2001 Gibson's Barossa Vale Shiraz

In the new world, it is the winemakers who are the prima donnas of the wine industry, as evidenced by their high profiles and big egos. Many of them reach pop star status amongst wine consumers and are written and talked about internationally. We can almost guarantee that you will not know the name of any Australian viticulturists who are acknowledged by the wine community as being more important in the chain of events than a winemaker. In order to demonstrate this, we suggest that you corner a winemaker over a bottle of wine and somewhere near the bottom of the bottle, he might just confess that 90% of the praise for his wine should be awarded to the viticulturist.

Rob Gibson is one of Australia’s foremost viticulturists having spent a good deal of his life managing grape growers whose produce was destined for Penfolds Grange. We quote Gibson’s philosophy: "Grape flavour and wine flavour are closely linked. If viticultural expertise is applied to skilfully manipulate vine growth in different seasons, flavour intensity can be significantly increased. During each season, conditions vary and control of quality can easily be lost.
The practised viticulturist understands the key controls on vine growth which are necessary for the resultant grape quality. Management of moisture and nutrient availability, leaf condition, canopy architecture and crop load are all critical to producing intensely flavoured wine grapes, and all affect quality. The correct choice of approach ensures quality control, and then enables continuous improvement over time."

Having retired as the Penfold’s Grange viticulturist from Southcorp Wines, Gibson purchased Wilfreda Vineyard, a former Grange vineyard in the Barossa Valley and applied his viticultural expertise. The result of that expertise is the Gibson’s Barossa Vale Shiraz.
The style differs from that of other Barossa producers who seem to prefer to produce very heavy wines, filled with primary fruit flavour. Gibson’s view is that Shiraz can still have the power that is so admired in these traditional big reds, yet at the same time have a degree of real elegance and finesse. "Gracious charm" is a descriptor that could be attributed to the style of his wines – yet for all their charm, they remain immensely powerful.

Tasting Notes: The grapes for this wine were grown on the Wilfreda Vineyard which has been a source of grapes for Penfolds Grange. Winemaker, Rob Gibson produces a style of Shiraz from this vineyard that can be best described as elegant yet forceful- a powerful wine with complexity counter pointed by sophistication. Opaque black crimson mauve purple colour. Perfumed nose of violets, vanilla, blackpepper, cedar and blackberry. Explosive palate flavours, yet not driven by sheer fruit weight. Flavours of blackpepper, liquorice, mocca and vanilla. Perfectly balanced, fine grained, ripe tannins followed by a very long blackpepper, spice, vanilla and cedar aftertaste. An outstanding wine and a must for the serious collector.
Cellar 5-8 years (2008-2011)
Alc/Vol: 14.0%

RATING: 96/100

VALUE: XXXXX/5