1998 Turkey Flat Vineyards Barossa Shiraz

Notes sourced from Turkey Flat Vineyard.

The Turkey Flat Vineyard boasts some of the Oldest Shiraz Vines in the world. Planted in 1847 these hard-working gnarled old vines are still producing fantastic fruit. They receive no irrigation with their roots extending metres into the soil in search of moisture. Much of the credit for the best Shiraz made in the Barossa is due to old vines such as these. The fact that these vines still exist is largely due to a far-sighted quarantine scheme, in which South Australia was spared the phylloxera outbreak which devastated the vineyards of Europe, America and subsequently parts of Australia in the late 1800's.

The intensity and concentration of this wine is a reflection of the excellent growing conditions of the 1998 vintage. The wine was matured for 22 months in new and seasoned French and American oak hogsheads. True to reputation, the 1998 shiraz is a wickedly dark, plummy wine, with a nose of spicy black cherries and espresso. Chocolate, spice, and ripe plums fill out the rich concentrated palate. The flavours persist with soft, firm tannins, suggesting a long cellaring potential. Cellar for up to 20 years. 14.2% alcohol volume.