1996 Rosemount Balmoral Syrah Winery: Rosemount Vintage: 1996 Region: McLaren Vale Bottle Size: 750ml Variety: Syrah Price: $75.00 (out of stock)

Balmoral Syrah 1996

This outstanding McLaren Vale Syrah was named Balmoral after the Oatley family homestead, built in 1852. Sourcing the best quality fruit from 50-100 year old McLaren Vale vineyards, the wine was first produced in 1989 and in 1992 it was named Balmoral.

Balmoral is a highly stylised wine, reflecting old vine South Australian Syrah. Its velvety palate structure and rich expressive fruit has made it an extremely sought after wine in previous years and each vintage continues to build on its reputation.

Vineyard Region

McLaren Vale

Vintage Conditions

The 1996 vintage enjoyed a relatively mild growing season. Typically for the region there was little rainfall throughout the summer, with vines relying on subsoil moisture from the winter rains. The fruit harvested in mid April consisted of small berries, which yielded a rich deep colour and particularly intense fruit flavour.

Grape Variety

Shiraz (Syrah)

Maturation

A small proportion of wine was run off skins to finish fermentation in barrel whilst the balance received an extended post fermentation maceration to fully extract ripe tannins. Matured for 20 months in American oak with full malolactic fermentation.

Winemaker Comments:

Philip Shaw

Colour

An impenetrable deep red still holding purple hues.

Nose

A brooding, intense aroma of ripe berries and spice has integrated perfectly with the American oak characters, giving a powerful and immediately appealing nose.

Palate

Velvety rich with an inky concentration of blackberry, liquorice and spice combining perfectly with savoury  oak. The particularly intense, ripe palate and the well rounded tannins ensures that this wine, despite its power, is instantly approachable.

Wine Analysis

Alc/Vol: 14.5%

Last Tasted

9 Nov 2001

Peak Drinking

Now - 2011

Food Matches

Ideally suited to Beef