The Wizard is made in the Ripasso method developed in Valpolicella in northern Italy. After the making of our amarone style wine, “The Pagan”, we retain the skins and then select our best batches of shiraz from the vintage and re-ferment it over those skins. The technique is used to give the wine more depth and results in a velvety fine tannin structure.
The Wizard normally spends around 3 weeks on the Pagan skins and is then repressed using our basket press and put to oak for 22 months.
Awards and Accolades
2013 Vintage: 94 Points - Gary Walsh, The Wine Front "It’s deep, plush and so comfy, with tannin as smooth as stroking a velour beanbag. Chocolate, dark berries, malt, almonds, leather and spice, perfectly pitched acidity and luxurious delivery of flavour without being heavy or sickly. Has length with a kiss of strawberry chocolate and spice in the aftertaste. And those tannins just roll out like red carpet. Gee, this is beautifully made and turned out."
About the Winery
Koltz began as a small wine label in 1995 when winemaker Mark Day and Anna Koltunow made their first wine using grapes from the Bottin Vineyard in McLaren Vale. Since that time Koltz has evolved and now specialises in shiraz and shiraz blends from the McLaren Vale region, renowned for its shiraz wines worldwide. Mark Day has worked as a wine maker for Maxwell Wines and Wirra Wirra in McLaren Vale and as a consultant in Italy and France over the last 6 European vintages.
Koltz is a very small producer and all are wines are hand crafted using traditional methods in that they are fermented in open vats and when dry, basket pressed and put to oak. We try to make wines that are individual and reflect our philosophy that wines should be complex but a pleasure to drink at any stage of their evolution.
We are located on a scenic vineyard in the Blewitt Springs region of McLaren Vale and are now in the process of building a small boutique winery. Our estate wines will reflect another phase of Koltz evolution, combining individual attention and European experience with Australian style based on shiraz from our vineyard.
Don't Pay: $39.00
WBW Rating: 95/100
Closure: Stelvin
Region: McLaren Vale, SA
Winemaker: Mark Day
Drink now until: 2030
Alc/Vol: 14.5 %