Shiraz – seriously cool Tim Kirk 21 st  September, 2010 Landmark Australia Tutorial
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Shiraz planted in New South Wales in the 1830s The Barossa Grange Clare Valley – Wendouree Great Western – Colin Preece, Bests Old Block Tahbilk The Hunter Valley – Maurice O’Shea Where have we come from?
Australian wine owes a huge debt of gratitude to generations of South Australian Shiraz growers and makers. Many of our greatest Shiraz wines can be found here. Potent, black fruited wines with a subtext of cola, aniseed and tar. I often find an enticing element, something akin to a glowing ember at the heart of these wines. It’s as if the warmth of the South Australian sun radiates through their very core.  They are often powerfully fruit driven wines with a depth and generosity that is a wonder to behold. They can live and evolve for decades. These are and will continue to be a mighty expression of Australian Shiraz. However….
Australia is a big, beautiful country. There is a large diversity in the scope of it’s grape growing terrain. Shiraz, perhaps more than any other variety, responds to the landscape in which it is grown. You would be forgiven for thinking there is no varietal tie between a big black fruited Barossa and a spicy Mornington Peninsula Shiraz. The role of the winegrower is to capture what is noble and distinctive in a landscape, wherever that may be. We honour Australia’s warm climate Shiraz heritage, but excitement is growing about the many sites in cool-climate areas that show enormous potential, now routinely being realised, for serious Shiraz. The Winemaker as Landscape Artist
There is a world of Australian Shiraz that is only partially known outside our borders. From an aroma/flavour point of view, these wines tend towards the savoury. Instead of the black fruit and cola offered by the warmer climate South Australian model, cool-climate Shiraz offers an array of spice. Pepper certainly, but so much more than that. Herbs, florals, cinnamon, nutmeg, roast meats. Great Rhone wine is herbal. Herbs are beautiful. The aromas of these wines carry more red fruit than black. These are medium bodied wines with fine, long chain tannins.  For a number of the makers represented in this tasting, Burgundy is as much in the frame as the Rhone. A Celebration of Spice
What do we want out of wine? Wine as a thing of beauty, capturing a sense of place. A central element of the table culture of a civilized society. The natural partner of good food. Elegant, subtle, medium-bodied reds required. The rise and rise of cool-climate Shiraz. A Great Future
 

Masterclass: Shiraz, presented by Tim Kirk

  • 1.
    Shiraz – seriouslycool Tim Kirk 21 st September, 2010 Landmark Australia Tutorial
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    Shiraz planted inNew South Wales in the 1830s The Barossa Grange Clare Valley – Wendouree Great Western – Colin Preece, Bests Old Block Tahbilk The Hunter Valley – Maurice O’Shea Where have we come from?
  • 5.
    Australian wine owesa huge debt of gratitude to generations of South Australian Shiraz growers and makers. Many of our greatest Shiraz wines can be found here. Potent, black fruited wines with a subtext of cola, aniseed and tar. I often find an enticing element, something akin to a glowing ember at the heart of these wines. It’s as if the warmth of the South Australian sun radiates through their very core. They are often powerfully fruit driven wines with a depth and generosity that is a wonder to behold. They can live and evolve for decades. These are and will continue to be a mighty expression of Australian Shiraz. However….
  • 6.
    Australia is abig, beautiful country. There is a large diversity in the scope of it’s grape growing terrain. Shiraz, perhaps more than any other variety, responds to the landscape in which it is grown. You would be forgiven for thinking there is no varietal tie between a big black fruited Barossa and a spicy Mornington Peninsula Shiraz. The role of the winegrower is to capture what is noble and distinctive in a landscape, wherever that may be. We honour Australia’s warm climate Shiraz heritage, but excitement is growing about the many sites in cool-climate areas that show enormous potential, now routinely being realised, for serious Shiraz. The Winemaker as Landscape Artist
  • 7.
    There is aworld of Australian Shiraz that is only partially known outside our borders. From an aroma/flavour point of view, these wines tend towards the savoury. Instead of the black fruit and cola offered by the warmer climate South Australian model, cool-climate Shiraz offers an array of spice. Pepper certainly, but so much more than that. Herbs, florals, cinnamon, nutmeg, roast meats. Great Rhone wine is herbal. Herbs are beautiful. The aromas of these wines carry more red fruit than black. These are medium bodied wines with fine, long chain tannins. For a number of the makers represented in this tasting, Burgundy is as much in the frame as the Rhone. A Celebration of Spice
  • 8.
    What do wewant out of wine? Wine as a thing of beauty, capturing a sense of place. A central element of the table culture of a civilized society. The natural partner of good food. Elegant, subtle, medium-bodied reds required. The rise and rise of cool-climate Shiraz. A Great Future
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