1999 Barwang Vineyard Shiraz Winery: Barwang Vineyard Vintage: 1999 Region: Hilltops NSW Bottle Size: 750ml Variety: Shiraz Price: $30.00 (out of stock)

The Fruit:

A 100 per cent Shiraz sourced entirely from McWilliam’s Barwang Vineyard (established 1969), located in the emerging, cool-climate Hilltops region, on the southwest slopes of the Great Dividing Range, near Young in New South Wales. Mild to warm ripening conditions with very little rain produced grapes with intense flavour and colour. The grapes were harvested in mid April.

Vinification:

After crushing, the must was cold macerated on skins for 48 hours and a neutral yeast was introduced before being fermented for a further seven to ten days at 22°C. The fermentation was ‘headed-down’ to keep the skins in contact with the juice. A large portion (80 per cent) of the blend completed fermentation in new American oak barrels. The balance was transferred to American (50 per cent) and French (50 per cent) oak barrels for 15 months maturation. The wine was then blended, filtered and bottled.

Tasting Note:

Colour:

Deep crimson with purple hues.

Bouquet:

Fragrant pepper and plum fruit aromas with cinnamon and spicy oak characters on the nose.

Palate:

Rhone-like palate with intense stewed plum, spice and liquorice flavours supported by mocha and cinnamon oak characters. The finish is long and velvety with fine grained tannins.

Cellaring:

Offers great drinking now, but will support careful cellaring for up to seven years.

Chef Peter Howard’s Food Suggestions:

Moroccan lamb or peppered steak with roasted chat potatoes.

Alcohol by volume:

14.0%

JIM BRAYNE

McWilliam’s Chief Winemaker