Award Winner - International Wine Competition 2010
"94 POINTS. The impact of 22 months in 20% new French and 80% second use American oak barrels is immediately obvious, although there is a substantial well of plum and blackberry fruit to provide a balanced counter to that oak; the tannins are fine and ripe, and the wine has a long finish."- James Halliday.
This wonderful red is a very deep dark plum red with bright purple tinges. It has attractive raspberry fruit with subtle sweet oak maturation notes to highlight the aromas. Light licorice, spicy plum and black pepper combine with vanillin oak and chocolaty maturation flavours to add intricate levels of complexity.
The palate is an elaborate presentation of flavours richly layered with ripe fruit and subtle oak. Attractive raspberry and plum fruit with underlying sweet spices are combined with sweet vanilla and chocolaty oak maturation notes. Fine grained lingering tannins add to the long and persistent savoury fruit flavours.
2007 vintage will be remembered for the severe spring frosts that devastated unprotected vineyards across Coonawarra and reduced crops to less than 25% of usual yield. Ideal warm and dry conditions through veraison, combined with these lower yields, contributed to an earlier than usual commencement to the harvest of Shiraz. The low yields and ideal growing season provided excellent quality grapes that have in turn produced wines with intense varietal aromas, flavours and fine subtle tannins.
Matured for approximately 22 months in a combination of oak – 225 litre Barriques and 300 litre Hogsheads. 20% of the Barriques were new and predominantly French with the balance of wine maturing in older and predominantly American barrels.
The Katnook Estate range of premium quality, single varietal wines are an expression of the classic and unique characteristics of the Coonawarra wine region. Since 1980, Senior Winemaker Wayne Stehbens has passionately crafted the Katnook Estate range from selected distinguished vineyards, with a philosophy that reflects the essence of Coonawarra’s unique terroir.
Steeped in heritage and tradition, the Estate’s flagship range continues to be recognised and awarded both locally and internationally for the exceptional hallmark quality and style that is ‘Classic Coonawarra’.
Don't Pay: $40
WBW Rating: 94/100
Closure: Stelvin
Region: Coonawarra SA
Winemaker: Wayne Stehbens
Drink now until: 2022
Alc/Vol: 13.5 %
