The Colonial Estate Exile Barossa Valley Shiraz 2016

The bulk of the vines are dry grown old vines, which are pruned severely and receive two runs of green harvesting finally producing one tonne to two tonnes per acre. Exile grapes are then hand picked and the grapes sorted. The wine is fermented in vats after extreme cold maceration. The wines have their malolactic in new French oak, and are thereafter in the same oak for 24 months prior to bottling with minimal filtration and then further aging in bottle.

The Colonial Estate Exile Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Sourced from a small block in the Seppeltsfield region of the Barossa. The vines that make up Exile were pruned severely and as a result of this and minimal water they produce extremely small yields. Exile grapes are all hand picked and the grapes are selected in individual batches by winemaker and vigneron. The grapes are harvested then transported to the winery where they are de-stemmed and crushed individually to small static fermenters. Fermentation was brought on by the use of select yeast strains and the temperatures peaked at 28 degrees before chilling back to 20 degrees for the completion of fermentation. The fermenters were pumped over 3 times daily to ensure the perfect amount of colour and tannin was extracted from the skins. A small percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon was allowed to stay on skins for a week of additional maceration after the ferments were complete. The batches were then pressed into new French barrels where they under went malolatic fermentation and are then aged for 18 months before final barrel selection, blending and bottled with minimal filtration.

Penfolds Bin 389 South Australia Cabernet Shiraz 2015

Bin 389 is often referred to as ‘Baby Grange’, in part because components of the wine are matured in the same barrels that held the previous vintage of Grange. First made in 1960, by the legendary Max Schubert, this was the wine that helped to forge Penfolds solid reputation with red wine drinkers combining the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon with the richness of Shiraz. Bin 389 also exemplifies the judicious balance of fruit and oak.

After a dry South Australian winter reminiscent of 2006, vines were in water deficit at the beginning of spring and became accustomed to dry conditions quite early. Early budburst was noticeable across many regions and windy conditions during flowering were, in some regions, responsible for variable fruit set and lower than average yields come vintage. Dry spring conditions explained canopy growth and low yields, becoming typical of the 2013 growing season. Warm days were dispersed throughout October, November and in early January, contributing to an early start to the 2013 harvest and a short, condensed vintage. Dry and warm conditions, coupled with lower than average yields resulted in fruit showing strong, structural tannins and wines of great intensity and encouraging flavour.

Grape Variety: 51% Cabernet, 49% Shiraz