthy and green and the normal cool nights in March allowed optimum acidity to be retained in the aromatic white varieties. Late rains in April courtesy of the remnants of cyclone Seroja delayed the harvest of some of the premium Ultra Cabernet Sauvignon blocks at Wyjup Vineyard however the fine weather returned, and the fruit was allowed to hang longer and to further develop flavour and concentration on the vine.

Vintage: 2023

Varietal(s): Shiraz

Vineyard: 60% Shiraz from our Wyjup Vineyard, 40% Bouverie Vineyard.

Technical Analysis: Alcohol 14.9% | pH 3.68 | TA 5.80 g/L

Food pairing: Spicy Moroccan Lamb Shanks.

Cellaring potential of 10-15 years.