2002 Limestone Coast Shiraz Cabernet

Tasting Notes

This blend has become an Australian classic. The Shiraz (75%) contributes spice, ripe plum and blackberry aromas and flavors, while the Cabernet Sauvignon (25%) fruit gives rich mulberry and fine velvety tannins. Attractive cedar and vanilla characters are derived from oak maturation, and contributes complexity and a great length of flavor.

Grape Source

The fruit for this wine was sourced from vineyards in Padthaway, Wrattonbully and Coonawarra, which are located on the Limestone Coast of South Australia. The Limestone Coast has become famous for its high quality fruit grown on the rich, red soils overlying hard limestone rock. The 2002 vintage produced small yields due to lower set during flowering and the cool summer ensured a slow even ripening. These conditions ensured the development of intense varietal flavors, good acid balance and moderately ripe tannins in the fruit.

Vinification

The individual parcels of fruit were harvested and then fermented separately in small rotary fermenters for 6-7 days. The wine was pressed off the skins and racked into new and seasoned American and French oak barrels for 18 months prior to bottling.

Winemaker

Andrew Hales

Cellaring

Excellent drinking now but will reward careful cellaring for 3 to 5 years.

Technical Details

Alcohol: 14%
pH: 3.45
Acidity: 6.2g/L
Residual Sugar: 2.6g/L

 

Ratings & Reviews

Golf Digest (September 2008)
"Very flavorful with a nice finish. Fruit notes suggest more Shiraz than Cab." - Peter Morrell

 

Chicago Tribune (Star Pours, January 4, 2007)
"An informal blind tasting by the tasting panel showed some of these wines are as distinctive as the name on the label: 2002 Greg Norman Estates Shiraz Cabernet Limestone Coast - Colored a black-cherry red, this tannic wine had a woodsy scent and was rife with notes of cedar, green pepper and leather." - Bill Daley