ECCENTRIC EXCELLENCEFrom its inception Wirra Wirra has been associated with eccentrics. (Unfortunately there are too few about these days.) Its founder was a noted cricketer, Robert Strangways Wigley, who having studied Law and Architecture, proved to be an embarrassment to his Adelaide establishment family. Pranks such as taking a pie cart for a joy-ride down King William Street and riding horseback through the Adelaide Town Hall were a foretaste of his later behavior.
Consequently, Wigley was sent off to country McLaren Vale, where his family hoped he would remain. Wigley proved to be an industrious fellow, planting a vineyard in 1894 and studying winemaking with Thomas Hardy, from whom he received high praise. When Wigley died in 1924, he had 240 acres under vine, however, his family were less than enthusiastic about viticulture and left the vineyards to fall into disrepair. By 1969, the once thriving enterprise had been reduced to seven acres and a derelict winery was all that remained.
Enter two eccentric kindred spirits, cousins Greg and Roger Trott. The duo rebuilt Wigley’s dream and along the way expanded the operation and added their own brand of eccentricity.
In particular it is Greg Trott that has made Wirra Wirra what it is today. “[His] own personality and philosophy has acted as a magnet to likeminds, those who see no point in being miserable for long and are dedicated to achieving excellence through hard work accompanied by copious fun.”
Wirra Wirra has had a history of outstanding winemakers. In the early days Brian Croser of Petaluma & Tony Jordan of Domaine Chandon consulted; then came along whiz kid Ben Riggs and most recently, the very talented Samantha Connew (she has degrees in Arts, Law and a diploma in Viticulture and Oenology). The 2001 Vintage was an outstanding one. We have already tasted a broad selection of wines both in barrel and bottle, to confidently claim that 2001 was a Great Year and comparable in parts of Australia to 1998 – but also different. The difference lies in the tannin structure of the 2001 wines. The colours are deep crimson purple and generally very deep to opaque. The tannins are far more accentuated than in 1998, but very fine and dry, yet perfectly balanced to the fruit. An unbalanced wine in its youth will never mature into a balanced wine. This is a vintage that has earned a place in the cellar, and the 2001 Wirra Wirra McLaren Vale Shiraz is an exceptional example.THE 2001 VINTAGE IS PROVING TO BE EXCEPTIONAL FOR SHIRAZ WITH THE 2001 WIRRA WIRRA McLAREN VALE SHIRAZ BEING A SHOWCASE WINE REPRESENTING OUTSTANDING VALUE FOR MONEY.
Tasting Notes: An outstanding Shiraz, in fact one of the most exciting Wirra Wirra wines to be released. Opaque black purple colour. Superb perfumed nose of vanilla, spice and violets with the violet notes dominant. The palate flavours explode, with plum and spice dominant over a very peppery back palate. Fine grained tannins, perfect balance, followed by an exceptionally long blackpepper spice aftertaste. A classic Shiraz with very good cellaring potential. Exceptional Value!
Cellar 4-5 years (2007-2008)
Alc/Vol: 14.5%
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