2001 Journeys End Vineyards The Beginning Shiraz

Shiraz has become synonymous with the ultimate expression of Australian red winemaking with icons such as Penfolds Grange & Henschke Hill of Grace being recognised amongst the world’s great wines. Historically great Shiraz has been grown from old vines in the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale, however, new regions such as Heathcote, Margaret River and the Yarra Valley are pushing the wine making boundaries further. Great Australian Shiraz is characterised firstly by its intensity of colour and secondly by its palate weight and concentration of ripe plum, blackpepper and very ripe berry flavours, often overlayed by the use of toasted American oak.

Journeys End Vineyards winemaker, Ben Riggs is recognised as one of Australia’s great Shiraz winemakers, having just completed his 21st vintage in Australia and his eighth vintage internationally. Ben has been the recipient of numerous awards including a back to back victory in the Australian Shiraz Challenge. Winemaker at Wirra Wirra for fourteen years, Ben is truly a master winemaker although he is too modest to say so. The Journeys End Beginning Shiraz is the first Shiraz that Ben has released since parting with Wirra Wirra. The 2001 vintage was an exceptional vintage in McLaren Vale with many winemakers rating it equal to 1998. The 2001 Journeys End Beginning Shiraz is an outstanding example of the quality of the vintage with more extraordinary releases yet to come. The wine has been made using five different Shiraz clones to introduce additional complexity. These clones were first identified in 1964 by Harry Tulluch of the South Australian Department of Agriculture and include SA1654 (The most widely planted Shiraz clone in Australia) which produces wines of intense black purple colour with a distinct black pepper character. SA2626, a firmer tannin structure with flavours of stewed fruit and sour cherries. SA1127 has spectacular dense purple black colour and the aroma is of violets and cherry palate flavours. SA712 is dominated by chocolate and plum flavour whilst BVRC30 offers an earthy, farmyard character to Shiraz. Ben has maximized the wines flavour profile further by using fruit from McLaren Vale and Fleurieu vineyards. The result is a spectacular success and the beginning of a wonderful new Shiraz journey.

The Beginning Shiraz offers exceptional quality & value from one of Australia’s great Shiraz winemakers & on a value for money basis this wine could easily be compared with Water Wheel Shiraz.

Tasting Note: An outstanding wine. Vibrant, very deep crimson mauve colour with mauve edges. The nose displays refinement and complexity with intense blackpepper, blood plum and spice notes over a liquorice background. The palate has a structure that is both elegant and very powerful - the sort of refinement that comes from a great year. Layers of blackpepper, spice, liquorice and blackberry. Fine grained tannins, perfect balance with very long aftertaste of liquorice and blackpepper which builds on the back palate, gains power and stays for several minutes. An amazing Shiraz vintage that will have special appeal to winelovers, investors and collectors alike. Outstanding value!
Cellar 4-5 years. (2006-2007)
Alc/Vol: 14.5%

RATING: 96/100

VALUE: XXXXX/5