2021 Tscharke Gnadenfrei North Shiraz 750ml

Wine Details

Region: Barossa Valley, South Australia

Vintage: 2021

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Shiraz

Vegan Friendly

Organic Wine

Vintage Notes

Deep soaking winter rains that trickled into spring provided a spectacular start to the growing season. The moist soils minimised the threat of frosts, followed with a mild spring at bud break made for a promising start to an incredible vintage. Despite its dryness, the growing season was relatively mild. Warm days, cool nights and little to no disease pressure gave rise to fruit rich in flavour and naturally high acid, all with relatively modest sugar levels. The wines produced from 2021 will drink well young and many, if allowed, will cellar well to remind us of the great vintage. One of the best vintages in the recent decade.

Vineyard Notes

This shiraz vineyard is situated on Barossa’s most picturesque aspect. Marananga is home to many of the greatest wines ever produced in Barossa Valley. The small vineyard was planted in 2017 and grows on some of the world’s oldest soils. The vineyard aspect is south easterly facing and gives rise to slow ripening fruit. The site has a large area of land native vegetation which helps enrich the vineyard’s ecology. Gnadenfrei North soils are shallow, predominantly red brown clay with rich deposits of pink quartz.

Winemaking

The fruit was hand-picked on the 1st of April, at sunrise. 75% of it was tipped into concrete fermenters as whole bunches, while the remaining fruit was crushed on top to cover. After five days of cold fermentation and gentle cap management, the ferments were foot stomped. Five days later the wine was pressed to tank to undergo MLF. By the end of April the dry wine was racked into two concrete eggs to mature for a further 15 months before being bottled and aged prior to its release.

Tasting Notes

Semi-translucent crimson colour.

The bouquet is dominated by spice. Notes of cardamom, clove, dried herbs and dried violets are supported by a background of dark fruit, plum and blueberry. Mineral notes speak of the rugged slope on which the grapes grow.

The palate shows extreme precision. A tight, linear structure makes the wine almost electric. A vivid forest fruit impression interlaces with floral and herbaceous flavours.

Tension and beauty define this shiraz, with a long finish of exotic spices and velvety tannins.

Best decanted in its youth, this wine will develop gracefully over the next decade and beyond.