2005 Limestone Coast Shiraz
Tasting Notes
Shiraz wines are one of Australia's most famous wine exports. They are rich, vibrant and bursting with fresh fruit flavor. The 2005 Greg Norman Estates Limestone Coast Shiraz is deep, dark red with purple hues. Intense, lifted aromas of ripe, dark plum, blackberry, sweet vanillin and spice with light subtle hints of blueberry and blackcurrant fruit, all portend to a generous palate that is full flavored, balanced and long. The palate, though big and opulent, has an elegant, smooth texture, some mocha and cedar oak character combined with ripe, dark berry fruit and fine tannins. The mid palate's ripe berry flavors will, with time, reveal more complex characters such as dark chocolate, liquorice, wood smoke and warm leather, as the wine ages and evolves. A full bodied, rich rewarding Shiraz that expresses the warmth of the Australian vintage and the riper flavors, obtainable from the renowned Limestone Coast regions - a wine both generous and harmonious.
Grape Source
The fruit for this wine was sourced from vineyards in Padthaway and the famous Coonawarra region in South Australia. Dark, rich and full-bodied Shiraz fruit shows extra finesse, particularly when from vineyards grown on the rich red soils that overlay the region's hard limestone rock. The 2005 vintage was very good, remembered for its very dry summer and Autumn, the warm, dry conditions prevailing from April through to May. There was the occasional short overnight shower to maintain the vines, but these did not cause any disease. The warmth caused the fruit to ripen more quickly, subsequent harvesting beginning two weeks earlier, and this allowed the winemakers to pursue riper fruit flavors, generous tannins and bigger structured wines; particularly from Padthaway and Coonawarra, albeit with higher alcohols than normally expected.
Vinification
The individual vineyard parcels of fruit were harvested then fermented separately in rotary and static fermenters. The juice gently moved over the skins to extract the rich colors and flavors from the skins. The wine was then pressed off the skins and racked to new and seasoned American and French oak for maturation prior to blending and bottling.
Winemaker
Andrew Hales
Cellaring
Excellent drinking now but will reward careful cellaring for six to seven years.
Technical Details
Harvest Date: March - April 2005
pH: 3.49
Acidity: 6.35 g/L
Alcohol: 14.95%
Bottling date: 10 September 2006
Ratings & Reviews
Chicago Magazine (Nov. 2008)
"The 20 Best Steak houses: Best Wine Bets: Recommended affordable bottle at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse." - Dennis Ray Wheaton
Pittsburgh Magazine (June 1, 2008)
"Exhibits classic aromas and flavors of dark plum and blackberry with a touch of spice and cedar in the finish." - Bruce May
Wine Spectator (June 30, 2007)
"A strong leaf character runs through the currant and spice aromas and flavors of this lively, open-textured Shiraz. Not for everyone, but distinctive. Drink now through 2010. " - Harvey Steiman
