2017 1921 Vines Old Paddock Shiraz

Region

Hunter Valley, NSW

Winemaker

Adrian Sparks

Colour

Deep purple

Aroma

A combination of black and red fruits with lovely supporting savory and spice elements.

Growing Conditions

An excellent year in the Hunter Valley. Dry throughout the growing season, the vineyards burst early but a cool spring slowed the growth periods, meaning ripening was around 2-3 weeks later than usual. December saw warm weather with average rainfall allowing for healthy and clean canopies giving excellent ripening conditions. January and February saw significantly lower than average rainfall conditions which meant ripening was even and let the team have the ability to pick fruit at its optimum ripeness.


Palate

Intense fruits linger effortlessly on the palate, supported by lovely acidity and a great tannin profile.

Vinification/Maturation

Taken from the first vineyard planted by Maurice O'Shea, the Old Paddock is a perfect site for Shiraz. Sheltered from the afternoon sun and winds, the rows run North to South and produce exceptional fruit from nearly 100 year old vines. The fruit was hand-picked and delivered to the winery before destemming and crushing into small open top fermenters. A short cold soak followed by an 8 day fermentation before pressing to nearly 30 % new large format French Oak. The wine was then transferred to tank before bottling.

Alcohol/Vol

13.5%

pH

3.49

Acidity

5.9

Food Matches

Peak Drinking

Will reward careful cellaring for up to 50 years

97 points - Campbell Mattinson

2020 Halliday Wine Companion

Stunning release. Firm, powerful, tannic and long. Spice notes aplenty, a roar of ripe cherry-plum fruit, graphite and wood smoke notes, a veneer of vanilla. There's no mucking about here; this announces itself from the outset and maintains commanding control throughout.

95 points - Gary Walsh

The Wine Front

“Old Paddock” and “Old Hill” are such good prosaic names aren’t they? I wonder when they became old? I ask myself the same question at whiles. Dark fruit, sweet earth, violet, spice and a kiss of vanilla oak here, it seems. It’s typical of its site, tending to that wonderful deep earthy character, richness, umami, plenty of grainy but ripe tannin, a sweetness and perfume coming through on a very long finish. You could say it encapsulates many of the best elements of Hunter Shiraz, and none of the bad ones.